Four talkings points as Rovers make it four wins in a row for the second time this season.

BIG BEN UP AND RUNNING

There couldn’t have been a more popular goalscorer for Rovers than Ben Brereton as he swept home his first for the club.

It has been a while in the making, this his 27th appearance, but just fourth league start and in his favoured No.9 role.

His acquisition has been the hot topic of the season, but there can be no doubt about the groundswell of support towards the forward in getting his first goal.

Scoring before the end of the season will be a big confidence lift heading in to what will be a big pre-season for the attacker who celebrated his 20th birthday last week.

He looked more composed with his back to goal here, and although he passed up two good openings in the second half, there were some promising signs leading the line.

THE JACK RODWELL CONUNDRUM

Jack Rodwell was handed a rare midfield start for Rovers, only his third this season after outings at Bolton and Leeds earlier in the season.

This followed two substitute appearances in the holding role, with the central defender experiment seemingly knocked on the head for now.

He looked full of energy here, sometimes a little too enthusiastic to follow the ball leaving Rovers susceptible to the counter-attack, but on the ball his quality is undoubted.

But with his deal up in the summer, his future is less than certain. It appears more likely at this juncture that he will go than stay, but would it be an oversight on Rovers' part having given him the opportunity initially, seen him get fit, to let someone else reap the benefit going forward?

However, Rovers will still look to recruit in central defence and central midfield this summer which could knock him further down the pecking order.

Rodwell, now 28, is a likeable character and settled well, over-riding any perceptions of him being disruptive or a mercenary that may have  been based upon any documentaries aired or things that may have been written.

EWOOD QUIRK

The last six matches in which Rovers have scored at Ewood they have won.

The last four times they have conceded, they have lost.

Rovers’ last five wins have come at Ewood have been to nil, while their last five defeats have all come without scoring.

The last time Rovers conceded at home and won, was New Year’s Day against West Brom, while the last time they scored and didn’t win was the 2-2 draw with Birmingham on December 15.

Much has been made of Rovers’ poor defensive record on the road, with the 46 conceded in 22 games the worst in the division.

But at home, only Middlesbrough (16) and Sheffield United (17) have conceded fewer home goals than Rovers’ 19. 

This was also the first time since 2009/10 that Rovers had done the double over Bolton.

NEXT TARGET

After reaching 50 points, Tony Mowbray set his side a task of reaching 60. He admitted they will be disappointed were they not to do that with two games remaining, albeit the next being a trip to leaders Norwich.

A top half finish is still a distinct possibility, with just one point separating Rovers in 14th with Nottingham Forest in 11, while they have a six point gap to  Stoke in 16th so are unlikely to be overtaken by anyone other than Brentford.

Rovers could finish fewer than 10 points outside of the play-offs which has to be viewed as a more than decent return. Though also only likely to add to the disappointment of that run of four points from 11 from January to early April.