What a difference 15 minutes can make.

More than a smattering of boos greeted the half time whistle, an edgy Ewood Park crowd voiced their frustrations at a passive display in which Swansea were shown the utmost respect.

Rovers emerged unchanged in personnel, but with a wholly different approach and attitude. It struck a chord with the home faithful who found their voice in a positive fashion, pushing their side on to claim a vital three points.

They responded to a more aggressive, front foot approach, Rovers knocking Swansea out of their stride having been given the freedom to play as they wished in the opening 45 minutes.

Jon Dahl Tomasson had tried to drive his side up the pitch, but admitted it needed the confines of the dressing room at half time to bring about the necessary changes.

Rovers looked inhibited on the ball, with few options for the player in possession and very much operating with a back five.

After the break they were able to push their wing-backs much higher up, central midfield duo Lewis Travis and John Buckley more willing to engage, and with it they were able to build up enough momentum that would eventually see them over the line with an 89th winner.

Tomasson felt finding a clinical edge was the missing ingredient for turning draws into wins.

While the goal was unlikely source, as Daniel Ayala scored his first of the season, it was hugely welcomed from only their third attempt on target.

Ayala pounced at the far post to head home after Dom Hyam kept alive a set piece, and with it deliver a 10th home win of the season and back up points on the road in the previous two matches.

Rovers have now scored late goals in each of their last two matches to collect three extra points in the process.

Of late they have had a solid platform from which to build, this a fifth clean sheet of 2023 affording them to win matches when scoring only one goal.

Rovers are impressing where it matters most, with only goal difference now separating them from the top six.

Though on this evidence, and many others that have gone before, a much more proactive style seems better suited to the players at their disposal.

Rovers are handily placed with 14 games of the season remaining, though no sense of anyone getting carried away.

That is with good reason after a first half where they managed only attempt at goal, Swansea allowed to play the game at their pace as the game drifted along.

There was nothing for the crowd to get behind, and as a result, a restlessness around Ewood.

Tyrhys Dolan’s run and shot, which flew wide of the post, was a rare moment of attacking intent in the first half.

Swansea were hardly banging down the door, but did go close in the 15th minute when Ben Cabango saw a header come back off the underside of the bar.

The visitors had little to show for their possession, and when Rovers got in their faces in the second half they had precious little territory.

Wing-backs Sorba Thomas and Harry Pickering pushed much more higher up the pitch, delivering 14 crosses between them to give Rovers some impetus.

That afforded them some territory, with the recalled Sam Gallagher glancing wide a Pickering delivery, while Brereton got on the end of a Buckley cross to force a smart save out of Andy Fisher.

Tomasson had talked about the need to protect Bradley Dack and opted to rest the seven-goal attacker having started every game in 2023 up to Saturday.

But he felt the time was right for Dack with 18 minutes remaining, and Rovers being in need of a goal.

Rovers would finish the game without their top two sources for goals though, with hamstring concerns seeing both Dack and Brereton replaced.

At that point it felt like Rovers’ chance had gone, and the issue of a lack of striker signed in January set to rear its head again as they faced another blank infront of their own fans.

The positive was their defensive structure, with Aynsley Pears well protected by those ahead of him, including an ever-improving Hayden Carter, which restricted Swansea, and Joel Piroe, to speculative efforts.

With their star attacking duo off the pitch, and Gallagher also having been withdrawn, it was left to central defensive duo Hyam and Ayala to combine for the Spaniard to head home the winner.

Rovers negotiated their way through the additional five minutes with only a minor scare as Carter came close to putting through his own goal, before a late Pears punch helped seal the deal.

It leaves Rovers whereby they host Blackpool on Tuesday knowing a win would move them back into the top six, which will provide pressure of its own.

It will also require a different approach again, with the likelihood of Rovers needing to force the issue in a bid to break down the Seasiders, potentially without both Dack and Brereton.

Tomasson has talked down Rovers’ top six chances, but did concede that supporters should be allowed to dream of a Premier League return.

They are in a position whereby even though it unexpected, a top six finish is well within reach heading into the final quarter, even if it still feels as though they are working out who they want to be.

With the personnel available, it’s hard to look beyond the second half approach as being the best way to go about things, but Tomasson has proven his ability to get results, particularly at home, by whatever means.

It’s a characteristic that has allowed Rovers to move within touching distance of 50 points at the 32-game mark.

They are battling hard for every point, and finding different ways of doing so, even if you are left waiting for that standout display to really allow yourself to get carried away.