In Tony Mowbray’s time in charge, the one thing they have been able to do is come with a result when they needed it most.

And it was a well-earned three points on the road at Cardiff City which ended their run of three successive defeats.

Trailing 2-1 at the break, they put together an outstanding second half display, topped by a moment of genius from Adam Armstrong, to leave the Cardiff City Stadium with all three points.

They had to do it the hard way, twice coming from behind, having trailed to goals early and late in the first half.

But a Danny Graham tap-in on his return to the side, and Dominic Samuel levelling early in the second half, saw Rovers come up with the response when they needed it most.

The news ahead of kick-off was that Joe Rankin-Costello was passed fit and started at left back, one of four changes made by Tony Mowbray.

The game-plan hadn’t changed, looking to be in control of the ball, and for long spells it appeared that Rovers were playing as the home side, dominating possession, Cardiff happy to sit off, set the traps and spring in to life when winning it back.

 A big chance came and wait for the visitors in the 10th minute, Adam Armstrong the provider for the Ryan Nyambe, an unlikely figure to be the furthest forward at the back post, but he couldn’t turn home.

And as has been the story in recent weeks, Rovers were punished within five minutes. Vaulks’ finish was a fine one, a lob with the outside of his boot from the left edge of the box, but there were question marks over the positioning of Christian Walton who could only watch the ball sail over his head and dip under the crossbar.

Fans had welcomed the return to the starting line-up for Graham, just a second league start of 2020, and he did what he did on Rovers’ last visit here four years ago: find the back of the net. He couldn’t have had an easier chance, tapping in from millimetres out after Darragh Lenihan’s header first hit the post, and then the back of the goalkeeper.

Spells of possession for Rovers were plentiful, but they were struggling to overly stretch Alex Smithies in the Cardiff goal.

At the other end, Walton palmed away a Josh Murphy strike from distance, before Rovers were cut open five minutes before the break as Robert Glatzel had an equally easy finish as Graham, tapping home Joe Bennett’s cross from inside the six yard box.

Trailing again, but little in the game or between the sides, it was a similar story for Rovers.

The second half started with talking points galore. First Samuel looked to be hauled down by Curtis Nelson, but as referee Donohue incredulously waved away penalty appeals, from the same attack Rovers levelled as Samuel picked himself up to hook the ball home from Armstrong’s deflected cross.

A penalty shout and a goal inside a minute of the re-start, Cardiff could have a goal themselves shortly afterwards, Walton getting two good hands to another Murphy drive, with Cardiff beginning to take aim from all distances.

The positive for Rovers at the start of the second half was the increased involvement of Armstrong on the left.  But it was a fine piece of play from Lewis Travis to create their next opening. A neat spin and slide-rule pass put Samuel clear, but the outstretched body of Smithies kept his effort out.

For Armstrong’s increased involvement, you couldn’t have predicted his impact on the game with 19 minutes to go, having the presence of mind, and then the skill, to shoot first time as a loose ball came his way, the ball flighted perfectly over the ‘keeper and in to the back of the net.

From a little nearer in, Joe Ralls took aim in search of an equaliser, fizzing a shot narrowly wide of Walton’s post.

The final few minutes saw Cardiff throw the cavalry forward, as the long balls and long throws came hauling towards their box, they stood tall and in the pouring south Wales trudged off with smiles on their faces.