Rovers were forced to make late changes to their team but impressed Tony Mowbray with the way they controlled the game at Reading.

Adam Armstrong scored early in the first-half and Bradley Dack’s 40th goal for the club on a milestone appearance in the 48th minute put Rovers 2-0 up.

They had to weather some late Reading pressure, after John Swift reduced the arrears shortly after, but Rovers saw the game out well.

Joe Rothwell missed the game through illness, and was set to start the game, as was Tosin Adarabioyo who picked up an injury in training and didn’t make the matchday 18.

Mowbray was pleased with how the team took on board the change of approach to record a fourth win of the season which moves them up to 10th in the table.

“We’re delighted with the points, to win away from home in the Championship is always tough,” Mowbray said.

“I thought we started both halves well, on the front foot, and were at our best  for half an hour in the first half.

“We have to sustain those kind of levels and if we do we’ll win a lot of matches.

“It’s tough to win away in this league, especially with the adversity of a few late changes, a few players who didn’t make it would have been in the team.

“For the team to take on board after one 20 minute meeting and perform how we did was great credit to them.”

Mowbray praised the strength of his squad following the addition of Lewis Holtby this week, and felt that came to the fore at the Madejski Stadium.

He added: “They are a wonderful group who work hard for each other, give their all, and we’re trying to point them in the right direction and give them some guidance.

“Whatever you ask of them they will go to the  well and give their best.”

Rothwell wasn’t the only one suffering with illness, according to Mowbray, who revealed several more came through the game despite not being 100 per cent fit.

Rovers now have a week to recover ahead of next weekend’s game with Luton Town as they aim to make it a hat-trick of wins.

“There were couple. Tosin wasn’t ill, he picked up an injury in training on Friday,” the boss said.

“Joe Rothwell was under the weather, as were a few of them, but we couldn’t take three or four of them out.

“Joe Rothwell was vomiting, but a few were feeling unwell.

“It’s football, part and parcel of the game. It took us six hours to get here, a long, long journey down the M6 on a Friday afternoon.

“I’m just delighted, they worked hard and now we have a week to prepare for Luton at home and a great chance for us to get three more points on the board.”

Swift hit the post moments before making it 2-1, but Rovers managed the latter stages well, with the experience of Bradley Johnson and Stewart Downing coming to the fore in the dying minutes.

“Against one of the best passing teams in the league, I thought we controlled the game out of possession and then on the transition we had chances to score more goals,” Mowbray said.

“It feeds the players, you sell them a game-plan and then they take it on to the pitch and try and make it happen.

“It breeds confidence in the fact we’re doing well with what we’re telling them.

“Next week it might not be the same game-plan but we’ll take it on the pitch and try and get another win.”