Billy Barr was encouraged by side’s display at Manchester City where opposite number Enzo Maresca was among those to credit Rovers’ performance.

Rovers Under-23s dominated much of their Premier League 2 meeting on Monday night where they were denied the victory that would have taken them top of the table by a string of James Trafford saves.

He made a string of important stops, including one from Tyrhys Dolan, while midfielder Ben Paton was denied by the post, and despite finishing the game with 10 men, Rovers were the most likely to win it.

They were punished for their two slips, a mistake by Louie Annesley allowing Ben Knight to equalise midway through the second half after Sam Burns had given Rovers a deserved lead inside the opening quarter.

The Gibraltar international defender was later sent off for pulling back Knight, but still Rovers poured forward in search of a winner.

“I thought our shape was really good, the communication was there and the centre halves were stepping in really well when they needed to,” Barr said of their first fixture of 2021.

“I think Jordan’s only had two saves to make, and one of those came via a deflection off Louie Annesley.

“We’re playing against a top Under-23s side that I’m sure had some future Premier League players in it.

“Speaking to their coach after the game, he’s mentioned how we were one of the only teams that wanted to play against them rather than just dropping off and not playing.

“That’s a nice bit of credit for the lads as well.

“But there’s no point doing it just the once, we have to remain competitive and get another performance in next week.”

Rovers have now taken 14 points out of a possible 18 on their travels this season and face a busy February with five matches next month, including a trip to Leicester City next Monday.

Jordan Eastham had few saves to make, City scoring their equaliser against the run of play, while at the other end Rovers were twice denied by the woodwork and the impressive Trafford.

“I think we’ve had more chances against a very good team,” Barr added.

“When you give the ball away cheaply, as we did in the first half at times, you can spend a long time chasing, but I thought we were really effective when we did get it back.

“I thought we were really good. Even when we went down to 10 men, we still felt we had the opportunity to nick something.

“Credit to the lads for standing firm and getting us a point in the end.”

City have scored 34 goals in their 12 league games, but struggled to breakthrough a Rovers side who they remain above in the table only by goal difference.

“It was a difficult game,” Maresca said. “We already knew they were a good team, especially away.

“I think they have played five games and won four and drew one so we knew that.

“We could maybe have controlled the game a little bit more. We conceded some counter-attacks we could have avoided but as I said from the beginning: it’s a journey where we have to learn many things and this is one of the things we have to learn.

“We had some very good moments but also struggled, but for me overall it was a good game.”