TONY Mowbray has insisted all season that his side would improve as the games ticked on, and there has been nothing to disprove his theory so far.

And the Rovers boss believes there is now an understanding of how to win games at this level among his players after stretching their unbeaten League One run to 16 games with a win at Fleetwood Town last time out.

Rovers have won four matches in three of the last four months, a tally they will match in January should they prevail in back-to-back home games against Northampton Town and Walsall.

Since a defeat to Oldham on October 14, Rovers have embarked on the longest unbeaten run in the top four divisions to move into the automatic promotion spots.

Squad strengthening in the January transfer window means Rovers are well placed heading into the remaining 19 games, with promotion firmly in their sights.

But just what has triggered this remarkable run of form for Mowbray’s men?

“There has been an understanding of what it takes to win football matches at this level,” the Rovers boss explained.

“You can’t pass teams off the pitch every game, you can’t just be good on the ball.

“You have to push your body past the limit which is what I’m asking them to do every day, harder than what is their maximum.

“We will keep going, that’s why we need a squad because we have a few injuries which is what you get when your push you bodies that hard.

“I hope that as we keep pushing them, their bodies become more resistant to the game that we’re looking for them to play.”

Mowbray has tinkered with his starting line-up across the season, with Saturday’s win over Fleetwood the first time he named an unchanged team, at the 35th time of asking.

But some exciting January additions has further strengthened the Ewood chief’s options with competition for places all over the pitch.

Mowbray is keen to credit the players for the run which has taken them from outside the play-off places to second in the space of 16 games that have yielded 10 wins and six draws.

But the Rovers boss is not underestimating the task in finishing in the top two of what is a competitive division.

He added: “The players are driving this team, I’m just trying to pick the right team and give them a bit of inspiration along the way.

“They know what’s expected and the demands of playing for this club in this division.

“We have 19 massive games to go and we’re looking forward to that and we’ll see how we go.”

Following relegation from the Championship last season, and a level of investment in the transfer market in the summer, Rovers’ sole aim was to win promotion from the third tier at the first time of asking.

They look well placed, but Mowbray is looking to ensure that the standards don’t slip.

And he believes the club’s fans have a part to play in trying to help their team over the line during the run-in.

He added: “I think we have to target and achieve our aims and goals this season.

“No-one should be getting carried away, we have to continue to work hard.

“We are trying to bring the fans along on this journey and make the supporters like a 12th man and believe that we can win games together.”