Jon Dahl Tomasson feels the FA Cup offers Rovers another opportunity for a cup run after ending their drought in the competition with victory at Norwich City.

Jack Vale’s first half strike gave Rovers a second win in three weeks at Carrow Road to set up a fourth round tie at home to Forest Green Rovers or Birmingham City later this month.

Rovers had lost in the third round for five successive seasons, but booked their place in the fourth round for the first time since 2016/17 with victory over the Canaries.

They relied on some excellent defensive displays in the second half, with Aynsley Pears making some key saves, as Rovers held out for a clean sheet.

“We had a great run in the other cup, giant-killers against West Ham, it’s perfect to be involved in the cup, especially the FA Cup with all the history,” the head coach said, with Rovers having reached the last 16 of the Carabao Cup.

“We knew coming here, a positive energy around the stadium, you see they started very intense and asked us a lot of questions but I thought all the players had very good answers to that.

“We were really disciplined, intense, a clean sheet which was the key to the game.

“If you look at the changes I made before the game, a big compliment to the players that came.

“The change with Scott getting injured, young Ashley coming in, the boy is only 17-years-old, normally he gets cramp but he managed it, he did a really good job.

“It was a great win and our fans were really happy to be in the draw and now we play a home game.”

Pears made some key saves, while infront of him Dom Hyam and Ash Phillips caught the eye with their performances.

But Tomasson said: “I don’t just want to pick those boys because I was happy with all the boys, the intensity in which they played.

“Also you can see the goal we scored it came from an error from Norwich and we made that error so it was a great goal.

“Keeping a clean sheet at Norwich, with all the positive energy around the stadium, not easy, but the boys made it easier.”

Vale scored his second of the season having opened his account with the opener in the Carabao Cup tie at Norwich City.

The striker got the chance to lead the line in his first appearance since the World Cup break, having struggled with a calf problem of late.

“He’s just back from injury as well, he scored at West Ham away and I was delighted with Jack’s performance as well,” Tomasson said.

“He’s a young boy who has a lot to learn, but he’s working on that, and he was unlucky that he got injured in the World Cup break, so he’s only been back training for a week.”

Norwich had 26 shots, and 20 corners, but Rovers stood firm to hold out for a clean sheet.

Tomasson added: “The discipline was great, the intensity was great, the spirit, the way they work together and wanted to get that clean sheet which is really important.

“We are slowly but surely going in the right direction as a team and a club.

“There will be bumps in the road but the boys have shown they want to fight for Rovers.”

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