Charlie Mulgrew welcomed three points for Rovers but feels there is significant room for improvement.

Rovers go in to the international break 10th in the Championship after a 1-0 win at Bolton Wanderers thanks to Bradley Dack’s eighth of the season.

The skipper was back in the side for the first time in three weeks after injury to help Rovers to only a second clean sheet in nine games.

Mulgrew says there are plenty of aspects of the performance to improve on, but chalking up a fourth win of the season, and a third on the road, was the most satisfying.

He said: “The most important thing was getting the three points.

“It wasn’t the greatest spectacle but we got the three points and we will take the positives.

“But there are a lot of negatives we need to work on. 

“We’ve played better and not won this season so winning the game is the most important thing but we know we need to do better.”

Rovers were forced to grind out the game in a second half in which they failed to find any fluency in possession.

Tony Mowbray reverted to a back three after the break, with Mulgrew at the heart of that, as they battled their way over the finish line.

And while not the most sparkling of display, the 32-year-old added: “The character is there, there’s no doubt about that.

“We want to fight for the fans and give them everything we’ve got. We know that’s there.

“It was important not to concede late again as we have done that a few times and we showed our character to hang on.

“We want to play better, it’s human nature, you always want to do better.

“We feel we can keep the ball better and play better but it’s about the three points.”

Rovers had to survive a late scare when referee Darren Bond pointed to the spot for a foul by Mulgrew on Bolton striker Christian Doidge.

However, the linesman flagged for offside and the decision was overturned, to the relief of Mulgrew, who felt it would have been a soft decision.

“Thankfully the linesman on the far side showed a bit of courage and gave us that one,” he said.

Mulgrew had missed four matches, three with a calf problem and one through illness before returning for the second half of the midweek defeat to Sheffield United.

He was back to his composed best in the heart of the defence, and was pleased to be back in among the action.

“I have probably played it perfectly in playing 45 the other day and playing 90 here,” the Scotland international said.

“I am stiff and tight but I’m getting better.

“I don’t like having weeks off, I like to train every day and play as often as I can because that’s when I’m at my best.

“I was glad to get through that one and push on.”

When asked if it was likely to see him miss out on any international action with Scotland during the break, which sees them face Israel and Portugal, he said: “I doubt it.

“We’ll see how I am Monday and Tuesday.

“I’ll do things right, be as professional as I can, and should be all right.”