Tony Mowbray believes Rovers can challenge for the top six next season if they can rid themselves of the inconsistencies that hindered their progress in 2019/20.

Rovers were within touching distance of the top six for much of the season half of the season, but fell away after the re-start following three successive defeats.

They ended the season with six defeats in 10 matches, dropping to 11th in the table, but have had a run of six wins in eight matches, and one of four wins in six, throughout the course of the season to show their credentials.

It meant an improvement of four places, and three points, on their 2018/19 campaign, but heading in to what will be his fourth full season in charge, Mowbray believes his side will be in top six contention.

“I don’t think we’ll be far away. We have a lot of talented players at the club and they need time, experience of playing in this league and what it takes, we’ve lacked a little bit of game management, apart from that, we’re a proud football club and we’ll strive to get to the top six next year.

“With eight games to go we were a point off the play-offs and have beaten Brentford, we’ve given Leeds good games, at our best we can be pretty good, we just have to strive for consistency.”

The Championship line-up for 2020/21 is taking shape, and will be complete after next Monday’s Championship play-off final.

Norwich City, champions of the second tier in 2018/19, will be back in the Championship next season after relegation from the Premier League, while Watford and Bournemouth saw their five-year stays in the top-flight come to an end at the weekend.

Coming up from League One are Coventry City, one of Mowbray’s former sides, as well as Rotherham United, relegated in 2018/19, and Wycombe Wanderers who were promoted through the play-offs.

With financial uncertainty surrounding many in the division, even with the parachute payments, the relegated Premier League teams could suffer the most with the drop in revenue.

And Mowbray says the strength of the relegated sides could well impact on how the division looks next season.

He added: “We believe we can (challenge), but you never know how strong the relegated Premier League teams are going to be, are they going to keep their best players, are they going to be strong in this year, or scrambling around.

“There’s no guarantee the teams coming down aren’t going to be strong, despite having huge wage bills, we have to look after ourselves, improving, and trying to make the top six as soon as we can.”