Rovers let a 2-0 goal lead slip as they were pegged back to take a point from their trip to Brentford.

Adam Armstrong took his tally to 12 for the season as he chipped David Raya in the 11th minute and slotted home a second half penalty to double the lead.

Ollie Watkins got one back for the hosts with a stunning long-range strike before Said Benrahma levelled from the spot which looked to have been awarded after a dive by Mads Roerslev.

Both sides had chances to win it, Armstrong squandering a great chance for his hat-trick with the score at 2-2, with Christian Walton made a string of important saves.

Mowbray stuck with the same side that had won at Charlton, with just one change on the bench as Sam Gallagher returned from injury to replace Harry Chapman.

There was a tweak to the formation however, Rovers moving to a 4-4-2 with Samuel and Armstrong working as a front two.

Brentford recalled Bryan Mbuemo, meaning the Bees’ fearsome front three was reunited. And they cut Rovers open in the fourth minute, with Christian Walton needing to be at the rescue. Said Benrahma’s pass left Rovers flat-footed and Mbuemo in the clear, only for Walton to stop the winger rounding him and averting the danger.

Brentford’s quality was clear, but the wind was certainly having an affect on the early stages as several passes went astray.

Rovers, as they did in the reverse fixture at Ewood Park, took the lead in the 11th minute though, stunning Griffin Park, as Armstrong netted his 11th of the season. He controlled a long kick from Walton before having the calmness to lob the ball over the advanced David Raya and in to the corner.

That was to the delight of the 1,600 travelling supporters packed in to the terrace behind the goal Rovers were defending in the first half. And they saw plenty of the action thereafter as Brentford pressed forward looking for an equaliser.

But Armstrong was on the prowl at the other end, trying a trademark 20-yard drive three minutes after scoring, but not catching it as he would have wished as it flashed wide.

Down the flanks was where Brentford were looking particularly strong, with Rico Henry piling forward from left back. It was from the Bees’ left that Ollie Watkins picked the pocket of Nyambe to break in to the box and tee up Benrahma whose shot was too close to Walton who held on.

The Algerian tried his luck in the 26th minute, from a little further out, only to find the Rovers ‘keeper well placed again to hang on.

That came after Tosin Adarabioyo had given the ball away, and Rovers certainly didn’t need to give the hosts a second invitation to break forward with pace and numbers.

A lot of the game was being played in the Rovers defensive third, and it seemed the hosts were queuing up to score as the ball fizzed across the six yard box, but Walton was to the rescue again to deny Benrahma.

It was then the turn of Nyambe to turn goal-saver, putting in an incredible block after Benrahma was teed up by Dalsgaard.

Rovers were hanging on, but doing so to their credit, as they fought off wave after wave of Brentford pressure.

Mowbray tried to re-jig his midfield shape in a bid to stem the flow of Brentford attacks, and Rovers did manage to negotiate the final 10 minutes of the half a little better.

Indeed, they manged some opportunities of their own. Both Bradley Johnson and Dominic Samuel lined up shots from distance, but neither could find the target to test Raya, but as least demonstrated some threat to the hosts’ goal.

Rovers moved Samuel to the right, and Buckley to the left, at the start of the second half.

They were handed a great chance to double their lead eight minutes after the re-start, as a loose ball fell the way of Armstrong, but Raya was equal to his shot with his legs, but as the ball ran loose the ‘keeper was adjudged to have pulled Buckley to the floor. A penalty was given, and up stepped Armstrong to stroke in to the corner for a 2-0 lead.

That was in the 53rd minute, but there was always a sense that Brentford wouldn’t be going away. And they reduced the arrears nine minutes later as Watkins chested down a long ball forward, and as Rovers appealed for offside, thumped an unstoppable 25 yard drive beyond Walton and in to the corner.

The home crowd were buoyed by that, and sensed the comeback was one. There was surprise as Benrahma ballooned a shot out of the ground from 12 yards when teed up by substitute Roerslav.

The set play count was rising for the hosts, with Ethan Pinnock firing wide on the half volley when found by a left wing delivery.

Josh Da Silva lined one up from distance, that Walton watched over, but the intense pressure Rovers were under from the first half had returned.

The Rovers penalty had been hotly contested, and on first viewing the one awarded to Brentford with 20 minutes to play looked equally soft, on second viewing appeared to be a certain dive as Roerslov got between Bell and Johnson and hit the floor. Referee Tim Robinson awarded a second spot-kick, with Benrahma sending Walton the wrong way.

That set up a grandstand finish, and while the ascendancy was with Brentford, Rovers were still giving as good as they got.

Downing tested Raya with a 25-yard free kick before Brentford went straight up the other end and Mbuemo forced a save out of Walton.

Armstrong then had an excellent chance for his hat-trick, a loose pass playing him clean through, but the sprawling legs of Raya.

The goalkeepers were having a big say on proceedings, as Rovers continued to repel the hosts, with Walton saving one more big save for the final two minutes. Watkins and Benrahma linked up with the attacker tried to steer it in to the corner, but a big boot of Walton kept him out.

The final whistle brought an end to a breathless affair, one which both sides will reflect on as having a case to have taken all three.

Brentford: Raya, Henry (Dervisoglu, 83), Pinnock, Norgaard, Benrahma, Watkins, Dasilva, Marcondes (Baptiste, 60), Mbeumo, Dalsgaard, Jeanvier (Roerslav, 54)

Subs: Daniels, Valencia, , Oksanen

Rovers: Walton, Nyambe, Lenihan, Adarabioyo, Bell, Travis, Johnson, Downing, Buckley (Gallagher, 64), Armstrong, Samuel (Bennett, 73)

Subs: Leutwiler, Carter, Davenport, Brereton, Graham