Mike Sheron was pleased with the attitude of the first-team players dropping down to the Under-23s and felt goal hero Jacob Davenport was Rovers’ best performer on the night.

Davenport joined Hayden Carter and Dan Butterworth in getting vital minutes under their belts in Monday night’s 2-2 draw with Liverpool where Scott Wharton and Joe Rankin-Costello continued their injury comebacks.

That meant several players with senior experience were involved for Sheron’s side, Carter having started five times for Tony Mowbray's men, while Butterworth’s appearance came less than a week after his first start for the senior side at QPR.

Davenport has been on the fringes of the first-team, not included in the last two matchday squads since making a sixth substitute appearance of the season against Coventry City, but has played in two of the last three Under-23s matches.

And Sheron said: “I always say that you can tell a lot more about the individual when they do come back down.

“You want people with the right character and right sort of application. I’m sure they’re disappointed they’re not playing games regularly but it’s about applying yourselves in the right manner and being as professional as you can and making sure when things aren’t going your way that you work even harder.

“Hopefully a bit of luck will come your way because I always believe that the harder you work the luckier you get.”

Carter hasn’t made the three matchday squads since the international break despite starting in the games prior to that against Huddersfield Town and Blackpool.

They are two of five starts for Carter who has deputised for injuries to Darragh Lenihan and Ryan Nyambe already this season, while the potential absence of Daniel Ayala could offer him a chance to win his place back in the squad.

The 21-year-old, who spent the final months of last season with Burton Albion, started the 2-2 draw with Liverpool on the right side of a back three before switching to full back in the second half.

And Sheron added: “It wasn’t our plan to play him at right back but that’s the kind of lad Hayden is, he wants to do whatever is right for the team and I thought he did a really good job in the second half.

“He always wants to receive the ball, he’s aggressive, he plays on the front foot and that’s about being a footballer and making good decisions and I thought he did that in the second half.”

Davenport’s two late goals cancelled out the first half double from Elijah Dixon-Bonner as Rovers earned a point.

It was their eighth in nine Premier League 2 games, but still only one win to go alongside their five draws.

Rovers have remained competitive, but unable to turn those tight matches in their favour, to sit third bottom of the standings.

Asked what needed to change in a bid to improve their fortunes, Sheron said: “We’re scoring a few goals to be honest but I feel we’ve lacked that bit of quality at the top end of the pitch.

“I’m really pleased that Harry Leonard is getting his opportunity, he’s a really good footballer, scores goals, and he needs to play at the next level.

“Connor McBride needs a bit more belief in himself at the minute, the season hasn’t really got going for him as of yet.

“It’s about that perseverance, working hard, trying to do the basics as well as you can, and we have to stop conceding goals because we’ve not had many clean sheets this year, only one, so that’s the learning.

“Each individual has to do the basics as best they can and I think we’ll have a better chance.”

A positive for Sheron was the impact of his three substitutes. Louie Annesley replaced Jalil Saadi at the break as Rovers moved to a back four, while the introductions of Luke Brennan and Harry Leonard swung the momentum in the hosts’ favour.

Striker Leonard, who has been in fine form for the Under-18s, won the penalty from which Davenport scored the equaliser, while Brennan hit the bar shortly after his arrival.

“We lacked a bit of quality, the speed of play was a bit too slow, at the top end of the pitch I didn’t think we had that bit of quality, that bit of nous, and enthusiasm at times which was disappointing,” Sheron added.

“But a game is 90 minutes and sometimes you have to learn from your mistakes and I felt we had a good chat at half time, changed a few things, and I thought all three subs made an impact.

“I thought Louie did particularly well, Harry went up against defenders which is something we need to do more of, and Luke offered us a bit of pace and quality in the wide areas.”