As the Rovers players were left slumped to the floor for the second time in three days, it is hard not to at least question whether it is meant to be.

First there was the opposition goalkeeper, with no shortage of irony, looking to have bundled home with his hand a 95th minute equaliser for Coventry City.

Then, at Deepdale on Saturday evening, a freak own goal denied them in the fourth minute of added time against Preston North End.

Breaking it down in the simplest of terms, Rovers have lost four points in added time, two damaging results in their bid to finish in the top six.

How many more body blows can this team, and the supporters, take?

A play-off spot would be all but wrapped up had they held on, now it’s going to take all of their resolve to respond.

There will undoubtedly be questions of Rovers’ approach in seeing games out, but this was the same way that had brought them so much success earlier in the season. It has let them down at the most vital time.

While Jon Dahl Tomasson’s late changes came under fire from some supporters, his double switch at half time would have been lauded as the game-changing moment had Ryan Hedges taken the golden chance that came his way only seconds before the eventual equaliser.

Those are the margins they are working with.

Rovers will have to lift themselves again, but the response to the Coventry setback was seconds away from the perfect one.

Maybe it plays into their hands that a fixture of such significance is to follow next.

It is clear that their points tally hasn’t reflected the performances since the World Cup break, a stark contrast to earlier in the season.

While some would put that down to their game-management, another issue is most stark. It is just 12 goals in their last 10 games, and Rovers are the division’s eighth-lowest scorers.

Tomasson continues to rue the lack of January additions, making reference to it when delivering more disappointing news on the injury front with Sam Gallagher ruled out.

In his absence, a Rovers side showing four changes looked lightweight and short of goals.

Those concerns weren’t dispelled in an opening 45 minutes where they looked organised, neat and tidy on the ball, but lacking penetration.

Indeed, the first half wasn’t reflective of a contest which had so much riding on it for both sides.

Yet Rovers stepped things up after the break, buoyed by the introductions of Hedges and Ben Brereton, to take control.

Attacking the end that housed their 5,000-strong travelling support, Rovers upped the intensity.

Joe Rankin-Costello became more involved, flying forward from right back, but while they were reluctant to shoot at times, North End midfielder Ben Whiteman certainly wasn’t as he tested Aynsley Pears from distance on several occasions.

It had to be intricate for Rovers without any physical presence in the centre of their attack, at times too much so.

The goals they are scoring are well crafted, the ones they are given away at the opposite end of the spectrum.

Szmodics put them ahead with nine minutes of normal time remaining, with midfielders Adam Wharton and Lewis Travis exchanging passes before Szmodics was played in, and after cutting inside the last defender, bent the ball around the outstretched arm of Freddie Woodman.

There was no cutting short Szmodics’ celebration this time, having on the hour mark looked to have put Rovers ahead, only for it to be chalked of for handball, with the attacker cautioned as a result.

North End, with their own play-off aspirations, threw caution to the wind with a host of attackers sent on, but Rovers looked to have seen it through as Pears turned away an Ali McCann effort in the first of the five additional minutes.

Hedges than had all the time he needed, potentially too much, as he raced clear from inside his own half in the third additional minute. He opted to go towards goal, than the corner, but tried to be to cute with a finish that simply chipped the ball back into the grateful arms of Woodman.

With the next attack, North End came forward down their right, Liam Delap got away from Scott Wharton to deliver a cross that hit the outstretched leg of the retreating Hyam. The ball could have gone anywhere, but such is Rovers’ luck at the moment that it flew inside Pears’ near post.

It meant a Rovers side who couldn’t draw in the first half of the season now have four in a row when three points are the most vital.

With every passing draw, the tension and pressure passes to the next game.

Their fate remains in their own hands by virtue of the game in hand. Though that is no ordinary game as Tuesday night will show.

You would be hard pressed not to see foresee the scenario whereby it goes down to the final game of the season at Millwall, though given what we’ve seen with the conclusion of the last two matches though it is hard to make too many informed predictions.

So much work has gone into Rovers working themselves into the position they are in, but once again not fully rewarded.

While they remain short of goals though, it will only heap more pressure them seeing games out.

It is hard not to feel they need to score first to win, and then to hold on to what they have, because of the shortage of goals. For the second successive game they held one half of the bargain, but couldn’t see the job through.

Rovers would be within their rights to be down on their luck but cannot afford to. They must continue to work in a bid to ensure it does turn in their favour and they are there to take advantage.