While he was well protected by those infront of him Tony Mowbray was pleased for stand-in goalkeeper Aynsley Pears who claimed a clean sheet on his first Championship start in over a year.

Pears was drafted in from the start, having come off the bench in the win at Stoke City, with Thomas Kaminski ruled out with a side problem.

It was only a fourth league start in Rovers colours for Pears but he helped the side to a second successive 1-0 victory as they held out for three points against Preston North End.

His main contribution was a smart first half save to deny Ched Evans, while the sight of him diving on a loose ball late in the second half brought huge cheers from the home stands.

And Mowbray said: “While he wasn’t asked to do that much, he did what he had to do which is what you ask.

“I talked to him before the game that this wasn’t a game for coming for crosses and I thought he did well.

“I’m pleased for Aynsley because a No.2 goalie can go months and months without a ‘proper’ game of football it can be difficult to come and be expected to do the basics well.

“He did that and I’m pleased for him.”

Scans revealed Kaminski had sustained minor damage to a stomach muscle when making a save in the win at Stoke.

He will continue to be assessed but the Belgian is keen to play when Rovers return to action next weekend at Bournemouth.

“I think he’s got a chance,” Mowbray said of his No.1.

“The scans have a strain to the stomach muscles, rather than a tear, so he’ll build it up bit by bit.

“He’ll see how much pain he has and then of course if we decide to play him and he’s not 100 per cent repaired them a strain could become a tear and those are the decisions you have to make.

“We’ll assess him through the week and see how he gets on.

“He’s pretty positive in his mindset and that he’ll be ready for next week which is a positive for us.”