Darragh Lenihan was withdrawn as a precaution after complaining of a tight groin during Rovers’ win over Cardiff City.

The Rovers captain was withdrawn just before the hour, moments after Rovers had gone 4-0 up, and Mowbray says the scoreline ensured they would take no chances with the Irishman’s fitness with another game at Huddersfield Town on Tuesday night.

Hayden Carter impressed in his cameo after replacing Lenihan, but Rovers couldn’t hold out for a third successive clean sheet as Sean Morrison reduced the arrears to 4-1, before Rovers added a fifth from the penalty spot through Ben Brereton late on.

Brereton commanded the headlines after his hat-trick, but Mowbray was eager to point out the contribution of his backline, including Lenihan, given Cardiff’s strengths from set plays.

Daniel Ayala has now played more minutes this season than he managed during the whole of his debut campaign, with Mowbray hoping it was just cramp for the Spaniard in the closing stages.

He said: “First and foremost we should mention Lenihan, I thought he started the game extraordinarily aggressive, we were building up the game and how big and strong they are and I think Lenihan almost took it upon himself to show how big and aggressive he can be. I thought he was magnificent.

“He was feeling his groin so at 4-0 we brought him off to try and protect him because we’ve got another game on Tuesday.

“Hayden, when we play 11v11 in training, you can’t get past him, he wins every header, he’s a very dominant young man and we’re looking forward to him trying to cement himself in Blackburn Rovers history in his career.

“Ayala, he played 10 games last year, and for a team that had so much of the ball and so many shots on the opposition goal, he was a miss for us and we’re seeing the benefits of having Daniel Ayala in our team at the start of the season.

“He’s an experienced defender who drags other people around, who wants to protect, he gets the team organised, the full backs are tucked in, and we’re looking a compact and tight game.

“I’m delighted for the group. Football is about scoring at one end and trying to keep them out at the other and at this moment we’re doing okay.

“I think there’s a slight disappointment we didn’t keep a clean sheet, three on the bounce was what we talked about at half time, but they have got some massive guys in their team, but we’re happy with the points and we move onto Tuesday night.”