Rovers picked up their first win, and points of the season, courtesy of a 1-0 home win over Middlesbrough.

It took an excellent shift from Tony Mowbray’s side who took the points courtesy of a first half Danny Graham penalty.

They were good value for the victory, with Christian Walton rarely tested, though Marcus Browne did go close to levelling when he hit the post in the second half.

Rovers were boosted by the return to fitness of Darragh Lenihan who was one of four changes for Rovers.

That saw Sam Gallagher switched to a wide right role and it was from there he was almost presented with a great chance, only for Ryan Shotton to cut out Bradley Dack’s cross.

George Friend was looking to push Gallagher back wherever possible, and he teed up Lewis Wing for the visitors’ first shot at goal, his left foot drive drifted just wide of the far post.

Rovers’ corner count was rising though as a Stewart Downing delivery landed at the feet of Greg Cunningham whose rasping half-volley flew over the bar.

They went even closer in the 15th minute as Graham was just unable on the stretch to get the necessary contact needed to turn in a Dack shot which flashed across goal.

With Graham in the side, there was a more direct approach from Rovers, but they were winning the second balls which allowed them to get on the front foot.

There were poignant scenes in the 19th minutes as ‘there’s only one Jack Walker’ rang around Ewood Park to commemorate 19 years since Rovers’ greatest supporter past away.

It would have been fitting had Rovers forced an opening goal as the applause continued, only for Cunningham’s effort from Downing’s corner to be cleared by Shotton just in front of his goal-line.

They didn’t have to wait too long to go 1-0 ahead however, with Anfernee Dijksteel penalised for a blatant shirt pull on Graham.

Referee Jarred Gillett was well placed to award the spot-kick. With Charlie Mulgrew since departed, Graham picked himself up to send Darren Randolph the wrong way with the spot kick.

Three bookings followed the penalty, Daniel Ayala for his protests, while both Rovers full backs, Cunningham and Bennett, were booked for a foul and handball respectively.

Boro were trying to force the issue a little too much, going too direct towards the pacey front three.

They ended the half by testing Christian Walton, but the Rovers keeper was able to gather a curling Jonny Howson shot with ease.

Both sides emerged unchanged with the visitors having the first attempt of the second period.

It came from a Lewis Wing free kick, from all of 30 yards, which skipped off the surface, with Walton well placed to save.

At the other end it was the Graham-Dack partnership which had Rovers’ first sight of goal, the striker heading down for the No.23 whose volley thumped in to the back of Dijksteel.

The script-writers almost got the story they had been waiting as Downing exchanged passes with Dack from a corner before whipping a left footed shot within inches of the far post.

The Boro pressure began to build as the hour mark ticked by, with Walton relieving some of that with an excellent take under the high ball from a Wing free kick.

As legs on both sides began to tire, Rovers sent on Adam Armstrong for Danny Graham.

There was a big let off for Rovers with 17 minutes to play as a right wing cross evaded the outstretched arm of Walton, hit sub Marcus Browne only to come back off the post.

That prompted a double Rovers change, with Joe Rothwell and John Buckley on for Dack and Downing.

The two subs combined to almost bring Rovers a second goal, Buckley’s cross finding Rothwell at the far post, with his left foot shot kept out by Randolph before Armstrong’s follow-up was blocked by Ayala.

The tired bodies were digging in for Rovers as Ayala’s header from a corner looped on to the roof of the net as Rovers struggled to get up the pitch.

Gallagher was running on empty but somehow managed to find a cross to put in Buckley who if anything caught his shot too well as it flew over the bar.

Derrick Williams became the fifth Rovers player in the book for a cynical foul which allowed Wing to line one up from 30 yards, but fortunately for the defender he ballooned it over the bar.

Five added minutes brought nervousness around Ewood, though Armstrong went close to a second, only for Jonny Howson to put in a timely block.

Ayala pushed up front for Boro as they went in search of an equaliser, the defender winning a Marcus Browne cross but only to guide it wide of the near post.

 

Rovers: Walton, Bennett, Lenihan, Williams, Cunningham, Johnson, Travis, Downing (Rothwell, 76), Gallagher, Dack (Buckley, 76), Graham (Armstrong, 70)

Subs: Leutwiler, Nyambe, Bell, Evans

 

Middlesbrough: Randolph, Dijksteel (Tavernier, 60), Shotton, Ayala, Friend (Walker, 81), McNair, Johnson (Browne, 70), Howson, Wing, Fletcher, Assombalonga.

Subs: Pears, Clayton, Saville, Bola