Rovers ‘talked themselves out of the play-offs’ – their chances written off after three successive defeats.

And while Tony Mowbray admits his side face an uphill battle to make the top six, he’s putting play-off talk to the back of his mind and focusing on taking the first step towards winning their final four matches.

That comes in the form of title-chasing West Bromwich Albion who have the Premier League in their sights with four matches to go.

Mowbray felt Rovers got caught up in the bubble of play-off talk, and is instead focusing on one game at a time, knowing each game has become something of a must-win.

“Our ambition is to win the next game, first and foremost, but if we can win all four let’s see where it takes us,” he said. 

“We practically talked our way out of the play-off situation the other week, and it’s still a massive ask, and on the back of three defeats you might think how on earth is it possible to win four on the bounce.

“But there were signs the other night that we can dominate matches. This next game is our biggest test.

“West Brom have players who can make a difference in the final third, they have some high quality and at times that can make a difference in tight games.”

Victory over Cardiff City in midweek brought them back within five-points of the sixth-placed Bluebirds ahead of a weekend of action which sees the top sides in the division all play off against each other.

The picture for many of those teams will be a lot closer come Sunday evening, with Rovers still the outsiders, sitting 10th with 59 points.

“Play-offs or not, let’s just try and win the next four games and see where it takes us,” Mowbray added. “Twelve points might not be enough, it might be, there’s a lot of teams taking points off each other, so let’s win the first one.

“If you’re on any journey you need to take the first step so we have really gone back to that point: let’s just win the next game.”

With games, and press conferences, coming thick and fast, Mowbray has discussed his ambitions in great detail since the re-start, which started well for Rovers as victory over Bristol City moved them to seventh, one point off the play-offs.

That is the closest they have been to the top six all season, and Mowbray admits it has been a balance between raising ambition with talk of the play-offs, but not taking his eye off the ball.

“Every question you answer is about the play-offs and it can take your eye off just winning the next game. Ultimately That’s where we are,” he said.

“Our aim is to win the next one and see where it leaves us. The next one is next West Bromwich Albion who could be top of the league when we play them so it will be tough.

“They’re very clinical, they have players at the top end of the pitch who can individually hurt you. Players who can pick the right pass at the right moment and people who can put the ball in your net.

“It’s a game we should look forward to, we beat at that home last season, we know that we will give them problems, it’s just whether we can take our chances.”