Rovers reporter Rich Sharpe picks out three talking points from the 1-1 draw at Rotherham United. 

FESTIVE FRUSTRATIONS

It was a case of what might have been for Rovers over the festive period.

Four games in 10 days brought with it six points from a possible 12, but plenty of missed opportunities.

From a last minute equaliser against Rotherham to the two cheap goals surrendered against Scunthorpe and Marcus Antonsson’s penalty miss against Northampton, Rovers won’t reflect too glowingly on their Christmas and New Year games.

There are of course reasons as to why, with unavailability certainly not aiding their cause in a hectic period.

Rovers will take stock and regroup and look to come out firing when their league programme resumes against Shrewsbury Town on Saturday week.

DACK TO DOUBLE FIGURES

It is 10 goals in his last 16 league outings for Rovers for the Rovers number 23 who became the first player to double figures so far this season.

Even when not at his best, as he wasn’t here, Dack still looks the most likely to create and when he goes through on goal, there is a confidence that he will find the back of the net.

He fired Rovers ahead with an excellent finish in to the far corner in a rare sight of goal, with his influence on the game not helped by the rough treatment he was subjected to which went unnoticed.

Adding more game-changing players to their ranks would certainly help them, and Dack, and relieving some of the pressure on his shoulders may well be a priority in the January transfer window.

UNRELENTING PACE

Rovers were the only the one of the division’s top sides not to win, with Wigan, Shrewsbury, Scunthorpe and Bradford all recording 1-0 victories.

With 25 games gone Rovers sit on 49 points, now just shy of the two point average that is a good barometer of promotion form.

With Shrewsbury now five points better off and Wigan up to seven, it shows the great consistency that the top two are continuing to show.

Although Rovers are becoming hard to beat, they will be ruing those goals conceded which have seen points slip through their fingers in recent weeks which could on reflection have seen them move in to the automatic promotion spots.

They must remain within touching distance and able to strike should it be either of the top two dropping points.