Rovers reporter Rich Sharpe picks out five talking points from the win at Peterborough United. 

GOAL BLITZ

It is now 14 goals in their last four away games for Rovers and there has been a real mentality shift on their travels of late.

A blistering start to the second half, not for the first time this season, was enough to see off a Posh side who went in to the game in seventh place.

In their five game winning run Rovers scored twice in the space of 25 minutes at Bury, three in 20 against Oxford, three in 22 either side of half-time at Blackpool, twice in six against Bristol Rovers and now three in 13 at the ABAX Stadium. They also scored three times in 20 minutes in their FA Cup tie with Crewe.

When Rovers play at their highest intensity few have shown they can match them and that showed as Posh were left shell-shocked by the visitors’ fast start.

TOMLINSON’S TIME

The Rovers central midfield berth proved to be something of a curse for Rovers here with first Peter Whittingham, and then Corry Evans, being forced off through injury.

With Rekeem Harper suspended, it fell to Willem Tomlinson his first senior outing since February to become Richie Smallwood’s third partner of the afternoon.

And the teenager put in an assured and mature display, coming on a difficult time with Rovers behind and losing the midfield battle, Tomlinson was happy to put his foot on the ball as well as put himself about on the physical side of things.

Tomlinson has had to be patient of late, but some strong performances for the Under-23s and opportunities opening up for him, saw him handed his chance and he proved to his manager that he can be trusted at this level.

The injuries in the midfield area are starting to mount up, so with Marcus Antonsson having already benefited by making the spot on the left of the attacking three his own, Tomlinson throwing his hat in to the mix will be welcomed by Mowbray.

DEADLY DACK

It is now eight goals in two-and-a-half months for Bradley Dack since his first for the club at Shrewsbury Town on September 23.

His first was a clinical finish in to the bottom corner while his second came at the end of an excellent burst through the centre of the pitch to round off a quick counter-attack.

He had a hand in the first, as it was his corner that Charlie Mulgrew swept home, and in the first half he was undoubtedly Rovers’ biggest threat, twice denied by excellent saves from Jonathan Bond.

Rovers won’t want to become too reliant on the 23-year-old, but in the form that he’s in, they will hope he can keep contributing to the levels he has in this winning run.

ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT

There was an anger in the Rovers dressing about conceding two goals on the road for the third consecutive game.

And having conceded from a corner to fall behind at the ABAX Stadium, the last three goals Rovers have shipped in all competitions have come via that method.

They were also caught out in the opening day defeat at Southend, as well as at Shrewsbury Town and in the home game with Fleetwood Town.

Conceding from set plays was something they had eradicated for their game but Mowbray admits it is something they will need to continue working on.

Thankfully for Rovers they won’t come up against the quality of delivery of Marcus Maddison every week, and also scored from a set play of their own when Mulgrew turned home Dack’s corner so themselves have shown what an effective route to goal it can be.

PUTTING ON THE PRESSURE

You win nothing in football for simply applying pressure to the teams at the top, but to have gone from one point outside the play-offs, to one point outside the automatic spots with an eight point cushion over seventh, shows what a run Rovers have been on.

They have firmly cemented their place in that top six who look to be building a cushion over the rest of the league, while only a late Shrewsbury equaliser was to deny them a spot in the top two.

Mowbray always believed that Rovers would get stronger as the season goes on and there is little at the moment to suggest otherwise.