The missing 10 per cent is bearing a heavy load for Rovers.

Tony Mowbray felt his side were 90 per cent there against Bristol City, but let down by a lack of individuality at the top end of the pitch.

Mowbray feels it is that which is separating his side from those at the top of the table, yet even with the injury to Bradley Dack, they were able to call upon a forward line that was lighting up the division early in the season.

While there was an early season feel to the team, there wasn’t the same spark or fearlessness to Rovers’ play, this looking 0-0 from a long way off. Thirteen goals from 16 games in 2021 is a far cry from the near two goals a game they were averaging for the first third of the campaign.

Some have already turned thoughts to next season, but it was this was one that should have excited and captured the imagination for longer than it has. While the mitigating factors of injuries, the schedule and an Ewood pitch not conducive to free-flowing, fast, attacking football, a missed opportunity hangs over this campaign.

Mowbray could well be right about the lack of individuality, but that could be owed to their approach.

Rovers look a very well-coached side, their interchanging of positions and patterns of play are set, and that’s what earned them praise from outsiders.

Yet watching them regularly, it feels sometimes that’s become too much the case. They stick so close to their identity that they almost play to instruction, and are in need of someone to go ‘off script’ to create.

Rovers can move the ball up the pitch well, they can get into good positions out wide, but the make-up of the team means that when there, and the crosses do arrive, there are either too few bodies or a lack of height in the box to take advantage, or the quality isn’t of the standard required to pick out a team-mate.

The few memories of this match were the two driving runs of Joe Rothwell in the first half, one player who can offer a point of difference, but those were far too fleeting to have a real impact on the match. Too many players were on the periphery and unable to affect proceedings.  

Mowbray is right in that a greater share of possession is giving them greater control of the game. They are giving up far fewer opportunities, though still look vulnerable when opposition players run with the ball at pace, but in the last five matches, they have only conceded one goal from open play, and that was self-inflicted (George Puscas’ goal in the 1-0 defeat at Reading). Defensively they have looked solid.

And it’s hard to say that has come at the expense of their attacking play, because they haven’t adopted a defensive mindset. But it does feel as though teams are increasingly to let Rovers have the ball, the possession statistics against Bristol City as much a reflection of their surprisingly unadventurous approach, as Rovers pinning them back.

What this all means is that it is now one win in 11 matches, and five points from the last 33 available for Rovers, ahead of a trip to (checks notes) runaway Championship leaders Norwich City going in search of a 10th successive victory.

While Rovers have flopped from February onwards, the Canaries have been firing, 28 points out of a possible 33 has moved them within touching distance of promotion and an instant return to the Premier League.

So not the fixture that you’d particularly want next given the run of form Rovers are on. That is followed by a two week break from action before the resumption at Wycombe Wanderers on April 2.

That will be the final phase of what has been a long run to the finish for the Rovers supporters watching on from home, marooned in mid-table.

Expectations have dipped from top six, to top half, to beating last season's points tally. Now nine games out, there's little to suggest the table will be able to show any signs of progress.