Blackburn Rovers manager Tony Mowbray suggested that he thinks Rovers produced a statement performance that shows they can compete with the Championship's top sides, following their 1-1 draw against inform Nottingham Forest at Ewood Park on Tuesday.
Mowbray's side came into the game looking for a strong reaction to the frustrating 2-1 defeat at home to Luton Town last weekend, and Rovers certainly provided that against a Nottingham Forest side that headed to Ewood Park full of confidence after securing three consecutive Championship wins to climb up to third in the table.
Blackburn were slightly the better team in an even first half at Ewood Park, which saw both sides struggle to create many clear cut chances, but the second half displayed much more quality from both teams, with Rovers taking the lead through Adam Armstrong on 63 minutes, who scored his second goal in three matches with a well taken finish.
Mowbray's side would have been hoping they could protect that lead and see out the match for a crucial three points.
But just two-minutes after going in front Rovers conceded an equaliser, with Nottingham Forest's Joe Lolley firing home from 20-yards out after some patient build-up from Forest, and neither team could find a winning goal so both sides had to settle for a point.
Rovers will feel that they could have secured the victory, but Mowbray was keen to take the positives from the match, which he thinks showed Blackburn can compete with the best in the league, speaking to the Lancashire Telegraph after the game, saying "I was pleased with them all tonight, hopefully that comes across.
"I said to them afterwards, yes we can be disappointed we only drew at home, but I think it put down a marker for where we are in the league.
"Forest had won five out of six, gone to some big places and won some big games and if anyone was going to win that tonight it was us."
The Verdict
Mowbray is certainly right to be encouraged by Rovers' display against Nottingham Forest, which showed a real ability to bounce back from a frustrating result against Luton, and produce a positive performance against a side that came into the match in real form and looking to extend a three-match winning run.
Blackburn should be aiming to mount a top six challenge this term, and performances like Tuesday's against Forest will provide real belief in Mowbray's squad that they have enough quality to compete with the very best teams in the Championship throughout the campaign.
There were many positives to take from the game, but in particular Armstrong getting another goal will be a boost as the forward looks to add more goals to his game and he is now in form having registered two goals in three matches, whilst Lewis Holtby also made an impression in his seven minutes on the pitch from the bench.