To negotiate two 1-0 leads in the professional manner they have, recording two wins and clean sheets in the space of four days, will be a big boost to Tony Mowbray.

Having shipped 69 goals, and more than any team in the Championship on their travels last season, question marks had been asked of the Rovers backline.

But the partnership of Darragh Lenihan and Derrick Williams delivered another victory, and clean sheet, with Williams also coming up with the crucial goal to make it a good seven days for Rovers.

They were indebted to a fine Christian Walton penalty save, but were good value for their victory ahead of this weekend’s game against Cardiff City. 

Bradley Johnson, as ever, was in the thick of the action, heading narrowly wide as a Stewart Downing corner wasn’t dealt with as early as the ninth minute.

Unfortunately for the midfielder, his luck was out again as he was punished for a strong challenge on Jackson Irvine inside the box as referee Jeremy Simpson awarded a spot-kick. Christian Walton kept Rovers level though with a fine stop, moving away to his left to get two hands to Jarrod Bowen’s fiercely taken effort from 12 yards.

In the lead up to that, Darragh Lenihan had done well to deny Daniel Batty’s shot after being teed up by Kamil Grosicki. The Polish international was a clear dangerman for the hosts, as both sides enjoyed joy down their respective left-hand sides.

It was from there that crosses in to the box saw Batty fire over, and Irvine head wide of the near post, before Grosicki struck the woodwork and then curled narrowly over himself as the Rovers goal led a charmed life.

But in what was an entertaining affair, they weren’t without a threat of their own.

Moments after the penalty had been saved, Johnson’s flicked header from a Cunningham cross caught the top of the bar, before George Long was quick off his line to smother an Adam Armstrong shot after an excellent Downing pass.

Those were becoming more frequent as his influence on the game began to grow.

Bradley Dack was too beginning to show flashes of his skill and it was his pass that found Downing whose shot across Long had the keeper beaten, only to become the second Rovers player to be denied by the woodwork.

The goalposts would likely have needed an extra coat of paint as half-time, as after intercepting a pass, Downing sprinted forward to tee up Johnson’s whose dipping 25-yarder just didn’t quite come down in time, taking a touch off the bar on its way over.

Grosicki remained a constant threat for the hosts, giving Bennett a tough time in the early stages of the second half, but both defences seemed more secure after the break then they had in the opening 45 minutes.

Johnson was almost punished though for taking one too many touches on the edge of his own box though as Batty nipped in and curled just wide.

The hour marked ticked by with the game there for the taking. And Rovers got their noses in front as Williams got across his marker to glance a header in to the far corner from a Downing free kick.

Goal hero at one end, Williams was caught out moments later by Bowen who drove towards goal and but for an excellent covering Lewis Travis challenge would likely have pulled the hosts level.

Rovers were beginning to win more than their fair share of second balls though, as Downing tested Long from 25 yards before a driving run from Greg Cunningham in to the box saw the Hull ‘keeper needing to be quick off his line to deny him.

Rovers were managing the game well, with Hull having little joy when looking to play off substitute Josh Magennis. They did squander a good opening though as the board showed five added minute, Leo Da Silva Lopes firing wide on the stretch when found unmarked by a left-wing cross.

And Williams would make one more vital interception to deny Bowen as Rovers deservedly held on.