Neil Warnock welcomed ‘a proper result’ as Cardiff picked up their first away point of the season.

The Bluebirds boss felt his side had opportunities to win at Ewood Park but also conceded that sloppiness on their part could have seen them lose it at the death when Derrick Williams hit the post.

After defeats on the road at Wigan and Reading, Warnock said there was a focus on trying to keep a clean sheet which they got in a game that was devoid of clear-cut opportunities.

Leandra Bacuna hit the post for the visitors, before Williams went close late on, but defences were definitely on top.

“Yes really, I am,” Warnock said when asked if he was disappointed at not winning before adding: “And we could have lost it at the end, couldn’t we? Just by being a little bit sloppy, which we’ve been in both the away games so far this season, and it could have cost us.

“But, you know, overall I thought it was a proper result, really.

“I thought we had the best of the chances and the better play, but it’s a hard place to come, here, as Middlesbrough found out.

“It was our own fault we nearly conceded at the end, dithering about, but we have worked hard.

“And it was really hot out there and credit to them, (Alex) Smithies did well as well, so yeah really pleased away from home to get a clean sheet.”

Cardiff were the second recently relegated Premier League side that Rovers have faced after defeat at Fulham earlier this month.

Warnock feels there are signs that things are coming together for his side, after two wins and two defeats from their opening six games.

And he felt his central defensive partnership of Aden Flint and Sean Morrison coped with Rovers’ threat well.

He added: “I think, as Tony (Mowbray) said, ‘I can see how you’re just starting now’ and I think we are.

“We’ve learned a few lessons.

“I think we should have won at Wigan, we got battered at Reading, although there I thought if we’d carried on like we started... but you’ve got to give them credit, the lads, when we can play, we do.

“For us, it was so unusual to face so many long balls? I’d get slaughtered (for that).

“I thought we coped admirably."

“Four points from two tough games and I'm delighted."