Rovers came of age as a squad missing so many key players booked a place in the FA Cup quarter finals for the first time since 2014/15. 

It epitomised everything Jon Dahl Tomasson is trying to instil into the club as a huge squad effort saw them to a 2-1 victory at Leicester City.

A perfect blend of quality, energy and heart made for a famous night as they booked a spot in the last eight.

For the first two thirds of the game they dominated the ball, creating a host of chances from which they could have been out of sight.

The closing stages were a battle as they held out for a win by a score line that didn’t reflect their dominance on the night.

This was a ninth game in the space of a month for a Rovers squad showing signs of the hectic schedule, with five players absent through injury, while Sorba Thomas and Ben Brereton missed out due to being cup tied and suspended respectively. 

That limited the number of changes Jon Dahl Tomasson could have made, with just three in all from the weekend win at QPR.

Despite the division difference, only 10 places separated the sides at kick-off, though Leicester’s five changes included the return of Jamie Vardy as captain.

Yet any signs of this potentially being a game too far were soon dispelled.

Rovers certainly came to play, far from intimidated or overawed as they showed the bravery Tomasson would have wanted from the off.

They were willing to commit players forward in numbers, and while it left them light at the back at times, it made for a breathless encounter.

Aynsley Pears had to be at his best seven minutes in to ensure they didn’t fall behind. A Leicester break saw first Tete, and then Denis Praet, have efforts from point-blank rage, but he was equal to both to keep his side level.

He too had to deny Vardy from a tight angle after being played in by Harvey Barnes before it was the turn of opposite number Daniel Iversen to come to his side’s rescue.

Rovers were rewarded for their excellent pressing as shots at goal came the way of Sam Gallagher and Sam Szmodics, but neither could build on their strikes at the weekend as Iversen kept them out.

The big Dane then needed all of his frame as Szmodics squared for Tyrhys Dolan inside the six-yard box, only to see his effort kept out and Hedges unable adjust his body sufficiently to turn home the rebound. 

Rovers weren’t to be denied for long though as Dolan claimed a loose Daniel Amartey pass to drive towards the edge of the area and bend a shot out of reach of Iversen.

It rewarded both Rovers’ energy and enthusiasm which was proving too much for their hosts

There wasn't shortage of quality either, with Rovers finding ways of playing through their hosts.

They were roared on by the travelling 2,600 who were loving what they were seeing from their side who were deserving of their reception as they left the pitch at half time.

The second half was only two minutes old when Rovers missed a golden chance for 2-0. Hedges won the ball on the edge of the Leicester box but he could only lift the ball over the bar with just the keeper to beat.

The fear was that would be a huge moment they would come to rue, but they found their second goal just seven minutes after the restart. It owed much to the workrate of Gallagher to win the ball back, and then the persistence of Szmodics in the box to work a shooting position as he rolled the ball into the corner.

Just four minutes later he had a chance for a third, only to be denied by the legs of Iversen.

The first moment of concern came as Joe Rankin-Costello limped off on the hour to be replaced by Callum Brittain.

The chances kept coming Rovers’ way, Szmodics curling two shots wide of the target before the sliding Hedges couldn’t turn Morton’s low cross into the corner.

It was a joy to watch as Tomasson’s side poured forward, but then the game changed at the midway point of the half as Kelechi Iheanacho, fresh off the bench, turned in from close range after good work by Barnes to get to the byline. 

The atmosphere in the stadium suddenly altered, Leicester fans finding their voices and Rovers feeling a little less comfortable.

A reminder that VAR  was in operation came with 20 minutes left as Szmodics ran through to score, only to be denied by a late flag.

Vardy and Barnes had efforts over from distance, with Leicester having made all five of their allotted substitutes with almost 20 minutes still to play.

Barnes was becoming a real threat, firing wide of the target on his left foot, as time ticked towards the 90.

Rovers moved to a back five for the closing stages a bid to try see the game out.

Iheanacho had made a real difference, and hit one effort narrowly wide drawing a low save out of Pears who kept it out diving away to his right.

Fellow sub Nampalys Mendy went even closer with a rasping drive as six minutes of injury time were signalled.

Amartey then almost atoned for his early error as his header flicked the post on the way behind.

Yet Rovers got over the line to take the rapture of the travelling supporters as an FA Cup quarter final awaits.

Leicester: Iversen, Amartey, Faes, Thomas (Kristiansen 57'), Ricardo Pereira (Castagne 73'), Dewsbury-Hall, Soumaré (Mendy 74'), Praet (Iheanacho 58'), Barnes, Tetê (Daka 74'), Vardy

Subs: Smithies, Souttar, Ndidi, Marçal-Madivadua

Blackburn: Pears, Pickering, Rankin-Costello (Brittain 61'), Carter, Hyam, Dolan, Morton (Phillips 84'), Travis, Hedges (Buckley 84'), Szmodics, Gallagher (Vale 76')

Subs: Hilton, Garrett, Harlock, Leonard, Edun