Lewis Travis hopes an impressive cameo off the bench in the defeat at Charlton Athletic can earn a starting spot against Oxford United on Saturday.

The youngster played the final half an hour of the game at the Valley as part of a three man Rovers midfield as they pressed for an equaliser.

It was the 20-year-old’s first taste of senior action since been red carded in the win at Portsmouth in February having had to settle for minutes with the Under-23s of late.

But with several players struggling for fitness ahead of the final game, Travis is hoping for more playing time this weekend as Rovers sign off life in League One.

He said: “It’s always good, it’s been a while but always good to get a run out for the first-team.

“Ultimately the goal is to win and we didn’t do that.

“Some days you get the luck and the ball drops right for you.

“The progression this season was to try and get some games for the first-team and it’s always good to play.

“Wimbledon did us a bit of a favour (by holding Wigan to a 1-1), and the atmosphere next week will be amazing, as it always is at Ewood, and hopefully I can get some minutes.

“There’s been a few injuries to the first-team and being one of the fringe players I knew that I would be in with the chance but it’s always great to be involved and to get on as well.

Travis was included in the matchday squad along with Willem Tomlinson and Joe Nuttall who were both unused substitutes.

They have all been part of the Under-23s side who were crowned Premier League 2 Division Two champions earlier this month.

Boss Tony Mowbray fielded a much-changed Rovers side in south east London, with six first-team regulars left out with promotion secured, but Travis said there was no shortage of desire to get a result despite Rovers falling to just a sixth defeat of the season.

He added: “Even in training everyone is competed, people want to win every five-a-side.

“We are all competitive lads and that’s probably what has helped us win the promotion this season.”