A huge team effort saw Rovers respond to back-to-back derby defeats in the best possible fashion as they ground out at 2-0 win against Norwich City.

A Ben Gibson own goal and late Tyrhys Dolan strike, also via a deflection, helped Rovers to a 13th win of the season and moved them back into third spot.

But this was about much more than league position, this the perfect riposte to concerns raised by defeats to Burnley and Preston North End.

Jon Dahl Tomasson’s response to Rovers’ drubbing at the hands of North End was to make six changes, including club captain Lewis Travis dropping out.

And he got just what he wanted from those who pulled on the blue and white as Rovers ran their hearts out and deservedly claim a clean sheet in the process of chalking up another three points.

There was a change of shape, reverting to a back four, as Joe Rankin-Costello came in for his first start in the Championship since August.

There were also recalls for Daniel Ayala, Harry Pickering, John Buckley, Tyrhys Dolan and Sam Gallagher, with Bradley Dack retaining his place as part a four-man attack.

Earlier this month Rovers advertised for a set piece coach, and they took the lead through a fourth minute free kick, although there was no lack of fortune to it, and certainly not one off the training ground.

Tyler Morton lifted in the free kick, Gallagher swinging a boot at it, with the ball hitting Gibson and wrong-footing Angus Gunn as the ball rolled into the corner.

It was the perfect start for Rovers who had come with a game-plan to press Norwich high.

As was the case at Ewood last week, there was a nervousness among the home support who were wanting their side to move the ball quicker than they were from the back.

The returns of Dolan and Gallagher enabled Rovers to put in the hard yards at the top end of the pitch, and it worked well as they restricted the hosts to precious little.

The first moment of concern came just before the half hour, Morton losing the ball on halfway, leaving Ayala with no option but to bring down Teemu Pukki 25 yards out. He escaped with a yellow card, with Gabriel Sara’s free kick hitting the wall.

Rovers’ best work was coming defensively in a game that had brought few clear-cut chances.

The first effort on target came 38 minutes in, Isaac Hayden meeting a left-wing corner but his header didn’t trouble Thomas Kaminski who held easily.

That corner arrived as Rovers managed to get enough bodies in the way to block a Pukki shot as a Sara free kick wasn’t dealt with.

That allowed Rovers to their one-goal advantage into the break having looked organised and re-energised, with Buckley in particular having an excellent opening 45 minutes.

Neither side made any half time changes, with Norwich looking to force the issue at the start of the second half, with Daniel SInani curling a tame free kick into the arms of Kaminski.

Opportunities were expecting to open up on the break for Rovers, as the mood continued to be hostile inside Carrow Road, with calls from the home fans for Dean Smith to lose his job.

Both sides turned to their benches just before the hour, Rovers needing to as Ayala hobbled off, with Scott Wharton on in his place, while Sam Szmodics replaced Dack at the other end of the pitch.

Norwich were trying to press the accelerator, with McLean heading a corner straight at Kaminski, while Sargent turned wide from a Pukki cross.

Rovers had to turn to their bench for a third time as Ryan Hedges replaced Gallagher who limped off, with Szmodics testing Gunn with a half volley from distance which the ‘keeper held well down low.

Rankin-Costello was doing a good job on danerman Sargent, but was putting up good resistance, though Rovers were struggling to keep the ball in the Norwich half.

While it wasn’t quite backs-to-the-walls defending, Rovers were forced into plenty of work off the ball with one-way traffic towards their goal.

Rovers had seen precious little territory, but four minutes from the end they came up with the crucial second goal.

Dolan received the ball from Brereton and was willing to run at his man before seeing his effort deflect beyond Gunn.

It was a huge moment in the game as Rovers looked out on their feet and were hugely relieved to see the ball nestle in the net via another deflection.

Dolan eyed another in the final seconds of regulation time, this time from the left, but was much better hit as Gunn got across to his right to keep it out.

As six added minutes were shown, with Rovers escaping a right wing corner as bodies threw infront of a Sargent shot to keep it at bay.

There was a chance for a Rovers third in the dying stages of added time, Dolan again with the break, cutting onto his left foot before shooting over from 12 yards.

Yet the hard work was long since done by this point, the Rovers players taking the acclaim of the supporters who had made the long trip at the final whistle and deservedly so.

Norwich: Gunn, Aarons, Hanley, Gibson, Hayden (Hernandez, 58), McCallum (Nunez, 86), Sara (Gibbs, 58), Sinani (Idah, 73), Pukki, McLean, Sargent

Subs: Krul, Omobamidele, Dowell

Rovers: Kaminski, Rankin-Costello, Hyam , Ayala (S Wharton, 59), Pickering, Morton, Buckley, Dolan, Dack (Szmodics, 59) Brereton, Gallagher (Hedges, 65)

Subs: Pears, Hirst, Mola, Travis