RichieSmallwood says Rovers must keep their emotions firmly in check as they bid to win promotion.

The midfielder is happy with the position in which Rovers find themselves in, top of League One with nine games to play.

The two sides chasing them, Shrewsbury and Wigan, have games in hand, with the Latics playing one of those this evening as they head to Bradford.

Paul Cook’s side battled back from 2-0 down to earn a point at Ewood Park 10 days ago, but Rovers gained two points on them at the weekend.

And with things changing so regularly, 27-year-old Smallwood admits no-one should be getting too high or too low by results.

He said: “You can’t get too high when you win. You have to keep going when you are struggling.

“Wigan showed last week how much that point meant to them. We were disappointed to not get the three points.

“Fast-forward a week and we’re the ones celebrating and they’re the ones who are disappointed.

“We’ve got nine big games left and if we can keep winning then we’ll get those points on the board and keep the pressure on our opponents to win their games in hand.

“They will have to win them as we’ll have our points on the board.

“We’ll be sitting back on those midweek nights watching on.”

It was a successful weekend for Smallwood who completed a 13th game without a yellow card, meaning he has reached the 37 game amnesty still on nine bookings.

A 10th before Saturday would have earned him a two match ban and cost him his ever-present record in the side.

However, he would now need to reach 15 cautions before the end of the season to serve another suspension.

And the tough-tackling midfielder, who is yet to be booked in 2018, said: “There have been a couple of games I could have got a card. I don’t think it’s impacted my game too much - maybe the last couple of games slightly when I’ve been closing in on this moment.

“There have maybe been a couple of challenges I’ve pulled out of when before I’d have gone in there.

“I’m thankful it’s over now and I can continue playing the way I like to play and helping the team for the rest of the season.

“I’ve probably had a few juicy challenges in those 13 games when I’ve been on nine bookings, but I can get that off my back now, I suppose.”