From coming up against them in training, Danny Graham knows how Championship strikers feel when competing up against Darragh Lenihan.

Lenihan and Tosin Adarabioyo have started four consecutive matches together, with Rovers chalking up 12 points in the process, and kept a second successive Ewood clean sheet against Derby on Saturday.

Rovers struggled with Lenihan spending five games on the sidelines, picking up just four points in the process.

But his return has made Rovers a tougher nut to crack, and asked what it's like facing him in training, Graham said: “Horrible.

“You know what Darragh is like, he’ll head the back of your head if he has to. He’s that sort of defender.

“Tosin wins a lot of headers and he pick a pass out of defence as well. It was great to see them defend like that.

“They’ve set a benchmark now and they have to defend like that week in, week out, and if they can do that then I’m sure we’ll win more games than we lose.”

Adarabioyo put in a man-of-the-match display against the Rams, and is looking increasingly assured at the back.

Rovers have struggled for fitness among their trio of senior centre halves this season, and Graham believes their availability could well prove key to their chances this season.

“You can see his quality," he said of the 22-year-old loanee.

"He’s at Man City for a reason and had a good spell at West Brom last year.

“I think the more games Tosin plays the bigger and better he’ll become for this football club.

“Hopefully we can keep him fit, keep Darragh fit, and then we’ve got a lot of competition for places that can only help the squad.”

Lenihan's absence has been sorely felt, though Tony Mowbray admits that would come across as something of an excuse.

Adarabioyo was Rovers' sole central defensive addition this summer, which also saw club captain Charlie Mulgrew moved on, joining Wigan on a season-long loan.

And Mowbray is hoping for consistency in selection, with Lenihan, Adarabioyo and Derrick Williams all having had injury issues this season.

“That’s the boy he is. It feels like an excuse but he is missed when he doesn’t play,” Mowbray said.

“I think he has to find the answers to being robust, I’ve spoken to him as a young centre half because I played in his position for 10 years.

“I didn’t miss a match, it felt like anyway, centre halves they have to build partnerships, they have to play with their mate - Pallister and Bruce or Pallister and Mowbray before that.

“They have to play together every week and then that gives the team the chance to win football matches.”