Don’t be thinking this was a flat-track bully punishing a side struggling for confidence, Sheffield Wednesday were coming off the back of beating Leeds United seven days earlier, while Rovers hadn't won in six.

Don’t’ believe the 23rd minute red card to Massimo Luongo, although unfortunate, was the biggest factor in the result. As a Sheffield Wednesday fan close to the press box so eloquently put it: ‘They were taking us apart with 11, nevermind 10’.

From minute one to Sam Gallagher firing home the fifth in second half stoppage time, Rovers were comfortably on top and deserving of the three points.

The 5-0 scoreline, Rovers’ most comprehensive win since 2001, told just half the story of an afternoon to remember at Hillsborough as Tony Mowbray’s side turned in the most complete performance possible.

It was a case of ‘where to start?’ when it came to thinking of the positives from the Rovers display.

From Adam Armstrong leading the line with terrific movement and setting up two goals, Lewis Holtby providing a timely reminder of his qualities in the No.10 role with two close-range finishes, Ryan Nyambe and his marauding breaks from right break or the control provided from Stewart Downing in central midfield, this was as good an away performance as you could wish to see.

Dominance, control and professionalism could all be attributed to the way Rovers made the most of their man advantage.

They made the pitch big, didn’t allow Wednesday the opportunity to win cheap free kicks to get near their box, and the difference between the teams was so much more than just one man.

It might not turn out to be the most significant result of the season, Rovers are well versed at providing false hope, but afternoons like that don’t come around too often so should be savoured.

They moved to 40 points in the process of making it 11 wins in 28 matches this season, leaving them in prime position to overtake last season’s tally of 60 and 16 respectively.

Whether they take can make up the five-point gap to the play-off spots remains to be seen, but a time when all concerned were in need of a lift after a frustrating run of form and disappointing news on the injury front, there’s nothing quite like a thumping win on the road.

The big question after the loss of Bradley Dack was ‘where are the goals going to come from?’

Holtby had shown flashes of promise since his arrival in September, but could he replicate Dack’s hunger for getting in the six yard box from that No.10 position?

He answered that with two close-range finishes, gloriously scruffy in his manager’s eyes, the first coming in the 19th minute.

Armstrong skipped beyond his marker and having seen his shot saved by Cameron Dawson, had the awareness to head in to the path of Holtby to sweep home.

The German’s second, again owing much to the industry of Armstrong, was poked home in first half injury time from even closer in.

No Rovers fan would allow themselves to get too carried away at half time, but just two minutes after the re-start, even the most pessimistic of supporter would surely have seen it as 'game over' when Downing crossed to the far post where Darragh Lenihan showed the greatest hunger as he volleyed in to the roof of the net.

Luongo’s red, while contentious, was seen by referee Jarred Gillet to be a kick out at Lewis Travis.

The Rovers midfielder then became pantomime villain for the rest of the afternoon, but had a big hand in the goal which made it 2-0 in the 36th minute. Excellent work down the right from Nyambe teed up the midfielder whose shot was tipped on to the post by Dawson, only for the ball to hit him on the back and roll over the line.

After Lenihan made it 4-0 it was a case of how many Rovers would score.

Their efforts to make it five saw Gallagher and Armstrong both denied by the keeper, with the closing stages allowing Mowbray to turn to his bench and introduce Joe Rankin-Costello and Jacob Davenport.

Both eager to make an impression, Rankin-Costello continues to look the part and had a big hand in the fifth when sliding home Gallagher to fire in to the roof of the net.

Normally a goal so late, in a resounding win, would bring a little more restrained celebration, but the sheer relief and outpouring of emotion, after a tough time of late, was clear as Gallagher took off and punched the air.

As Mowbray rightly pointed out, Rovers didn’t become a bad team over the course of a six match winless run, nor is everything back rosy in the garden after a resounding win.

But just when thoughts of history repeating itself, and a second consecutive season being derailed by injuries after an excellent run of results, this will lift spirits heading in to a nine-day break before the visit of QPR.

Add a right-sided attacker before then, would lift them yet still.