Tony Mowbray felt his side produced 90 per cent of what he was looking for in the 0-0 stalemate with Bristol City.

Mowbray said the missing ingredient was ‘individuality’ around the opposition box as the Robins restricted Rovers to just two shots on target from their 14 attempts at goal across the 90 minutes.

It is now just six points from the last 33 available, but Mowbray maintains that his side have shown positive signs during the winless run that has seen them slip to 15th in the table.

“The team has got an identity, the team is playing a brand of football that if we take our chances we win pretty comfortably and everyone gets excited about the team as they were at the start of the season,” Mowbray said.

“At this moment it’s a bit more difficult, and teams at the top end of this division have players with a bit more individual craft that can turn a tight football match.

“We’ve played Swansea and Brentford and there’s been nothing in those games, I’ve not come away from any game and thought ‘wow, they’re way better than us’. Yet they have individuals that can make a difference at the top end of the pitch and take the chances when they come.

“We’ve got Adam Armstrong who’s done that for a long spell, but as I’ve said, teams are playing a lot differently against us, they play a lot more men filling spaces.

“Adam doesn’t score many goals with his head, so if you break his goals down then they’ve been mainly on transition. Teams are playing deeper against us, and it’s my job of course to find the answers.

“When do you put Gallagher on? Sam isn’t someone who historically hasn’t scored goals from crosses, it’s something we’re working every day on but we’re finding it more difficult to score goals with the group we’ve got.”

Goals have been hard to come by, with 13 in 16 matches in 2021, but Rovers did enjoy more than 70 per cent possession across the night, without being able to find a way through.

“I think from our perspective, there was a lot of good stuff, 90 per cent of what we need,” Mowbray added.

“We were lacking that bit of individuality that can make the difference.

“It wasn’t a tight game, it was a one-sided game, yet we couldn’t break them down. It was a frustrating night.

“We had 70-odd per cent of the ball, it doesn’t always get you a goal but you’d always rather be the one in control of the game rather than hanging on and blocking shots, there was enough right, but to keep working on at the top end of the pitch.

“It seems strange to say that because for almost half the season we were the top scorers in the league with the top goalscorer in the league and now it’s looking more difficult for us to score, but at the other end we’re looking more solid.”

Rovers brought Joe Rothwell and Lewis Holtby into the midfield to add creativity, as well as top scorer Armstrong in attack, along with Liverpool loanee Harvey Elliott.  Mowbray says visiting teams are continuing to change their approach against Rovers, with the Robins the latest side to stifle their attack.

“I think it’s individuality, when teams play deeper against you because they know we can play how we can, they make life more difficult,” Mowbray said.

“They weren’t even trying to score towards the end, generally they were happy to take a point. Generally when you build a reputation over 20 games of a season and you score lots of goals, teams play slightly differently.

“I spoke to Nigel (Pearson) after the game and he was impressed with the rotation of the team and the ball possession, how we stretch the backline and put the ball in the box, but ultimately there was no goals.

“I hear every week from other managers how good our team is, but generally that is on the back of a 1-0 defeat.”