Rovers reporter Rich Sharpe picks out three talking points from the 2-2 draw with Scunthorpe United at Ewood Park

GRAHAM’S GAINS

For the first time this season, and indeed since Tony Mowbray took charge, Danny Graham started for a third consecutive league game.

Aided by his goalscoring exploits in the FA Cup and the absence of Dominic Samuel through illness Graham has been handed his extended chance to lead the line.

He fed off scraps in his previous two games but took the two chances that came his way here with a touch of real goalscoring quality.

Indeed, the majority of Graham’s eight goals this season (five of which have come in his last seven outings) have highlighted his predatory instincts in front of goal.

The power of his first was enough to beat Matt Gilks while the second owed much to his technique as he swept home Marcus Antonsson’s header.

A tight hamstring forced him off on the hour, but the workrate he showed demonstrated how keen he is to play his part this term. More goals, and performances like this, will certainly aid his cause.

PEGGED BACK

In Rovers’ unbeaten run, which now stretches to 17 games in all competitions, scoring goals in bursts has been key.

However, here they weren’t able to cement their authority on the game after twice going ahead due to Scunthorpe being handed chances to level so soon after each Rovers goal.

Scunthorpe’s second, following a mistake from Elliott Bennett, came at a time when Rovers were starting to dominate, but while-ever the deficit was just one, things were never comfortable.

David Raya may well look back on the first goal and think he should have done better, with Rovers leading for a combined 13 minutes in all.

So to twice go ahead only to be held to a draw, as like Fleetwood in October, this will certainly feel like an opportunity missed.

BARE BONES

Rovers can ill afford any more injuries, particularly in the attacking areas, given their current shortage of options.

Craig Conway and Joe Nuttall were casualties of the illness bug which has hampered Rovers of late, though Dominic Samuel’s return was welcome.

He was the only attacking option on the bench for Mowbray, so when he replaced Graham on the hour mark it was left to full-back Sam Hart to fill in on the left side of midfield when Marcus Antonsson was forced off.

Even so, Rovers still had opportunities to win it late on but a lack of a real game-changer off the bench hampered their cause.

It’s an area Tony Mowbray undoubtedly wants to strengthen and on the eve of the January transfer window, it highlighted the need for reinforcements.