The take-aways from Rovers' return to winning ways against Reading:  The attacking numbers stack up leaving Mowbray with food for thought - Excellence at Ewood - Possible blows at the back - In the mix of the chasing pack.

 

TOTALS TALLY UP

Rovers had to take a collective approach to try and replacing Adam Armstrong after deals for strikers, including Josh Maja, fell down in the transfer window. That is likely to be addressed in January, but for now, everyone must chip in. And for the most part, they are.

Despite their tally of 23 goals in 14 games being four shy of last season, they have scored in two more games (12 as opposed to 10).

Ben Brereton has stolen the headlines with 10 goals in 14 Championship appearances, however, his blank against Reading means he has now gone three without a goal for the first time this season.

But that tally remains three better than the whole of last season, while Tyrhys Dolan made it three Championship goals for the season, matching his tally of 2021/22, while he has another for good measure in the Carabao Cup.

Dolan was left out against QPR, his first missed minutes of the season, but was back with his usual intensity and dazzling skills to impress first on the right, but then from the left.

It was Sam Gallagher who got the nod down the middle, and was Rovers’ main goal threat up to the point where he opened the scoring just after the hour, this just after being moved out to the right.

That strike was Gallagher’s fifth of the season, while he added a third assist when teeing up Dolan for the second.

It is now goals in three successive Ewood fixtures for Gallagher, and he left the pitch with a goal and an assist for the second straight home match.

Interestingly, Tony Mowbray commented how his attacking options can operate across the front line, and while Brereton has made the spot on the left his own, Dolan impressed from there as the Chile international was moved central and Gallagher to the right.

We have seen a level of flexibility from the front line, and it is without doubt that the trio are the first choice options. But there is a chance we might see them in a different order.

“The flexibility of our front-three is huge. If Ben hadn’t been scoring so regularly, the fans would have probably been thinking that Dolan should have been playing off the left, because he was brilliant and he showed remarkable technique to bend the ball into the corner,” Mowbray said.

“I think Ben can definitely play down the middle and I don’t think that will curtail his goal output. He’s capable of controlling the ball in tight areas, he can play on the turn and he gets into the box because he has the hunger and desire to score goals now. Tyrhys off the left, Ben down the middle and Sam on the right might be something we look towards in future games.”

 

EXCELLENT AT EWOOD

Home is where the heart is, but also where the points are for Rovers. It’s now 14 out of a possible 21, with four more having slipped through their fingers against Luton Town and Coventry City.

They too have scored at least twice in six of their seven home matches, leading 2-0 in all but one Ewood fixture.

The last time Rovers scored at least twice in five successive home matches was January-March 2018 when they did it six times en route to promotion from League One.

There are four other instances this century, though the only time it included five successive league matches was January-April 2002 as part of a consecutive run of eight games.

They also did it between September and November 2009, September and November 2005, and August and September 2000, but all were inclusive of cup games and with no more than four league games.

Dating back to last season Rovers have won seven, drawn two and lost only one, with 28 goals in the process.

Fulham up next will be a big test of their home credentials.

 

BLOW AT THE BACK

Things haven’t been straightforward in defence for Rovers in recent matches.

First they lost Ryan Nyambe to a hamstring injury, then concussion, before the Namibia international limped out of the Reading win with another concern over his hamstring, one Rovers are hoping will be nothing more than cramp.

Daniel Ayala had endured a season to forget last time out, with only eight starts and two substitute outings to his name, but it’s been a smoother ride this season, playing the opening 13 games and 38 minutes unscathed, before a calf injury proved to be his downfall.

This at the same time that left Harry Pickering was already sidelined by a calf problem, meant Rovers finished the game without three of their first choice back four, but held out for only a third clean sheet.

Mowbray has been happy with the contribution of Jan Paul van Hecke in his early days at the club, while the need to keep Darragh Lenihan fit has been highlighted by their two losses without the skipper.

Hayden Carter has proven a dependable deputy, but not made the last three matchday squads, though the Academy graduate could well have another opportunity around the corner.

With such a small squad, Rovers can ill-afford an extensive injury list, but just as they appear to be getting players back, others start to falter.

The hope will be that Joe Rankin-Costello and Scott Wharton can have a smooth ride back into the first-team fold as they continue their injury comebacks to allow Rovers to have a strong complement of players to select from.

  

PARACHUTE POWER

Seven teams on 21 points, five points between fifth and 18th, the Championship is being the Championship once again. However, another pattern in the second tier is how strong the teams with parachute payment backing have been.

Leaders Bournemouth remain unbeaten after 14 games, with 10 wins and four draws and only EIGHT goals conceded.

They already have a five-point lead at the top ahead of recently-relegated Fulham, and one point further back are another of the Premier League’s departed sides, West Bromwich Albion.

Fulham thumped a Nottingham Forest team who went into the game on the back of four successive wins 4-0, with their 33 goals scored EIGHT more than their nearest challengers.

It is looking increasingly likely they will be the three to beat this season, with much of a muchness behind them, Stoke City possible the most capable challengers despite dropping to ninth after a run of three straight defeats.

As for Rovers, they are in there competing with the rest, and that feels about right.

Currently 12th on 20 points, at the same stage last season they were ninth with 21 points.