The Swansea City of 2020/21 is a very different one, according to Tony Mowbray, who has seen a clear shift in focus from Steve Cooper’s side.

Swansea were previously well-known for their possession-based style, but their rise to second in the table has been built on the best defensive record, with 14 clean sheets in 23 games, and just 13 goals conceded.

Both of their goals in the 2-0 win over Rovers came from set plays, and Mowbray feels that is an area of their game his side will need to be aware of again, not least after conceding from a corner against Stoke City.

“I know they have had issues with their pitch, they’ve relaid theirs, and for a team who want to play a certain brand of football they pulled theirs up and put another one in,” Mowbray said.

“I watched the game against Barnsley at the weekend where they were nothing like the Swansea you’ve seen before, more direct balls, throw-ins from almost the halfway line coming into your box, getting it forward.

“They’re second in the league so what we do know is that they’re coming with confidence and belief that they can win football matches and we have to make sure we can match all that and have a belief ourselves that we can beat anyone at home and give it our best shot.”

Swansea are into their third season since relegation from the Premier League, with Mowbray feeling they have coped with life in the second tier well.

“They came out of the Premier League and had to re-adjust, change a lot of players,” he added.

“Ayew is still there from the Premier League days and one of the best strikers in the division, they’ve done exceptionally well on the transition out of the Premier League.”

Swansea are in the middle of a fine run of form, with four wins and a draw from their last five games, as well as victory in the FA Cup. While Rovers have won just twice in their last 10 matches, Swansea have only lost once, and go into the game in much the better form.

And Mowbray believes victory over the Swans would be a big lift for his side.

He said: “For us it’s the next opportunity, we shouldn’t fear Swansea, I watched them against Barnsley and they were very direct, very un-Swansea like, the manager mentioned our pitch in his post-match interview so let’s wait and see how they come.

“It will make for an interesting game, one for us that we should try and judge where we are.

“A team second in the league, if we can get a result then we should take a lot of confidence from it.”