IT says everything about Rovers’ performance that the initial feeling when leaving the Riverside Stadium and into the bleak wind and rain was one of disappointment.

Disappointment they had not halted their winless league run against a team that had just gone joint top of the Championship and, days earlier, had taken their leading marksman from them.

Disappointment that a display brimming with positive intent, attacking verve and, one decisive moment aside, defensive solidity did not get the reward it deserved.

But, as you made your way down the A1, that initial feeling was replaced by one of encouragement that Rovers are heading on the right road again and that there will be life after Jordan Rhodes.

Given Rhodes only completed his messy, on-off move to Middlesbrough on deadline day the narrative of the afternoon always threatened to be about one man.

And, after his arrival from the bench, just before David Nugent cancelled out Jordi Gomez’s 72nd-minute opener, a feeling of dread descended. We all knew what was going to happen next.

Or at least we thought we did because, as it transpired, there was to be no fairytale goal for Rhodes.

Had there been, it would have been little short of daylight robbery given his title-challenging new club were outfought and outthought for long periods.

Indeed had Hope Akpan not switched off for Nugent’s leveller, and had he, like Tony Watt in the first half, taken the gilt-edged chance that came his way, then Rovers would have won.

Instead they had to settle for a draw which means they have now gone eight league games without a victory.

That sequence needs ending sharpish and, with six of their next eight Championship matches coming at Ewood Park, they certainly have ample opportunity to do that.

Lancashire Telegraph:

But this was not a display of a side destined for a relegation scrap.

Ironically had the openings wasted by Watt and Akpan dropped to Rhodes then Rovers would surely have become only the third team to leave Teesside with maximum points this season.

But on the other hand they delivered a compelling case that, as Paul Lambert has argued, they can become a stronger side without their top scorer.

And that, despite Rhodes’ departure, they are stronger than they were at the start of the January transfer window.

Rovers now have a player in Danny Graham who can hold the ball up and bring team-mates into play and a player in Tony Watt who is direct, skilful and a willing to runner.

And they now have a player in Gomez who can pull the strings and, as shown by his delicious debut goal, create something out of nothing.

Rovers certainly carved out enough opportunities against a miserly Boro backline that had conceded just three goals in their previous 16 Championship home outings.

But that is all well and good. Unless you make the most of them you are always liable to what happened in the 79th minute.

Rovers, and league debutant Elliott Ward in particular, had defended stoutly up until that point when, for the sixth league match running, they conceded a sloppy goal.

The tiring Akpan showed Emilio Nsue inside and the right-back crossed to the back post where Nugent headed in an equaliser that had not been forthcoming.

Lancashire Telegraph:

By that stage Middlesbrough had brought on Rhodes — incredibly, especially given the fanfare surrounding his transfer, introduced over the tannoy as ‘Jason’ Rhodes — yet it was Rovers who should have settled the contest when Akpan dragged wide.

There is no question the midfielder should have scored. The same could be said of Watt before the break after he latched on to a hooked pass from Gomez, who revelled in his role at the tip of a midfield diamond that Boro struggled to get to grips with.

Substitute Elliott Bennett needed to hit the target at the very least, too, seconds after coming on.

And, throw in the fact that the immaculate Ward had an effort ruled out either of side two well-struck attempts from the impressive Darragh Lenihan, and it is understandable as to why Lambert cut such a rueful figure afterwards.

But this was undoubtedly the best Rovers have been under his watch.

Playing the brand of high pressing, high tempo, on-the-front-foot football he has vowed to deliver, what is slowly but surely becoming his team could and should have won.

That they did not was a source of regret. Wins will follow, though, if they continue to perform like this.