Lewis Travis was substituted just before the hour mark, moments after escaping what looked a certain second yellow card in Rovers’ defeat to Bristol City.

The midfielder, making his ninth consecutive start, was booked in the first half for halting a counter attack, and escaped without a second yellow when bringing down Jamie Paterson.

Tony Mowbray quickly made his move, bringing on Ryan Nyambe as Harrison Reed moved in to central midfield alongside the recalled Richie Smallwood.

The booking was Travis’ first of the season, with his only previous caution coming when sent off in the win at Portsmouth 12 months ago.

“He could have got a second yellow. The lad was running away from him and he’s caught him,” Mowbray said.

“You see that many times, a second yellow and he’s off.

“He’s a young boy, learning the game and is adjusting to the speed of the game against the better teams in this league.

“He’s got lots of growth in him.

“In one of his first games he was sent off at Portsmouth and he has to learn.

“He has a wining mentality, a winning nature, we know what he’s like, but he has to make sure that he keeps it under control.”

Lee Johnson felt Travis should have been sent off, though acknowledged defender Bailey Wright was fortunate himself to escape a second yellow. Johnson opted to replace Wright after a foul on Nyambe, bringing on Eros Pisano who would go on to score the winner.

“The young lad who has come through the academy should have gone,” Johnson said of Travis.

“Obviously Bailey Wright had been booked and was against someone with the speed of Armstrong and was playing a little out of position anyway as a natural centre-half and he got caught outside the line of the ball a couple of times so it just wasn't worth it," explained Johnson on taking Wright off.

“Little did I know that the substitute would go on and score the winner and sometimes when your luck's in that sort of thing happens.”