Rovers needed someone to step up in the absence of Bradley Dack, few have answered the call better than Adam Armstrong.

But it would be hard to single out individuals after a classy first half display was followed by a second period that required no shortage of grit and determination to record back-to-backs wins and maintain their strong Ewood Park form.

Armstrong’s curler, his ninth of the season, had Rovers ahead, but it was a Darragh Lenihan on the half hour mark that proved to be the winner after Jordan Hugill levelled for the visitors.

Chances to put the game to bed were rare, so Rovers had to rely on their battling qualities to see themselves over the line and to 43 points from 29 games.

Rovers have been kings of the fast starts this season, and added another one to their collection, netting inside 10 minutes. It owed much to the tenacity of Joe Rothwell initially, but was then down to the individual quality of Armstrong who took aim from 25 yards and found the back of the net via the inside of the post.

There was almost a need for goal-line technology shortly after as Rovers chased a second, Lewis Travis turning goalwards after Liam Kelly spilled what looked an innocuous Lewis Holtby shot, but Grant Hall got back to clear in time.

Rothwell was buzzing under the Ewood lights, drifting inside to get involved wherever possible, and a neat one-two with Gallagher helped present another shooting chance for Holtby, this time saved comfortably by Kelly.

Rovers had been a little loose at the back, and sloppy in their defensive third, something QPR took advantage with in the 21st minute to level. Hugill beat Lenihan in the air and spun away from the defender to collect an Ilias Chair pass before lofting over the advancing Christian Walton.

And the game was almost turned on its head in an instant, the lively Bright Osayi-Samuel crossing for Luke Amos who volleyed over from the edge of the area.

Both sides were happy to commit plenty of bodies forward, which made for an entertaining watch.

That meant goals were always likely, a third arriving on the half hour mark courtesy of a second assist for Rothwell. He hung up a corner to the back post that was inviting to be attacked, and Lenihan didn’t need any convincing to power in a header for his second in as many games.

With Armstrong in attack, Rovers had a fluency to their play, his movement enabling space to be created in the pockets.

Going forward they looked a handful, another purposeful Nyambe break teeing up Travis, in a move not too dissimilar to one that brough the second goal at Sheffield Wednesday, only for Hugill to block well.

Rovers were happy to hear the half-time whistle when it arrived though, as QPR twice threatened  an equaliser before the break. Todd Kane received an excellent Eberechi Eze and unselfishly tried to square for Chair, only to overhit the pass, and the chance was gone.

An enforced change at the break saw Elliott Bennett replace Rothwell, who received treatment in the dying stages of the opening period.

Again Rovers started the brighter, with Tosin Adarabioyo having two opportunities to extend the advantage, side-foot shot being tipped wide by Kelly before heading wide from the resulting corner.

With the lead just one, and QPR’s willingness to push men forward, Rovers were far from secure and the visitors sounded a warning on the hour as Osayi-Samuel glanced wide from a Kane cross.

Travis was having a big effect on the game for Rovers, sent unceremoniously to the floor on three separate occasions, as three Rangers players were booked in the space of 10 minutes.

As the half wore on, the more the hosts were having to work out of possession, but were doing so well enough to keep Rangers at arms’ length.

Eze was having more of a say in proceedings which was a concern for Rovers who sent on Bradley Johnson and Joe Rankin-Costello with 10 to play.

They were brought on just after Gallagher nodded wide an Armstrong cross in a rare foray forward for the hosts.

Lee Wallace was whipping balls in with great regularity from the QPR left, with Lenihan well placed to clear on several occasions, but not before sub Olamide Shodipo headed straight at Walton as when Rovers were caught out.

But they negotiated the closing stages with a real grit and determination to back up the emphatic win at Sheffield Wednesday.