Rovers reporter Rich Sharpe picks out five talking points from the 1-1 draw at West Brom.

ROARING REED

Harrison Reed, in Elliott Bennett fashion, was lapping up the applause when celebrating with the fans at the final whistle.

He grabbed the equalising goal, but did so much more than that, driving Rovers on in a second half in which they dominated.

Reed thundered in to tackles, recycling possession at will in the second half in which he was comfortably the best player on the pitch and fully deserved his equaliser which came courtesy of a beautifully placed 25 yarder for his second of the season. 

Thereafter, he patrolled the midfield of the pitch to such an effect that West Brom were forced wide in their attempts to trouble Smallwood.

A central midfield spot now looks his to his to lose after a spell out on the flanks.

MOWBRAY’S MARK

From their opening 15 games, Rovers have 22 points, with five wins, seven draws and three defeats.

That is an identical record to what Tony Mowbray achieved in his 15 games that he took charge of 2016/17.

On that occasion it wasn’t enough to keep Rovers in the Championship, this time it sees them 12th in the table.

We are now a third of the way through the season, and that league position feels about right for where Rovers are, leaving them well in the mix for a top half spot come the end of the year.

Having come through a tough week of fixtures with four points, they will look to take advantage of two home games before the international break to give their spirits a further lift.

PATCHED UP SIDE

Without Darragh Lenihan and Ryan Nyambe, and having lost Charlie Mulgrew inside 15 minutes, it was a very makeshift Rovers back four which finished the game.

There was then the injury to Jack Rodwell midway through the second half, with Lewis Travis brought on in his place, as Rovers continued to mix and match at the back.

They will therefore look forward to a full week without a game as they assess their group ahead of the QPR home match.

Ryan Nyambe could play for the Under-23s on Monday to step up his fitness, while Lenihan should also be back in time for the weekend.

But keeping out the highest scorers in the division in the second half with no goalkeeper or recognised central defender, they deserve immense credit.

TEAM SELECTION

Tony Mowbray admits he opened himself up to criticism with his team selection which showed five changes.

There was a new formation too, and much of the first half was working out who was playing where.

But given the adversity that went against them, what great heart a patched-up side showed in a second half in which they dominated before earning a deserved equaliser.

Mowbray isn’t afraid to mix things up, and accepts the criticism will come if it doesn’t work out.

But when he makes changes and they go well, then he too should take credit for building a squad capable of dealing with some adversity and take a positive result from a well-fancied team.

A NEW RULE?

Rovers seemed harshly done to, when through no fault of their own, their goalkeeper got injured.

With all three substitutes used, they were forced to play with a man short, as you would were it an outfield player.

But given it is a specialist position, it felt a double jeopardy as an outfield player in Richie Smallwood had to go in goal.

Would it not be fairer, if through injury, and not a sending off, that a replacement goalkeeper should be allowed to come on and replace an outfield player, so to still be a man short, but also not be forced to go with outfield player in goal?