A PULSATING top of the table clash saw Rovers lose a two goal lead in a game which befitted both side’s standing as favourites to win promotion.

The first-half belonged to Rovers, the second very much to Wigan, with both having grievances with referee Geoff Eltringham throughout.

Two moments of quality from Bradley Dack, and a thumping Darragh Lenihan tackle in the lead up to the first goal, saw Rovers take a deserved 2-0 lead in to the break.

Adam Armstrong scored his fifth goal of a productive loan spell in the sixth minute, firing in to the left corner beyond Christian Walton following an out to in run.

Elliott Bennett then made it two goals in two games to show his drought is well and truly over, after a terrific reverse pass from Dack.

Things threatened to boil over throughout, not least on the touchline with Tony Mowbray and opposite number Paul Cook not seeing eye to eye in a fractious, but frenetic, encounter.

A terrific first-half showing looked to have set Rovers on their way to the three points, but after the break it was Wigan who hauled themselves back in to it with two goals in the space of eight minutes.

The first saw Michael Jacobs scuff a shot which found its way over the line via a deflection off Will Grigg and despite the best attempts of Charlie Mulgrew on the goal-line.

A soft free-kick awarded against Armstrong out wide cost Rovers dear, Max Power’s inswinger finding its way through a crowded penalty box and beyond David Raya with 18 minutes to go.

Both fancied their chances of winning it late on but a fractious affair was to end all square and both with an eye on meeting again next season, but in the Championship.

Armstrong had Rovers ahead after six minutes, shooting in to the corner on his left foot after Dack’s throughball followed a crunching Lenihan tackle on Nick Powell.

Wigan responded well, Gavin Massey dragging an effort wide after Will Grigg had found him with his pull-back.

But Rovers took control of the game seven minutes after their opener. Bennett was to fire home from a tight angle but it owed much to Dack whose second terrific pass of the afternoon followed a positive break down the left.

They had a chance for a third, with Walton forced to tip over Corry Evans’ shot at the end of a good move down the right which saw Ryan Nyambe deliver an excellent cross.

The closest Wigan came in the opening 45 minutes was an overhead kick from Powell, fortunately for Rovers straight in to the arms of Raya.

Rovers almost managed to negotiate the opening 20 minutes without any scares, only for Wigan to find a way back in to it moments after they made an attacking double switch.

A deep ball to the back post from Powell fell kindly to Jacobs whose scuffed shot looked to take a nick off Grigg on the way in.

That was with 64 minutes on the watch, with the visitors only having to wait until 18 minutes from time to level. Armstrong’s shirt pull on Callum Elder brought about a cheap free-kick, only which found its way in as Power’s delivery beat everyone to nestle in the near post.

Both poured bodies forward in search of a winner, though in truth the game deserved to end all square.

The best two teams in the division went toe-to-toe and over the course of their two meetings this season, little can separate them.

Rovers will kick themselves they couldn’t put greater distance between themselves and the chasing pack. But 10 huge games to go, they remain top of the pile and few would bet against both these sides celebrating promotion come May.