Adam Armstrong admits Rovers’ winning run has come too late to see them challenge for the top six but believes it demonstrates the squad had never given up.

Any hopes of pushing for a play-off spot ended after a run of four points from 11 games following a perfect January in which Armstrong was named Championship player of the month.

Rovers have since responded with four consecutive victories ahead of a visit to league leaders Norwich on Saturday, with the 22-year-old having ended his 15 game wait for a goal in Monday’s win over Bolton.  

“It’s a shame. We had a really good start to the season and then went through a bad patch,” Armstrong told the Lancashire Telegraph.

“It’s a shame this run is a bit late, but nevermind, we need finish the season strong and show how well we’ve done. We could have easily let the run go on, but the lads have always wanted to win games and have never given up.

“We knew we had to do it after going through a bad stage and it’s four wins on the bounce and we’re just looking to push on now.

“We’re a hardworking group and you can see that out on the pitch.

“We just need to take that in to these last two games.”

Armstrong made his 50th start for Rovers in all competitions against Bolton, and his second half strike against his former loan club on Monday took him to 18 goals.

Nine of those have come this season, matching his tally from last season’s loan spell, but the former Newcastle United man is keen to ensure he reaches double figures that time around.

And Armstrong believes that will be a good return from the wide areas.

He added: “It will be. It will be nice to reach 10 goals, with a few assists in there, from out wide.

“I think I’ve had a few chances that I should have scored so it was nice to put one away.”

While no stranger to playing out wide under Mowbray, Armstrong has largely been used on the left wing. But it’s from the right that he has flourished in the last three games, with Joe Rothwell used from the left.

Rovers are working hard to ensure Armstrong, a striker by trade, is given licence to use his pace to full effect. And the man himself feels it is working well as he looks to finish off his first full season at this level.

“It’s working well. We all get on, on and off the pitch, and hopefully we can keep going and doing it,” he said.

“It’s just the same. It’s just a wing. I have played both and enjoyed it and creating and scoring goals.”

Ahead of the trip to Norwich, he said: “We gave them a good game at our place.

“Let’s hope we can return the favour and beat them at their place.”