Rovers reporter Rich Sharpe picks out five talking points from the 1-1 draw with Northampton Town at Ewood Park.

COBBLERS REPEAT

It was another 1-1 draw for Rovers against Northampton, and yet more frustration against Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink’s men.

Their physical nature and backs to the walls defending proved hard for Rovers to overcome in both games, but despite not being at their best, it should have been a six point haul rather than the two they managed.

Marcus Antonsson and Craig Conway missed golden chances to win it at Sixfields in December, while this time around Rovers camped in the Cobblers half but only found their way through on one occasion.

Balls flew across the box, countless shots were blocked, but Richard O’Donnell wasn’t overly tested in the Northampton goal.

Rovers performed much better here than the previous fixture, but will hope not to look back on these four points lost with regret come May.

LEFT SIDE LOOK

Amari’i Bell’s chance in to show what he can offer came sooner than expected following the injury to Charlie Mulgrew.

He came on in his natural left-back position, with Derrick Williams, the player who has occupied that spot for the previous 42 league games, moved in to central defence.

That allowed Rovers to maintain the balance of the back four, with Bell’s extra attacking instincts also giving them more of a threat down that side.

While Tony Mowbray won’t want to be without his skipper Mulgrew for any great length of time, he got an extended look at just what he has in reserve.

Mulgrew is a huge part of this Rovers side though and everyone will have their fingers firmly crossed for good news when the results of the scan on his ankle are revealed.

TIMEWASTING TACTICS

The fourth official could well have put a one before the six when indicating the number of minutes to be added on at the end of the second half.

The game was stop-start throughout which played in to the visitors’ hands, helped by them having a one goal advantage to protect after John-Joe O’Toole’s early opener.

No blame could be attached to the Cobblers for their approach given they are scrapping hard for points in their quest to keep themselves in the division.

But the ease in which they were able to get away with it was irritating the Rovers players, manager and fans alike.

Earlier intervention from the officials would have helped stamp it out, with countless warnings handed out without reprimand and the referee seemingly losing more control as the game went on.

FIT AND FIRING

Danny Graham started for a seventh consecutive league game, a run which started in the reverse fixture at Sixfields.

And he would come up with the equaliser 16 minutes from time, heading home his 10th goal of the season.

The goals have started to flow of late for the 32-year-old who is certainly enjoying playing at Ewood, scoring for the sixth time in his last seven games at Rovers’ headquarters.

His knockdown created the opening goal for Bradley Dack at Fleetwood and was unfortunate not to do the same here when creating chances for Dominic Samuel and Craig Conway.

But there was no man Rovers would have preferred to be on the end of an excellent Samuel cross to nod Rovers level.

IDENTICAL RECORDS

With 28 games played, and 18 to go, Rovers have played 14 times in front of their own fans and the same number away from home.

The 1-1 draw means they have an identical record of eight wins, four draws and two defeats both home and away.

They missed the chance to move their tally of points accumulated at home to more than away for the first time this season, something they will be looking to achieve against Walsall on Tuesday.

Their 14 home matches have brought with them 26 goals scored and 13 conceded, while away from Ewood they have scored one fewer and conceded the same number.