Tony Mowbray felt a victory was there for his side at Middlesbrough had they shown more care in the final third.

Rovers were held to a 1-1 draw at Middlesbrough, with the hosts playing for 70 minutes with 10 men after Mo Besic was sent off for pulling down Bradley Dack.

Charlie Mulgrew scored from the resulting free kick to hand Rovers the lead which they held until the 62nd minute when Britt Assombalonga levelled with a stunning strike.

Dack hit the post for Rovers, while Corry Evans missed an excellent opportunity in the first half, as Adam Armstrong did in the dying stages.

Middlesbrough proved a tough nut to crack, having the best defensive record in the division, but Mowbray felt it was two points dropped for his side.

He said: “I can tell them in the dressing room about the care with the final pass.

“We have to take more care, the opportunities were there, against a team who worked hard but don’t have the most mobile defenders in the world.

“They play their positions well, defend the middle of their box and it can be difficult to get behind them.

“We had to try and work the ball better around the box and didn’t do that often enough.”

Rovers didn’t make the most of their territory, particularly in the second half as they chased a late winner.

And Mowbray added: “It was definitely two points dropped, there’s a frustration in the dressing room.

“Yet if we’re going to drag any positives from it, if there is going to be one team good with 10 men then it’s probably Middlesbrough.

“They are good behind the ball, it’s hard to score against them. We were going to have to get behind them, not from direct balls in to their box, and ask questions of their feet.

“We didn’t quite do that enough.

“We hit the post through Bradley and forced a few saves.

“We have to take the point, put it in the bag but be hugely disappointed.”
Assombalonga was one of two half time changes made by Boro, and he had a chance to win it for the hosts late on, having equalised with a stunning strike.

Of that, Mowbray said: “You have to give credit to Assombalonga, it was a great finish.

“I was stood right behind it and he starts it a yard outside the post and brings it back.

“We had to deal with their long throws and directness.”