Todd Cantwell’s second-half strike earned a deserved three points at Birmingham City and took Rovers six points clear of the relegation zone. Oxford United, Leicester City, West Brom and Portsmouth all drew.
Considering the lack of preparation time with O’Neill and the further injury issues they suffered, it was another great result. That is their third away win since he took the reigns and fourth in nine league outings.
“I’m exhausted, a little bit to be honest,” O’Neill said with a smile when asked of his emotions.
“It was one of those games where, with the seven additional minutes… We put everything into the game.
“We said to the players, that the attitude to the game, we had to show that we wanted it more than the opposition, given the league position of the two teams.
“I didn’t think that Birmingham were lacking in any area like that. But we had to frustrate them at times, which we did well. But we also had to carry a threat and we did that well as well.
“I think we had the better chances in the game. The goalkeeper made a couple of big saves for us when he needed to, as did theirs.
“Obviously, it’s a real moment of quality from Todd to win the game as well and it’s a massive three points for us.”
Rovers had big chances before the goal finally arrived. Cantwell and Harry Pickering were guilty of missing a huge chance where neither could turn the ball in from close range.
Yuki Ohashi also hit the post and had a goal-bound shot blocked at the last. Birmingham created little, by contrast, bar hitting the post and one late save from Balazs Toth.
“We had the best chance, particularly where Todd could do a little bit better, then he hits the target the second time. You expect Pickering to finish after, but the goalkeeper, it’s a brilliant save as well,” O’Neill said.
“As much as you think you should score, you have to compliment the goalkeeper on the save as well. The important thing was that we kept believing in the second half. And, as I say, when we got the opportunity, Todd took it brilliantly.”
The victory gives Rovers a huge shot in the arm before hosting West Brom in a massive six-pointer. O’Neill insists nothing was achieved at St Andrew’s but is happy to be six points clear of danger.
“It’s a better position to be in than we were before the start of the game,” he smiled.
“I’m not really, I don’t know if we’ll say statements or make statements at this moment in time. The most important thing is to try to get the 50 points and above.
“So today, we said to the players, we have the opportunity to come out of here today with 46 points and that’s what we’ve managed to do. They should be immensely proud of their efforts to do that.
“We’ve come into the game in a good place because obviously, that’s three unbeaten and our away form has been good too. We have to take that forward obviously into the game at Ewood on Monday.”