SLIPPING back in to the bottom three despite making it five games unbeaten shows just what a perilous position Rovers were in prior to the arrival of Tony Mowbray.

Rovers made it nine points in five games under their new head coach, but were to leave Carrow Road frustrated, and back in the relegation zone, after a 2-2 draw.

The two sides met on the opening day, with a rampant Norwich inflicting a 4-1 drubbing on Rovers.  That was the first of a seven game winless run at the start of the season, and a big reason for why Rovers find themselves in the position that they do.

But despite dropping back in to the relegation zone, there remains a greater sense of belief and confidence that Rovers can pull off their escape act with 10 games to go under Mowbray.  

There is no cause for panic despite this missed opportunity.  Rovers have come a long way in a short space of time, but still have plenty of work ahead if they're to win their battle against the drop.  

In isolation, a point away from home at Norwich, who went in to the game eighth in the table, shouldn’t be scoffed at.

Indeed, many of the Rovers fans who made the arduous 450 mile round-trip to East Anglia, would likely have taken a point prior to setting from East Lancashire.

The frustrations for Mowbray at the final whistle however, were clear, not least having played against 10 men for over 70 minutes after Norwich left-back Mitchell Dijks was shown a deserved red card for a horror tackle on Marvin Emnes, moments after Cameron Jerome had given Norwich a 19th minute lead.

Then having battled their way in to the ascendancy courtesy of a Lucas Joao brace, they switched off just three minutes later and allowed Norwich to level through Jerome.

With seven of Rovers’ remaining 11 games being away from home, Mowbray knew how vital it was to find a way to win games on their travels, something Rovers have struggled to do all season, collecting just two wins, and 10 points prior to this away from Ewood Park.

With high-flying Fulham, Brighton and Reading to come in the next four games, three points here would have really helped ease some of the pressure on Rovers going in to them, but that has only now risen having failed to hang on at Carrow Road, with results elsewhere sending them back in to the dropzone after a seven day absence.

Rovers fell behind to on 19 minutes, as Jason Steele let Josh Murphy’s cross through his hands, with Jerome on hand to tap in from close.

The sending off soon after changed the outlook of the game, with Rovers from then on in bossing proceedings, but failing to make the most of their opportunities, as Danny Graham and Liam Feeney both passed up good chances in the first-half.

But the arrival of Lucas Joao prompted the Rovers fight-back. He hit the inside of the post with an effort from a Derrick Williams cross with his first touch, before being on hand from close range to turn in Connor Mahoney’s cross-shot with 17 minutes to go.

And five minutes later, Joao doubled his, and Rovers’ tally, with a bullet header at the far post to round off a well-worked move.

But just as Rovers were thinking about a huge three points, Norwich hit back, as after good work down the right by Jacob Murphy, Jerome was able to fire home, via a deflection, to level the game up with nine minutes to go.

A missed opportunity - but not a fatal one.