Tony Mowbray admits Rovers “got a bit carried away” with talk of the play-offs as they ended their run of three successive defeats with victory at Cardiff City on Tuesday night.

Defeats to Wigan, Barnsley and Leeds United in the space of a week seemingly ended their play-off hopes having moved within just one point of the top six with victory over Bristol City after the restart.

Mowbray said then his players faced a potentially “life-changing” eight games, but injuries to key players and not taking chances has seen them slide down the table.

There remains a glimmer of hope, with victory over Cardiff moving them back to within five points of the Bluebirds, ahead of the weekend visit of West Brom.

“Let’s just try and win the next game, I’m just focusing on that. We got a bit carried away, one point off the play-offs, and then the results didn’t go our way and then everyone is flat,” Mowbray told the Lancashire Telegraph.

“Huge credit to them for lifting themselves and those lads are a huge credit to themselves and the football club.”

Rovers’ first win since June 20 moved them to 59 points, one shy of last season’s tally with four games of the season remaining, and all but guarantees them a top-half finish.

Mowbray sensed an opportunity of breaking in to the top six after the restart, particularly as others around them got off to slow starts, but despite all the play-off talk, doesn’t feel that was a contributory factor to the back-to-back defeats on the road at Wigan and Barnsley.

“Is that my fault? I’m trying to create an ambition for us all so that we all believe that’s where we need to be, top 10, top six,” Mowbray added.

“Did we take our eye off the ball against Wigan and Barnsley? I don’t think so. I think we performed well, but missed chances. You have to score to win matches. It can happen in football

“The Leeds game, we could have been 3-1 up after they scored. Yet we missed chances that day.

“Let’s keep going, see where we can get to. We’re on 59, we’ve got four games left, can we get 71? It’s a big ask.”

Mowbray made four changes at the Cardiff City Stadium which included the return of Danny Graham for just his second start of 2020, despite featuring in every matchday squad.

He took just 22 minutes to find the back of the net, tapping in from close range after Darragh Lenihan’s header had hit the post.

Graham, whose deal is up at the end of the season, played in a slightly deeper role, as Rovers kept faith with the 4-3-3 system they have largely operated with since the restart.

Dominic Samuel was also recalled, with both on the scoresheet, as was Adam Armstrong whose stunning winner helped Rovers back to winning ways.

Having all three attackers find the back of the net was a big boost for Mowbray who had seen his side pass up excellent chances in front of goal across their previous three matches.

“We’ve rotated those strikers around, Danny got his first start and scored,” Mowbray said.

“I’m trying to play a certain way. You saw Danny Graham and I’m not sure if you thought he played in a different way, but he linked the team pretty well for us.

“When you have Armstrong and Samuel and their speed either side, and him arriving late in the box, not stood there getting marked in a big physical confrontation, I think it worked alright.

“When you play different formations you have to be disciplined and do your job, not run around and do your own thing because the team won’t function.

“I thought they all did what we had asked of them.”