After a high-octane defeat to Leeds United, Blackburn Rovers could've struggled to get over the line against Bristol City.

Jon Dahl Tomasson's side gave a huge amount against the Whites, in a vibrant atmosphere fuelled by 7,000 away fans in the Darwen End. On Tuesday night, it was a far more low-key affair but no less important.

There were 250 supporters cheering Bristol City on and fair play to them, making the four-hour journey in midweek, a few weeks before Christmas. It all created a rather subdued feeling around Ewood Park, though, which fed into the players in the opening half an hour.

There was no lack of endeavour from Rovers but a lack of quality in the final third, particularly. Passes went astray, touches were loose and there were a few players off-colour and looking rather jaded.

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So often this season, the post-match verdict has been centred around a good performance with no reward. Against Bristol City, Rovers were not at their sparkling best but still did enough to get the win. As Tomasson declared in the media room, that is what good teams do.

It will not be a match that is front and centre on the end-of-season DVD, are those still a thing?, but that doesn't make the three points less valuable. In fact, it arguably makes them more satisfying.

Within the victory, there were some standout performers. Sondre Tronstad looks like an increasingly shrewd piece of business game-by-game. The Norwegian midfielder was my man-of-the-match on Saturday against Leeds and he was again fantastic.

He is everything that Tomasson needs in a number six. We all know about his defensive capabilities, winning the ball back, and breaking up play. There were two fantastically timed slide tackles which received a very English round of applause as if he'd whacked one into the top corner from 30 yards.

What's underrated is his passing range from deep. You won't see him spreading 60-yard diagonals but he can break lines very well. In the first half, he punched a few balls through into the 'number 10 areas' only for his team-mates' control to let them down. He can handle the ball under pressure too.

Scott Wharton's resurgence is great to see too. The boyhood Rovers fan has had a tough time of it in 2023, playing second fiddle to Hayden Carter and Dom Hyam.

Having been a regular under Tony Mowbray in his final season, Wharton's confidence clearly took a dip after Tomasson took him out of the side and, at times, the squad. 

Remarkably, it had been well over a year since Rovers last won at Ewood Park with Wharton starting the game. You'd to go back to Birmingham City in October, a 2-1 win for the home side.

He probably thought the universe was conspiring against him with the red card against Norwich, then overturned, and the unfortunate head injury he sustained at Stoke City.

But in the last few matches, he has looked back to his best, which is a big boost for this squad. On top form, he is a consistent Championship defender, capable of playing out of the back and winning his duels with an attacker.

As demonstrated against Stoke and Bristol City, he's probably their best header of the ball to. Having that aerial threat is important to mix things up and keep the opposition guessing.

The other goal-scorer had his best game for almost two months as well. Arnor Sigurdsson hasn't looked the same player since scoring a brace against Queens Park Rangers before the second international break.

His displays since have been subdued, quiet and even anonymous at times, which was a big surprise considering how he burst into the team after returning from injury.

He looks to me like a confidence player and was visibly boosted by the goal. It was a fantastic take into his stride and a calm finish, which we've seen from him whenever he's been in front of goal. Again, a fit and firing Sigurdsson is an asset to Blackburn Rovers.

The Icelandic international is now in the final six months of his CSKA Moscow contract which makes a pre-contract agreement possible. He is still adapting to English football but I think we've all seen enough to think he's worth a permanent deal, if the club can finance it.

The biggest question mark going to St Mary's is up front and who gets the nod. Harry Leonard struggled against Leeds and was quiet when he came on against the Robins too. That's natural, there were always going to be peaks and troughs in his real breakout season at first-team level.

Is Ennis able to play again from the start? Or is that too much, too soon? With Tyrhys Dolan injured, Sam Szmodics would probably be the most likely to play as a false nine but that isn't his best role.

Beating Bristol City was certainly not straightforward or particularly glamorous. But in the midst of a tricky, busy run, it could prove to be particularly important.