It felt as though Rovers were on a hiding to nothing. Anything other than three points would have been seen as a footballing disaster, no room for slip-ups.

Infact, anything but a convincing victory wouldn’t likely have been enough to appease some and suppress the growing doubters about the direction in which Rovers are heading. And so it proved.

The feeling at the final whistle was more of relief than celebration, the reaction of the Rovers was telling. 

Tony Mowbray knows it will take more than a narrow home win over a side bottom of the league and without a win since the opening day to appease some. The scrutiny will be back on once again when Brentford arrive in east Lancashire on Wednesday night.

So important was the result it was that alone that Mowbray was keen to focus on post-match.

However, it would be foolish to think he won’t be analysing and casting an eye over the inner details of the game with a fine toothcomb. But better to be doing so having chalked up a second consecutive home victory.

Mowbray knows this is a key period where Rovers need to show significant signs of progress having underperformed in the opening third of the season. 

Rovers find themselves on something of a precipice in which something may have to give.

The manager raised the stakes and knows it is against those increased expectations he will be judged. Can they find the results on a consistent enough basis?

Mowbray felt a more measured and controlled playing style was the best way to achieve his aim of a concerted top six challenge. But a team in transition requires patience and time. And with the need to find results in a bid to reach those expectations, can the two marry up?

For now, Rovers seem caught between the two, though an in-your-faces, front foot approach, with Lewis Travis snapping in to tackles and Bradley Dack bustling his way in to the box, still looks to be their best weapon.

As well as a search for a clear and defined style, there is the increased scrutiny that comes with the £5m signing of Sam Gallagher, again used on the right wing, and the £6m addition of Ben Brereton, back in a matchday squad for the first time in three months. 

Then comes the goals against column. Rovers shipped 69 goals last season and as much as the manager hoped his summer additions would be the cure, that’s not happened.

Already they have let in 26 goals in 16 league games. Adding in two cup games, Rovers have conceded at least twice on 11 occasions.

Thankfully, on this occasion they found the three goals often needed for them to win against a Barnsley side who hadn’t been victorious since the opening day.

Ewood was filled with anxiety. The players would need to inspire the fans with their performance to help lift the malaise that seemed to be hanging over the ground.

The opening 20 minutes came and went, and even at half-time when Rovers led 1-0, still the mood felt flat. It wasn’t until Barnsley equalised, two minutes in to the second half, that much emotion was shown at all from the stands.

However, those supporters who had the game down as ‘a must win’ can’t have it both ways either. Rovers did win, let’s not forget that. The 90 minutes may have raised more questions than problems it solved, but when points and wins have been precious of late, they’re to be snapped up wherever possible.

It may not have been convincing, maybe it does just paper over cracks and there is definitely much still to work on. But could finding a win when not playing well be a boost to the team’s belief, mentality and confidence? Time will tell either way.  

With a goalscorer in Dack on the pitch, Rovers always have a chance. He pounced at the far post, not once, but twice, to acrobatically to turn home the rebound after his initial header had been saved to give Rovers the lead for the third time with four minutes to go.

Thankfully that was to be enough.

His first came after 24 minutes, Travis seizing on a loose pass before Adam Armstrong had the presence of mind to square for Dack to roll in his seventh of the season.

While Barnsley showed their naivety at the back, they demonstrated good movement in attack to create space that allowed Connor Chaplin to fire in an equaliser two minutes after the re-start.

As the visitors continued to threaten, Mowbray turned to his bench and the experience of Stewart Downing and Danny Graham, with the former restoring the advantage with a thumping right foot drive with 20 minutes to go.

That wasn't job done, however. Christian Walton spilled what looked a routine cross from Jacob Brown, with Chaplin crossing for Cauley Woodrow to steer the ball home for the second equaliser with eight minutes to play.

Rovers felt he had done so with a hand, and that played a part in Dack’s mix of frustration and celebration as he turned home after Darragh Lenihan had headed a Downing free kick in to his path.

Dack to the rescue, not for the first time. But interesting times lie ahead.