Jon Dahl Tomasson is managing Rovers’ squad, but also their expectations.

The notion of not getting too high on the highs, and too low with the lows, couldn’t be any more relevant to the Rovers head coach.

You would be hard-pushed to know by his demeanour, at least outwardly and in public sight, as to which way a result had gone.

In a season where they have been up and down, and performances likewise, the one constant has been his calm and assured persona.

Given what’s at stake, that could prove crucial.

Tomasson is used to the high stakes, his early managerial career, and decorated playing days, demonstrate that.

Some would argue that his playing down of Rovers’ play-off chances may come across as somewhat defeatist.

Yet there is no chance of anyone getting carried away with Tomasson at the helm.

He will keep his emotions in check with the hope that will rub off on his players who will need to keep their cool in the battle for the top six.

“I’m a realist, I know what we are up against and we are up against budgets that are extremely high. When you work with a team and try and get the team and the club in a special direction then it takes time,” Tomasson said.

“There will be ups and downs in this inconsistent league so there needs to be someone who needs to be stable.”

What he has done though is instil a winning mentality into his side who have battled hard for every one of the 52 points they have achieved.

While the football might not always have been free-flowing, nor the wins made outsiders stand up and take note, it has proven to be effective. The numbers back that up.  

It is 16 wins in 33 league games, 11 in 16 at Ewood, 13 clean sheets, only one defeat in 11 in 2023.

Hamstrung by injury, Rovers finished the game without Thomas Kaminski, Daniel Ayala, Scott Wharton, Harry Pickering, Bradley Dack and Ben Brereton.

Stepping up to fill that void are unlikely heroes of the hour Aynsley Pears, Joe Rankin-Costello and Hayden Carter, while Callum Brittain and Sam Szmodics impressed on their first starts since December 10.

The way that Tomasson has been able to maintain a hunger, but also fitness, within the whole squad is testament to his man-management skill and also level of planning.

More senior players featuring for the Under-21s, and regular internal games, have been a key feature of his tenure, and in a 46-game season those minutes could prove invaluable.

Players won’t likely see the benefit of that until called upon, and for Szmodics and Brittain to slot in so seamlessly was indicative of that.

The way in which so many players have contributed throughout the season has arguably been the most impressive aspect of his management.  

There is a spirit, hunger and togetherness within the squad, who know of Tomasson’s demands and appear keen to prove themselves at every opportunity.

On the flip side of that, Tomasson has proven himself willing to make big calls, and on the whole they have paid off.

“It’s about the team, it’s about the group,” he said.

“I’ve told you many times there isn’t one player who is frozen out, it’s about performing in training, using the whole squad because if we should have a chance we need to use all the players and have all the players up to speed.”

While the schedule is unrelenting, Rovers’ spirit shows no signs of wavering.

Battling points on the road at Watford and West Bromwich Albion would become even more pivotal were they to be backed up at Ewood.

Six points in three days has done just that, and an eight-point haul from those fixtures is an excellent return.

With seven of their remaining 13 games to come at Ewood Park, and only one team in the top half to play away from home, it looks a healthy position for Rovers to be in.

That’s not to say there aren’t real areas for improvement, and also concerns.

It is 11 goals in 11 games since the World Cup, with the 2-0 victory at Norwich City on December 17 the only time they have scored more than once in a league game.

They spurned several good openings to make the game safe against Blackpool, a lack of conviction, killer instinct and ruthless edge could have cost them were they up against better opposition.

It is one key area Tomasson feels needs to improve, and likely why his usual calm persona switched when sharing the disappointment of supporters, as the club failed to deliver a new striker in the transfer window.  

There is a nagging concern that a failure to add in that department could prove costly as the season goes on, even if for now they are finding a way, particularly at Ewood, to make the most of the goals they are scoring.

While the West Brom draw was a start, claiming a point from a losing position, responding to setbacks is still a big area to address Rovers haven’t always been able to shift the balance of a game when not going in their favour.

There couldn’t have been more contrasting styles of opposition in such a quick turnaround from Swansea to Blackpool, but Rovers again found a way, and a happy knack of churning out results has been a key factor in moving behind 50 points with a little more than two-thirds of the season gone.

“We give them a game-plan to win games, it’s not always successful, but we’re trying to do the right things,” Tomasson said.

“It’s of course a good feeling in 2023 that we’ve only lost one game, and that gives the boys confidence that they need.”

Whatever message Tomasson tries to portray, and whether the club feel ready for the next step, they are very much in the top six mix.