It wasn't pretty, at times, but Blackburn Rovers got the job done against Cardiff City, beating the Bluebirds by a solitary goal to nil.

Ewood Park doesn't see many 1-0s, given Jon Dahl Tomasson's openness that he'd rather win 5-4. That said, there's something satisfying about a scruffy win and a clean sheet.

In a game that won't make the end-of-season highlights reel, Rovers got themselves over the line. Three points, job done, move on.

There haven't been enough of those performances this season, the under-the-radar victories. Everyone loves free-flowing football and chaotic, end-to-end spectacles, but every once in a while, you need these results sprinkled in.

Rovers were good at that last season, particularly at Ewood Park. There were some tense finishes but they, more often than not, got over the line. That was the same against Cardiff, with intangible qualities such as determination, grit and desire as important as the technical side of the game.

READ MORE: JDT reaction as Rovers get the win

It was not a vintage performance by either side. There was plenty of rust, with the ball turning over like a hot potato. Plenty of endeavour but the quality in the final third was lacking.

For Rovers, the most important thing was the result. Having not won back-to-back league games this season, they needed three points to ensure they didn't spurn the optimism generated from the 4-0 thrashing of Queens Park Rangers.

Cardiff were a difficult opponent. They set out to be defensively solid, rigid and narrow. It meant Rovers' work in the wide areas would be particularly important, as would runners to stretch the defence.

In a tepid Rovers first half, if Tomasson's side were going to create the opener, it always felt like Callum Brittain or Joe Rankin-Costello would be involved. Both right-backs were playing in different roles, Brittain more advanced down the wing and Rankin-Costello as a right-sided number eight.

There was lots of rotation, with the pair interchanging and swapping positions. Whilst Rovers were quiet down their left side, they looked lively in the right channel.

Rankin-Costello's move from full-back to midfield is beginning to feel more permanent. The 24-year-old is too good to be out of the side and yet the form of Brittain meant he spent a lot of September on the bench. James Hill's emergence has created even more competition for that berth, a headache Gareth Southgate knows well.

It's given Tomasson a good excuse to experiment with Rankin-Costello in midfield. He adds energy and perhaps a bigger goal threat in that position than some other members of the squad. From an attacking view, it looks a natural fit, though there's still work to do off the ball.

His driving run created the goal, as did the quality assist from Tyrhys Dolan. When you're facing a set defence, you have to be willing to make unselfish runs beyond the backline. Rankin-Costello did that numerous times but finally got his reward when Dolan slipped him in and he fired past the goalkeeper.

That was his first of the season and he could've had a second too had he not delayed his shot for too long. Perry NG made a great recovery tackle and snuffed out the chances but it again showed how Rankin-Costello adds another box threat in that position.

His move has coincided with Hill coming into the team and he hasn't put a foot wrong. When Rovers don't have the ball, he's a right-back, with the necessary athleticism to match pacey wingers. When Rovers are in possession, he's a third centre-back with Harry Pickering wandering into midfield to create a 3-2-5 build-up shape, often seen at the top of the Premier League.

Hill's pace, defensive awareness and added height has been an important addition to the side. Whilst it is not solely down to him by any means, it's no coincidence that Rovers have conceded once in three games, having shipped 11 in the same period beforehand.

Of course, they were fortunate with the officiating against Cardiff. Dom Hyam admitted after the game Rovers 'got away with one' and that was my perception of the disallowed header too.

By the letter of the law, Karlan Grant was offside as Dimitrios Goutas thundered a header into the net, with the West Brom loanee stood in front of Leopold Wahlstedt. But such was the ferocity and close proximity of the header, there was no way he was interfering with play. It was fortunate.

Rovers took advantage of that rub of the green though and did deserve to win. Equally, they were indebted to Wahlstedt for keeping the score level as he flung to his right to push away Ollie Tanner's powerful strike. He celebrated it like a goal and I'm sure there was a big smile on Gregg Broughton's face in the Director's Box too.

With Hill at right-back, Brittain was given the nod in a more advanced wide role and he was a bundle of energy once again. Of the three, I think he's the most undroppable at the moment with the form he's in.

Whether it's right-back, left-back or further forward, he is a threat in the final third. After a stop-start debut season, he is showing his attacking qualities which made him the ideal wing-back for Valerien Ismael's Barnsley side.

Perhaps Blackburn's two quietest players were Sam Szmodics and Arnor Sigurdsson, their biggest goal threats. For that to be the case and for the team to still pick up three points is a positive sign.

The Championship is a crazy league, with Rovers jumping from 20th to 14th with their last two wins. Two points separate 17th and ninth in the tables, with Rovers in the middle of that chunk.

With two more challenging but winnable fixtures next week, Rovers need to continue building on this form and string a winning run together. The opportunity for them is there, they just have to grab it.