Rovers turned in one of their poorest home displays of the season, on the biggest stage to date, coming infront of their biggest support and against a direct play-off rival.

It was a tale of differing emotions at the end of the game, as despite still sitting inside the top six with seven games to play, Rovers blew another chance to extend the gap.

That is down to just one point, with the Canaries boosting their own hopes with a 2-0 win thanks to goals early in both halves from Liam Gibbs and Gabriel Sara.

A second defeat in as many games, a first of 2023, at Ewood will do little to ease the nerves of supporters who will have last season’s collapse all too fresh in their minds.

The players seemed to carry some of that anxiety, lacking the intensity that would be expected in a game of such magnitude.

The Rovers team showed just one change from the defeat to Birmingham City as Ben Brereton returned in place of Tyrhys Dolan, however, there was no place in the squad for Bradley Dack due to his recent injury.

The top scorer was starved of the ball on his return however in a first half where Rovers almost exclusively attacked down the right.

Lewis Travis and Tyler Morton often joined Ryan Hedges down that side, leaving Rovers unbalanced, and huge gaps in the middle of the pitch.

It from such space that Norwich midfielder Liam Gibbs broke clear after Josh Sargent won his flick-on, and after getting away from the attentions of Joe Rankin-Costello, he slammed the ball beyond Aynsley Pears.

That saw Rovers trail after just 11 minutes, but even before the goal, it wasn’t the start that Jon Dahl Tomasson would have wanted from his side.

Dom Hyam made some uncharacteristic mistakes on the ball which somewhat set the tone for a sloppy opening.

Rovers’ carelessness in possession gave the visitors encouragement and meant it wasn’t until the 26th minute they truly threatened.

It unsurprisingly came down the right, with Travis pulling the ball back for Sam Szmodics whose shot was well blocked.

It remained a real struggle for them to build attacks though, with Norwich were looking increasingly comfortable as Max Aarons’ shot from distance caught a deflection, and the outside of the post, before going wide.

Another Travis cross soon after saw Gallagher just fail to get his head on it, but play was soon stopped for treatment to former Rovers skipper Grant Hanley who left the pitch on a stretcher.

It was his defensive partner, Ben Gibson, booked for a pull on Gallagher moments later, who had the next attempt of the game, his glancing header from a Jacob Sorensen cross comfortably saved by Pears.

There had to be a response from Rovers after the break, but safe in the knowledge that a two-goal deficit would have been all but game over.

And that was what transpired just 10 minutes into the second half.

Onel Hernandez came forward down the left to slide in Gabriel Sara whose finish across Pears was emphatic on his left foot, into the top corner from a tight angle.

Sorba Thomas replaced Hedges, as Rovers’ lack of attacking options on the bench were clear, but still they waited for their first shot on target as the game ticked into the final 20 minutes.

Callum Brittain and Adam Wharton were then part of a double change as Tomasson tried to mix things up to stir his side into life.

Things were all too comfortable for Norwich, with Rovers showing little by way of launching an unlikely comeback.

They were left wondering how they hadn’t scored with 12 minutes remaining however, with Angus Gunn clawing the ball away as Hyam’s header ran loose and looked set to be turned in by Gallagher.

The ‘keeper got inbetween the striker and the goal to palm the ball away, before Szmodics on the follow-up saw a well struck shot blocked.

Dolan was then sent on for the closing stages, and nearly had an immediate impact, as Gunn denied him with his feet at the far post after Pickering’s ball flashed across the six-yard box.

They had left it too late to trouble Gunn, with Brereton seeing a shot denied with two minutes remaining. He chested down a Gallagher cross, but his sliding effort was saved down low by the Norwich ‘keeper.

Rovers had scored in all but two of their home games this season, but failed to find a way through, and it wasn’t until the closing stages that they ever threatened doing so.

Norwich weren’t without their chances of a third, a good challenge from Carter required to stop Teemu Pukki before substitute Adam Idah blazed over in added time.