It was a Rovers performance we’ve seen before, and between now and the end of the season, one we could see several times more. And it about sums up where they are in the Championship food chain.

Rovers don’t look a team blessed with goals, with 10 in their last nine games, but by the same token, don’t look like being blown away.

Tight games are decided by moments of quality, or mistakes, and Rovers definitely need to find more of the former if they are to turn more games in their favour.

They weren’t lacking endeavour, drive or fight, but too often lacked guile, initiative or craft in the final third.

The sight of £5m summer signing Sam Gallagher trying to engineer crossing angles from the right wing, was confusing and shows that for now at least, manager Tony Mowbray is searching too hard for the right formula.

Just four of Rovers’ 27 matches have been decided by more than one goal either way, with two 2-0 wins, plus 4-2 and 2-0 defeats.

Having drawn just three of their opening 20 league matches, three successive home draws makes it four in their last seven.

Of their last 17 matches at Ewood, they have lost just twice, but have now been held to a draw on seven occasions.

Many opposition manager’s have commented on Rovers’ stubbornness at home, and with Birmingham and Preston adopting a similar approach in the last two matches, it’s a conundrum Rovers must come up with the answers to.

All the stats point to where Rovers are the minute, a mid-table Championship side. On this evidence, you wouldn’t back against them and North End finishing side-by-side in the table.

Life without Bradley Dack has taken some adjusting to, but can’t be a point of reference every time Rovers struggle for goals and penetration.

Adam Armstrong has puffed out his chest and done his bit to step up, his third minute strike making it five goals in nine games, while Stewart Downing continues to make the game look easy in midfield.

Rovers were the ones forcing the issue in a game that was as equally feisty as it was bereft of quality and control, with Lewis Holtby and Tosin Adarabioyo drawing flying saves out of Declan Rudd in either half.

Opposite number Christian Walton enjoyed a relatively comfortable afternoon, beaten by a thumping Josh Harrop drive in the 15th minute, which was one of just two shots on target that North End managed.

Rovers dominated the ball, registering 58 per cent possession and 14 shots, and on balance were the ones who could make the biggest case for being deserving of the three points.

Both sides went in to the game without a win in five matches, and come the final whistle, it was the visitors who were definitely the more satisfied with the result, one their approach appeared to be settling for.

The standards of teams, and officials, in the Championship appear to be dropping, and there was a real frustration that referee James Linington allowed the visitors to get away with too many tactical fouls.

And there was bemusement late on when Gallagher went down in the box, the meat in a Patrick Bauer and Ben Davies sandwich, only to be the one penalised.

Too much of the second half was taken up by the referee taking centre stage, before Rovers tried to ensure a grand-stand finish.

Adarabioyo’s hooked effort had Rudd flying across his goal in injury time, Lewis Travis fired two efforts goalwards, and only an excellent Tom Clarke defensive header prevented Danny Graham a certain goal late on.

So Rovers were again made to settle for a point, and their boom or bust form continues, with this making it no win in six, and three points from the last 15 available.

A five-point gap to the play-offs is far from insurmountable with 19 games remaining, but one which you question would be possible without a freshening up of the squad this month.

While a goalkeeper, central defender and left back are likely to now be pushed to longer-term targets, a genuine wide player, and/or centre forward, have been bumped up the priorities.

Ryan Nyambe and Amari’i Bell are both purposeful when carrying the ball forward, but when reaching the final third, would love to have the option of linking up with someone adept at running at the opposition full back.

The ‘wide strikers’ experiment appears past it’s sell-by date, and the introduction of Harry Chapman back in to the first-team set-up suggests the manager feels the need for more of an out-and-out wide threat.

If players who are not naturally wide players are used from the flanks, it's vial they provide a goal threat, something Armstrong apart, Rovers have struggled for. 

Mowbray was hamstrung a little when it came to his changes, forced in to alterations early in both halves, as he was left to reflect again on more frustration at headquarters.

From five wins and a draw in six, to now win in six, this team really are boom or bust when it comes to results as they yo-yo around the top and bottom half.