In their respective playing careers, Mark Hughes and Stuart Pearce were two of the real hard men of their generation.

Both were physically intimidating to opponents and, as well as dishing it out, could take the stick as well. A clash between the two on the pitch would be tough and uncompromising but it could be pretty much accepted that the two would have a healthy respect for each other.

One would expect that when the two of them made their transition into the management side of the game that the traits that served them so well previously would be apparent in the way their respective teams played. Only that assumption would be quite wrong.

Mark Hughes has shown a studious approach to games, and although you could never accuse him of lacking passion on the touchline, he has always displayed a measured and calm demeanour when faced with controversy. While Pearce has lost none of the enthusiasm of his playing days, he too sets the accent on a measured passing game played at a high tempo as opposed to the physical, intimidating style he displayed as a player.

And it has to be said that it works well for the pair of them. So much so that when their teams played each other last weekend they pretty much cancelled each other out.

Defensive meanness is Rovers' speciality these days and a point away from home having been forced into three team changes indicates strength in depth that has been absent for far too long.

Post match, Hughes was happy with the point but was also aware that with a little more bravery the three points were there for the taking and that it was possibly a missed opportunity. Bearing in mind City's record, he can feel quite pleased with the point but those words certainly display a change in attitude from the approach shown in the majority of games last season.

I hate to bang on about the change that the new manager has instilled around the place since the Souness debacle but with every passing week it becomes more and more apparent. Whereas an away game against Man City would have been approached with a cautious, possibly negative approach, this time around we had the onus on dictating the play rather than stifling the opposition. And rather than being happy with the point we leave bemoaning the fact we didn't get three.

There are better times ahead, so get down there and be a part of it.