Steven Gerrard felt his Rangers side needed to be more ruthless after spurning several good chances in the 1-1 draw with Rovers.

The hosts were the better side for long spells and deservedly led through Jermain Defoe’s 30th minute header.

Jayson Leutwiler had earlier saved well from the former England striker, and Liverpool loanee Sheyi Ojo, reserving his best spot for the second period when he tipped wide a Scott Arfield shot.

Rovers improved after the break, helped by the half-time introduction of Lewis Travis who slotted home the equalising 20 minutes after the re-start.

They looked the most likely to nick it late on, and Gerrard felt his side played their way in to trouble in the second period.

“I thought it was a fantastic test for both teams, and speaking to their staff after the game, they welcomed the challenge from us and vice-versa,” he said.

“So we are pleased with a lot of the performance, though I thought we were a bit loose at times and we said to the players when the players and the levels rise – and the likes of Blackburn are a good team – if you are sloppy and the ball is turned over, then you will be punished.

“Going back to last season, and when we played the likes of Hibs, our mistakes were costly for us in the league campaign. So it was a similar story, when the ball was turned over, we paid for it.

“So we will definitely take the positives from the game and, for the majority of the first half, we are really pleased.

“We have to be more ruthless in front of goal when we are playing well and are in control.

“The two learning things I think I’ll take from the game is we need to take our chances to kill teams off and we can’t turn the ball over in dangerous areas as good players and good teams will punish you."