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It was no more than Rovers deserved though as they created a number of chances, to wipe Jay-Jay Okocha's eighth minute opener for Wanderers.
Before the game, Wanderers manager Sam Allardyce had challenged his side to set in a two-goal target. And he must have been delighted as his players responded with a goal after only eight minutes.
Per Frandsen's cross to the far post was knocked down by his fellow Dane Henrik Pedersen into the path of Okocha and the Nigerian struck the ball sweetly past Brad Friedel.
It was Okocha's first goal at the Reebok Stadium and he almost made it two halfway through the half, but was guilty of firing over from a good position.
As well as conceding the goal, Rovers were also hit by an injury to influential midfielder David Dunn and he was substituted by Tugay after only 11 minutes.
That did not seem to have too much effect on RoverÂ’s attacking play as they monopolised possession for the rest of the half.
With Damien Duff causing problems to the home defence down the left there was plenty of service into the danger zone, but the home side were able to weather the storm for the opening 45 minutes despite the ever present threat of Dwight Yorke and Andy Cole.
Wanderers should have had the all-important second goal in the 58th minute. Kevin Nolan worked his way to the byline before knocking the ball to the perfectly placed Youri Djorkaeff, but the French World Cup star somehow put the ball over the bar from the six-yard box.
Rovers too were also guilty of wasting good chances. After Jussi Jaaskelainen saved well from Yorke, David Thompson fired wide from a good position before Yorke disappointed again, when he failed to put the ball on target from a close-range position.
Still Rovers poured forward and Yorke looked to have brought the equaliser as he fired past Jaaskelainen only to see the ball strike the bar and rebound to safety.
Wanderers looked to have relieved the pressure when Stig Tofting put the ball into the Rovers net with four minutes left only to be penalised for handling while Djorkaeff missed another glorious opportunity with time running out.
But, with only seconds remaining of added time, Short smashed the all-important equaliser.