Rovers reporter Rich Sharpe picks out five talking points from the win over QPR.

THE MAN IN THE MIDDLE

Rovers were denied a stonewall penalty against West Brom seven days earlier, and were aggrieved not to have been awarded one in the first half when Amari’i Bell was sent tumbling.

The one that decided the game here was also contentious as Ben Brereton went down under the challenge of Josh Scowen.

Steve McClaren didn’t hide his frustration at the decision of referee Peter Bankes who mystified all four sides of Ewood Park throughout the match with a series of contentious calls.

The game wasn’t allowed to flow, with some overly fussing refereeing, while the time taken over throw-ins from the visitors was particularly frustrating.

There was always a feeling that the referee could have a big say on the game, be it a red card handed out or a penalty decision, and via the latter, that’s how it played out.

REVERTING MORE TO TYPE

The Rovers team selection, despite the six changes, prompted less debate as Tony Mowbray went with a more familiar looking side.

Darragh Lenihan’s return was timely, as Elliott Bennett continued at right back despite Ryan Nyambe being available again.

However, despite Bradley Dack going back to his usual number 10 role, playing behind Danny Graham, there wasn’t the same attacking flair at Rovers.

Dack spent most of the first half having his shirt pulled, and the second complaining at the referee, while Danny Graham got little change out of the QPR backline chasing a fifth clean sheet in five games.

But such is the squad that Mowbray has built, the options on the bench proved to be the difference, as a powerful Ben Brereton run won his side a penalty.

JAYSON’S JOY

Jayson Leutwiler made just a second Rovers league appearance since joining last summer, deputising for David Raya.

In truth, he couldn’t have imagined such an easy afternoon, though he paid tribute to those in front of him for ensuring that was the case.

The nearest he came to conceding was when Derrick Williams’ header hit the back of Darragh Lenihan and drifted wide. He had to show good concentration throughout, having had so little to do, but marked his rare start with a clean sheet. How long he keeps his place for will depend on the extent of David Raya’s injury which will be known more in the coming days.

FREEMAN IMPRESSES

QPR showed little ambition going forward, though Rovers should take credit for the way they defending in limiting the threat to Jayson Leutwiler’s goal.

Their shining light in an attacking sense was Luke Freeman, a Rovers transfer target in the summer, and it’s easy to see way.

A tidy technician who shows great balance when running with the ball, ending the game with 100 per cent dribble success.

Rovers weren’t alone in their admiring glances and the 26-year-old is likely to attract more interest when the winter window opens in January.

UP TO EIGHTH

A sixth win, and fifth clean sheet, allowed Rovers to move up to eighth, their second highest league position of the season.

They leapfrogged a QPR side who had overtaken them after an excellent run of form, and now just one point separates them from the top six.

The longer the season goes on, the less it comes about this being a good start from a team promoted from League One last season, and becomes an assessment that this is where the team deserve to be.

They are all but certain of a top half position going in to the third international break and will fancy of their chances of building on that against Rotherham, and in the three games on the resumption of league action later this month.

You can guarantee this team under Mowbray certainly won’t be casting their eye beyond the next game, but for the fans, they will certainly begin to believe this has the prospect of being a positive season.

Rovers now have 25 points from 16 games. During their relegation campaign of 2016/17 it took them until January 21, and their 27th fixture to reach the same mark.