Tony Mowbray admitted he left himself ‘vulnerable’ to criticism after making five changes for the weekend draw with West Brom.

The Rovers boss opted to mix up his team, and formation, after the midweek defeat to Swansea, just as he had done after the previous loss to Sheffield United.

The changes saw Bradley Dack employed as a central striker while Joe Rothwell, Kasey Palmer, Craig Conway and Derrick Williams were recalled to the starting XI.

It was a team that raised eyebrows among fans ahead of the game but Rovers battled their way to a point against Darren Moore’s side.

On the changes, Mowbray said: “I know I leave myself vulnerable but I work with them every day and see how hard they’re working with their foot to the pedal. They are working extraordinarily hard.

“Sometimes they need a breather or else they will break down, as a few of them did.

“I needed to rest some of them. That’s why I talk to them that it’s not about 11, 12 or 13, as many as 20 have to come to the party and everyone has to work hard for each other.”

Many fans have called for the inclusion of Rothwell, with Saturday just his fourth league start.

Palmer featured for just a fourth time since August with Mowbray saying the pair, like all the players, have to demonstrate a willingness to work when out of possession.

He added: “I thought Palmer had his best game for us in the 60 or so minutes he was on. Rothwell is understanding and learning that football is a running game, you have to run backwards as well as forwards.

“He is breathtaking with the ball at his feet but you’re not going to play if that’s all you do, you have to run back, tackle, chase, fight and put your foot in.

“But I was delighted with them all. It was a tough day for us with the changes we made and everything that happened but we put the point in the bag and move on.”

Mowbray described the seven days which took in games against Leeds United, Swansea and West Brom as ‘huge’. They ended it with four points which leaves them with 22 points from 15 games and in 10th place.

“Four points is all right,” Mowbray said assessing the week. “We played Leeds United, probably favourites to get out of the league this year, and then Swansea and West Brom away who were in the Premier League last year.

“We played with only one defender for most of the game (against West Brom) so I’m very happy.

“It’s difficult for me to get across how this team operates. It’s internally driven by some big characters in the dressing room and while I’m the manager and guide them and talk to them about tactics and how we’re going to do things, they are picking it up and running with it.

“The big characters in this team won’t sit back and accept defeat and if we do get beat then it’s usually a pretty angry dressing room and that’s not a bad quality to have.

“They are so desperate to do well.”