In the end Rovers could reflect on a best performance of the season, possibly even under Tony Mowbray’s 19 month tenure, as they claimed three points at Stoke City.

Epitomised by captain for the day, Elliott Bennett, there was a discipline out of possession, picking the right moments to press, but also a quality on the ball, showing the vast improvement Mowbray had been looking for.

They made a Stoke side packed with international caps and multi-million pound signings look laboured and were in complete control.

But that tells just half the story. Nothing could prepare anyone inside the bet365 Stadium, with many home fans having already headed for the exits, for what would follow.

The thigh of Saido Berahino, following a Peter Crouch knockdown, and the shin of Tom Ince, after a fresh air kick from Amari’i Bell, found the back of the Rovers net turned the game on its head and set up a thrilling final eight minutes.

The home crowd, who had vilified their side for much of the afternoon, found their voices, roaring the Potters on. Darragh Lenihan had hardly put a foot wrong, but in injury time was caught under a Ryan Woods punt forward and in his haste to get back, pushed Berahino to the floor.

There was no doubt in the striker’s mind as he picked the ball up, only to slam it against the crossbar as Rovers escaped.

The final whistle brought the three points Rovers expected before the late Stoke revival, but it was celebrated more in relief than for the quality of their display.

Coming in to the match Rovers had been beaten just once in eight matches, but had gone three matches without a win for the first time since April 2017. While draws are good for not knocking the confidence, wins mustn’t be far away.

And courtesy of three excellent pieces of play, victory number three of the season was chalked up.

The game had been a tight and cagey affair for the opening 26 minutes until after staying patient, Richie Smallwood’s deflected pass fell in to the path of Bradley Dack who swivelled before finding the far corner with his left foot.

Danny Graham had found himself defending in the left back spot only moments before, but took down a raking Elliott Bennett pass before taking the ball forward and firing across Jack Butland and in to the corner.

The second half was then just over a minute old when Bennett took down a Derrick Williams pass to slide in Dack once again. This time he opted to square for Harrison Reed, who after steadying himself, slid a shot under Butland.

It was all too easy for Rovers as Graham played in Dack just before the hour, and after being denied by Butland he saw his follow-up come back off the post.

Had Rovers not seen the game out, that chance, as Kasey Palmer’s miss at Ipswich Town was, may have been seen as the turning out.

But it shouldn’t require three or four goals away from home in the Championship to win games. Points, and wins, are hard enough to come by without having put themselves through the wringer in the process.

Taking the three games in seven days as a block, five points, and being disappointed with that return, against Aston Villa, Derby and Stoke City shows signs that Rovers are moving in the right direction.

The final word should be left to Stoke boss Gary Rowett, who before laying in to his men, credited Rovers, who blocked nine goalbound shots and made an incredible 41 clearances. For all the nerves of the final 10 minutes, Rovers did actually defend well.

“Blackburn showed a massive amount of fight. I think Blackburn gave us a bit of a lesson late on under pressure when they are throwing bodies around and being aggressive and doing everything they can to stop a goal going in.” You can’t say fairer than that.