What we expected?
In a few words, not a lot. That may sound deeply offensive but in a summer when Bristol City broke their transfer record in buying three players from Chelsea, including an England Under-21 international, added a new goalkeeper and a trio of exciting signings from Europe, Tommy Rowe's arrival from Doncaster on a free transfer didn't exactly move the needle.
Rowe was a top-level League One player and a respected professional at Donny but, aged 30, and with limited Championship experience over the last five years, it wasn't a signing that was seen, from a consensus opinion, as one that would definitely lift the Robins into the play-off places.
Here was a squad player who could fill in at defensive midfield and potentially left-back, with Lloyd Kelly's sale to Bournemouth leaving City light in that department.
What we got?
Quite a departure from the original perceptions of Rowe and how his season was likely to pan out. Jay Dasilva's tibia injury thrust him into the first-team at left-back and he far exceeded expectations with remarkable consistency across his 23 starts.
Of course, Rowe couldn't provide the same attacking penetration as Dasilva but he compensated for that with absolute commitment and dedication to the task; thundering into tackles and keeping it simple whenever in possession.
He also became a major figure in the dressing room at a time when Lee Johnson lost an alarming number of influential voices at the club in Marlon Pack, Adam Webster and Frank Fielding.
There was a constant expectation that the next game was always going to be the one where Rowe's performance levels dropped off but he just maintained his consistency throughout the Autumn, often against some of the Championship's best wide players - Nottingham Forest's Joe Lolley, Jarrod Bowen, when at Hull, and Fulham's Anthony Knockaert.
What best represents his displays over the first half of the campaign is that Dasilva's absence never really became an issue and the 21-year-old was given ample time to recover before retaking the left-back role.
Best moment
It has to be that equalising goal at Birmingham. City were facing back-to-back defeats at the start of the season and a growing unease at their transfer business but Kasey Palmer's fantastic through-ball found Rowe and he finished first time from a challenging angle.
There was also an equaliser against Middlesbrough two weeks later, plus it was his pass into Josh Brownhill that set him up to fire the winner against Cardiff. He's certainly had some standout moments.
Biggest let down
Very difficult to say because Rowe has unquestionably exceeded expectations and has proved himself to be very much a "team player". Everything that was asked him was delivered with minimal fuss.
At a push you could argue that his two performances in midfield - at Barnsley and Huddersfield - were disappointing and not provided Johnson with enough evidence that he can be a regular in his specialist position.
What next?
Rowe is under contract until 2021 and is the sort of character this young City squad need to maintain continuity and a sense of identity (sorry to use that word) in the dressing room.
He's unlikely to be a regular go-to first-choice starter but as the opening 20 games of the season emphasised, he's an excellent man to have in the event of untimely and unforeseen injuries.
What does he grade?
In terms of individuals performers constantly meeting a required level, Rowe has to be in the top tier of Robins players for his consistency alone and the way he acquitted himself in a position which is not his preference.
Not only that but he gave Johnson one less headache as the injuries mounted up for City - B+
