With much of the talk during the international break was about the Ewood crowds, almost 21,000 watching on as Rovers secured a valuable three points in a pulsating encounter in a high noon showdown.

This Rovers side, for who you keep having to find new superlatives for, were deserving of every bit of the ovation they received from the 13,000 or so home fans at the final whistle.

They were the lucky ones. This side can do no more for the shirt or the badge. What they can lack in quality in terms of ball retention at times, they more than make up for in desire, expending every last bit of energy for the cause.

Who knows where this season will take Rovers? They have set no bar. But playing this way it promises to be an enjoyable and tense ride.

Rovers needed a fast start. Not just to subdue a travelling contingent of 7,700, but to put to bed a record which had seen them fail to score in the opening 45 minutes of any of their opening six home games.

They didn’t have to wait long. The international break had afforded Rovers time to highlight weaknesses in the Leeds defence from set plays. Just two minutes in they exploited a lack of height in the visitors backline as Danny Graham powered home a header from Reed’s right-wing delivery.

Adam Armstrong, in the words of his manager, made hay while the sun shone, continually cause havoc, twice seeing shots blocks, the second of which landed at the feet of Bradley Dack whose effort was kept out by the sprawling Bailey Peacock-Farrell.

Moments before, Samu Saiz stung the palms of David Raya before Pontus Jansson headed over from the resulting corner.

Rovers’ levels, both energy and concentration, were put to the test by a Leeds side whose players worked unusual angles and had a patience to try and play out from the back.

But in possession, there was a dynamism about their play as Elliott Bennett freed Armstrong with a searching ball, and after roasting Gaetano Berardi yet again, curled a shot on to the roof of the net.

That came three minutes before the break, but in the additional 60 seconds, Leeds levelled. Saiz skipped free of the attentions of Corry Evans and his floated ball to the far post was turned across goal by Berardi in to the path of Mat Klich who equalised with the last touch of the first half.

Lesser teams may have crumbled, felt a sense of frustration at not taking a deserved lead in to the break, and Leeds sensed this may be their opportunity to take charge.

But such is the strength in depth at Rovers, Mowbray was able to make a trio of changes who all played their part.

Jack Rodwell thundered in to several challenges, Ben Brereton offered a threat on the turnover of possession while it was a 69th minute Craig Conway corner, his first touch, which was powered home by Darragh Lenihan to put Rovers back in to the lead.

That came shortly after Armstrong had drawn a smart save from Peacock-Farrell after pouncing on a loose header from Berardi before the Leeds keeper denied him with his feet after leaving his marker for dead once again.

The home crowd sensed their side needed them as they roared them on, with the players responding by giving every bit of energy they could.

Charlie Mulgrew blocked from Samuel Saiz, before David Raya came out with his showreel save of the afternoon. The Spaniard stuck out an outstretched right hand to keep out Klich’s dipping effort and maintain the lead.

The Spaniard showed good handling in injury time to cling on to a Jack Clarke strike in injury time, but in truth, this was the best Rovers have seen a game out. This was the seventh time in 13 games they had taken a lead in to the final five minutes. For the fifth time they made it to the final whistle without late heartbreak.