Rovers suffered late heartbreak and missed the chance to move up to fifth in the Championship table as they were denied by a late scramble that saw Coventry City goalkeeper Ben Wilson bundle the ball over the line.

He appeared to do with his hand, the irony not lost on Rovers supporters, whose side failed to take advantage of another chance to move clear of the chasing pack.

The point, a third draw in a row, does move them back into the top six, but their lead now down to just one ahead of what will be four more nervy games.

There was tension at Ewood Park from the off, but Rovers failed to build on a positive first half display and didn’t manage a shot on target in a second half when Coventry forced the issue.

To Rovers’ credit they had defended well, but set pieces always looked like being the visitors’ best route into the game and so it proved through the unlikely source of goalkeeper Wilson.

Rovers could be out of the play-off spots by the time they play again at 5.30pm on Saturday night against Preston North End before the second East Lancashire derby of the season next Tuesday which will be their game in hand.

There were three changes to the starting line-up, with a first alteration to the back four in eight games as Callum Brittain came in for the injured Harry Pickering at left back.

Adam Wharton returned in midfield, operating in the deeper role infront of the back four, while Ryan Hedges replaced Tyrhys Dolan in the forward line.

Rovers’ start saw them gain a level of control helped by Wharton’s ability to scan the pitch for space that he ghosted into unopposed.

It was the recalled Hedges who created the first opening of the night, running at his marker nine minutes in to deliver a cross that was met by Sam Gallagher, only to plant his header straight at Ben Wilson from six yards out.

There was a good tempo to the game, but no shortage of tension in a game which was pivotal for both sides.

Wharton had a huge responsibility on his shoulders, but was dominating the midfield which allowed Rovers to get on the front foot, but their decision-making in the final third meant they weren’t able to make the most of their territory.

The home crowd were as tense as the players as Rovers took risks in their own defensive third, but their playing out from the back proved effective in the opening goal which came six minutes before the break.

It was worked out from defence and out to Sam Szmodics on the left, and after he switched the play to Joe Rankin-Costello, the right back delivered a cross that was met by a stooping Gallagher header into the corner.

That gave Rovers the opening goal they had been striving for, but opportunities to shoot were frustratingly turned down, not least by Rankin-Costello just before the break as he was eventually crowded out after not taking the chance to shoot from a Hedges flick.

Coventry were forced into one change moments before the break, and made a second at half time, both in midfield.

That was an area Rovers had previously dominated, but a loose pass from Wharton presented Gustavo Hamer with the chance to break forward, and from the edge of the area he wasted a great chance as he blazed over the bar.

Within seconds, Hamer did then hit the target, after exchanging passes with Viktor Gyokeres on the edge of the box, but Aynsley Pears was equal to his effort.

Rovers’ response came from a set piece, Hyam cushioning Hedges’ delivery into the path of Gallagher whose goalbound effort, and the follow-up from Hedges, were both excellently blocked.

Buoyed by attacking the end that housed their near 3,000 strong travelling support however, the visitors were playing with a greater intensity as the hour mark approached. Their change in midfield certainly had the desired effect, with Rovers having much less control.

The quality had dropped off, as things became more of a scrap.

As Gallagher and Brittain ran out of steam, Rovers switched to a back three as Scott Wharton and Tyrhys Dolan were sent on.

Coventry sent on a third striker in Tyler Walker as they tried to force the issue, with Rovers looking increasingly tired.

They were protecting Pears well though, even if they hadn’t managed to relieve much of the pressure with forward momentum of their own.

A weary Rankin-Costello joined Travis in the book, before Rovers did make further changes, as fresh legs arrived in the form of Sorba Thomas and Tyler Morton.

Adam Wharton left the pitch to a standing ovation, credit for his display on only his second start of 2023.

There was still a big job left to do as Coventry piled men forward, even if Pears hadn’t been overly extended in the Rovers goal.

The main threat was from set pieces as the ‘keeper did well to palm away two vicious Hamer deliveries.

It was from one of those that the equaliser came in the fifth of five added minutes, with goalkeeper Ben Wilson claiming the final touch.