Tony Mowbray admits an extra time defeat was the ‘worst case scenario’ for Rovers as they exited the FA Cup in their third round replay with Newcastle United.

But the boss felt his side demonstrated their battling qualities as they came from 2-0 down to take the game to extra time.

Adam Armstrong and Darragh Lenihan were on target for Rovers after the visitors raced in to a 2-0 lead inside the opening quarter.

Rovers were forced to field a makeshift defence, with four defenders out, as Mowbray switched his team just a few hours before kick off with Jack Rodwell struggling with illness.

“We got off to a bad start, we had four centre halves missing and we had to play a formation that we haven’t played all season,” Mowbray explained.

“We had two fullbacks at centre half because we didn’t have any centre halves.

“We reacted well. The team showed what they’re all about.

“Ultimately, we’re left disappointed. The worst case scenario for us was it going to extra time and then getting beat. The players have got a massive game on Saturday, we’re left frustrated.”

Rovers’ focus will now turn to a Championship fixture with Ipswich Town on Saturday and another Ewood date with Hull City on round four weekend. They have moved within six points of the top six with back-to-back wins at the start of 2019.

And keen to continue the forward momentum, Mowbray said: “We have to win Championship matches, that’s what I’ve just said to them. We’ve got Ipswich on Saturday – a game we have to win.

“We’ve got two home games coming; Ipswich and Hull. Six points will put us back on the cusp of the play-offs.

“We were playing in League One last year with that team that was out there and they’re doing really well.

“I just want them to keep showing the commitment and the passion. I think this is a working class area and the team should be built of the same stuff.”

Rovers' cause wasn't helped by injury and illness ahead of the replay, with Bradley Dack only able to be on a bench which included Joe Grayson who had played 90 minutes for the Under-23s only 24 hours earlier.

The boss said: “We didn’t have any other players registered to be honest, so we sat him (Dack) on the bench with one or two academy kids. Grayson played 90 minutes for the under 23s last night. We had eight first team players unavailabl. It was a tough night for us, but I think we did pretty well.”

Rodwell was ruled out through illness, as was Paul Downing, with Derrick Williams (calf) and Charlie Mulgrew (hamstring) already ruled out because of injury.

Mowbray, who admitted goalkeeper David Raya ‘should have done better’ with the final two Newcastle goals, said of his options: “You work with your team and then on the morning of the game you’ve got two players phoning up sick saying they can’t get out of their beds.

“The other two centre halves, who would usually be playing, are injured. I thought we played alright, we had a go.

“Premier League footballers are Premier League footballers even in a squad of 25. We could feel that with the quality of their shooting and their goals. They scored four goals which shows you that they have quality at the top end of the pitch.”