Darragh Lenihan feels Rovers as a team have addressed their defensive issues after a strong start to 2019.

Rovers finished the last calendar year with three successive defeats and had shipped 18 goals in their seven games prior to the weekend’s trip to Millwall.

But led by Lenihan, Rovers chalked up a first away win since October, and first clean sheet in two months, to move within six points of the top six.

It is back-to-back league wins for the first time since October, and after a tough Christmas period, Rovers are looking up courtesy of goals from Joe Nuttall and Adam Armstrong at the New Den.

“Too often this season the fine margins have gone against us and conceding late goals,” Lenihan told the Lancashire Telegraph.

“The clean sheet was pleasing and we can look forward to these next games.

“The last two goals we’ve conceded were penalties so we have addressed the issues as a group, not just the defenders, as a group, back to front.

“We have wanted to stay together and be difficult to break down and I feel we have done that in the last couple of games.”

The game was short of goalmouth action at either end, with the opening 45 minutes seeing no shot on target from either side.

Armstrong came off the bench late on and set up the opener for Nuttall, before scoring his sixth of the season seconds later, and Lenihan added: “The substitutions made the difference in the end.

“This is a tough place to come, they have won their last four games.

“The most pleasing thing is the clean sheet, something we haven’t had in a while, so to come away from home and get a clean sheet we can take confidence from that going in to our next two home games.”

Rovers host Newcastle in their FA Cup third round replay tomorrow, looking to maintain a good start to the new calendar year.

Tony Mowbray’s side had lost three on the bounce to sign off 2018, with defeats to Norwich, Leeds and Sheffield United.

They had lost four away matches in their last five attempts, with the 24-year-old hoping a win at Millwall can be the lift they need.

“Consistency in this league is huge. We have been a bit inconsistent these last couple of months but a good run in this league and you don’t where it can take you,” said the Republic of Ireland international.

“We have the cup game on Tuesday, and then two home games in the league after that.

“We can take confidence from this, this is one of the toughest places to come and even moving forward, away from forward, it can give us a big lift.

“We don’t want to look too far ahead. We will take each games as it comes.

“We will take confidence from this and we need to keep improving.

“For the time being the boys are confident and wanting to keep working hard for the club.”

Lenihan was named man of the match in front of the Sky Sports cameras, putting in his best performance for some time.

On his personal performance, he added: “A clean sheet is number one as a defender. The forwards are judged on goals.

“I was pleased to get the man of the match but this is a real team effort. The substitutions made a big difference for us.

“Over the next couple of months those last 20 minutes in matches are going to be key and make the difference.

“Hopefully this can help us go on a run of getting good results.”