Jon Dahl Tomasson felt Rovers showed good fighting spirit to see out the final stages with 10 men – but was disappointed they couldn’t make more their winning position.

Rovers claimed their first draw since April 9 as they drew 1-1 at Bristol City.

Bradley Dack gave Rovers the lead early in the second half when finishing off a fine move that involved Ryan Hedges and Tyler Morton.

But that lasted only 14 minutes as Antoine Semenyo pounced to tap home after Thomas Kaminski spilled a Zak Vyner shot.

Rovers then had to see out the closing stages with 10 men after Daniel Ayala, who was captain for the day, was shown his second yellow card.

They did so with few alarms, but were grateful for an offside decision when substitute Sam Bell looked to have won it for the hosts in the closing stages.

“At the end, I think the result is okay,” Tomasson said.

“When you’re leading and controlling the game I think it was a very solid performance.

“Coming away to Bristol City it’s a difficult place to come to when you look at the attacking quality they have and the last couple of weeks regarding their form.

“With leading, you can be a bit disappointed with the way we conceded the goal, individual mistakes happen in football, but I’m happy to see the lads digging in, 10 against 11, with a great spirit, fighting together and I think we can be pleased and satisfied with a draw in that way.

“On the other hand a bit disappointed if you see how we controlled the game in the way we wanted.”

Dack now has three goals since the World Cup break, and five for the season, when turning in Morton’s cut-back.

It was Rovers’ best passage of play of the game, and the head coach added: “It was a brilliant goal, overloading on right-hand side, played with few touches, a good run from Morton, a cut-back and Bradley chose a great position and a good finish.

“Normally he does that.”

On the goal Rovers conceded, Tomasson said: “That’s football, we all that Thomas has had excellent games as well and has been important the whole season.

“On another day he keeps that ball.”

Tomasson made three changes from the side beaten at Rotherham United, with Scott Wharton replacing the injured Dom Hyam, while John Buckley and Ben Brereton were recalled.

There was no place in the matchday squad for Dilan Markanday however, though Tomasson revealed that was down to a minor injury.

“He felt not 100 per cent yesterday so we didn’t take any risks with him,” he said.

“We trained yesterday in Birmingham, he came with us, but he felt something and wasn’t 100 per cent so we didn’t want to take any risks.”

Only making three changes saw Jack Vale keep his place in attack.

Sam Gallagher was ready to come on, only for the substitution plans to change after the red card as he was sacrificed when Hayden Carter was introduced.

“It’s a difficult position,” Tomasson said of Vale.

“It’s not easy to play as a striker, particularly in this league with good players.

“He’s still young, 21-year-old, not experienced at this level, but of course we all know we need to develop players to create value and be sustainable over time.

“I think he made some good steps.”