MARK Hughes believes Blackburn fans are in for an exciting season after Rovers have made their best start to a Premier League campaign for a decade.

A hard-earned 1-0 victory over Sven Goran Eriksson's new-look Manchester City yesterday lifted Rovers up to seventh position in the table.

And after seeing his side take eight points from their opening four matches, Hughes says Rovers now have the perfect foundation on which to launch another charge for Europe and the top six.

"We're excited by what's happening. This is only a start - that's all it is at the moment," said Hughes.

"It's still very early days - we've only played four games, for goodness sake - so we are not getting ahead of ourselves.

"But I just think I've noticed a change in the dressing room.

"There's a focus - and it has always been focussed - but there just seems to be more intensity about getting the job done and the importance of winning games, and that just comes from the confidence the players have in themselves and their team-mates, which is a great sign."

Rovers extended their unbeaten run to 14 games - an impressive sequence dating back to last season's FA Cup semi-final with Chelsea - thanks to Benni McCarthy's 13th minute goal.

And, like Hughes, skipper Ryan Nelsen believes there is a feeling within the dressing room that Rovers could be genuine contenders for a UEFA Cup spot, and possibly even better, over the next nine months.

"It's a massive three points because we'd had a good start, but now it's considered to be a very good start," said the Kiwi, who was once again a colossus at the back yesterday.

"If we hadn't won this one then we would have been right back in the pack.

"But now we've got something to build a good foundation on for the rest of the season.

"That said, we are still realistic because we know how hard the Premiership is; every game is extremely difficult.

"But we've given ourselves a good opportunity to have a really good season.

"It's very early days but we've now got the confidence to have a good go at it."

Even the sending off of Tugay, for two bookable offences, failed to knock Rovers out of their stride yesterday, and led magnificently by Nelsen, who was deservedly named man-of-the-match, they comfortably dealt with everything City threw at them during a stirring second half.

The skipper added: "Obviously, everybody is confident at the moment.

"I think now we are going into games looking for results, that's what winning does for you, and it's a great habit to be in.

"You don't expect to lose and you are always on the front foot, so everyone is feeling very positive."