Tyrhys Dolan has opened up on the most difficult period of his Blackburn Rovers career after scoring his first goal of the season against Queens Park Rangers.

Dolan has been in and out of the starting team this season and has struggled to capture his best form. The 21-year-old has been criticised, at times, as a result, but has looked sharper in the last week.

Contract negotiations are ongoing between Dolan and Rovers and some fans have been concerned that has been a distraction for the forward. Director of Football Gregg Broughton disagreed with that view during an interview last month.

At QPR, Dolan's improved performances were rewarded with that elusive first goal, steering in Joe Rankin-Costello's cross after excellent work down the right channel. Playing as a false nine, Dolan was lively and a constant menace for the QPR backline.

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Reflecting on a difficult start to the season, Dolan admitted he's found it tough mentally. He's had honest conversations with his family and people close to him in a bid to rediscover his best form.

"To be honest, since my debut, this has been the most difficult time that I've ever gone through," he told RoversTV. "Emotionally and football-wise, it has been very tough.

"There have been a lot of conversations with myself and my family. I want to get myself back to the happy person I was playing football. As of recently, I feel that coming back.

"I've kept the right people around me and had the right advice that I've needed. I am being honest, I have spoken to friends and family and told them I have been struggling.

"I haven't been where I've been at. I am honest with myself about that and I know it's not my standard. I am a lot better than this but if I work hard, it will work out because I am a good player.

"I thought today this was the game where I'll turn it around. My past few performances have been better, I know I have so much more to give. I can be even better.

"I want to go out and play well for my family, for my team-mates and for everyone really."

Dolan's struggles made his first of the season all the sweeter. His honesty is a reminder that whilst honest opinion and critique are part of football, it's important to remember there is a human being on the other side of the story.

Having a fit-and-firing Dolan will only help Rovers achieve their aims this season. The forward is hoping that the goal will give him renewed confidence and help him kickstart his campaign.

"Yeah, it was really good," he said on the goal. "It's great to bring the summersault back and get myself a goal and assist.

"Most importantly, we got the win after a few losses in the league. It's nice to get the three points.

"The goal meant so much, I know I've had a difficult period. I have put pressure on myself because I haven't been at my best.

"I am starting to see myself coming back so that goal meant a lot for me. I knew as I saw Costello go in behind that I'd cut myself back. I shouted, he listened and it was nice to get the goal.

I can take so much confidence from it, I want to stay focused, enjoy my break and come back better and kick on. I want to have a great season."

Rovers, as a collective, have been playing well but travelled to Loftus Road on the back of four successive Championship defeats. Although the performance have, by and large, been positive, nerves had begun to creep in.

A fifth defeat could've sent the team into the bottom three before the international break. Instead, they rallied and produced an emphatic response.

Dolan revealed that there has been frustration in the dressing room at playing well but losing matches. Whilst they have remained positive that continuing to do the right things would yield results, the three points were a big relief to Rovers.

"The hardest part of the game is scoring goals so I'm delighted we did that and got four. You have to try and get the second, it's anyone's game at 1-0.

"We had to get some more goals but it was well executed, good work from our half to theirs. There was a lot of that today.

"We've said in the changing rooms that we are playing well every week. You can't fault the patterns and the link play, we have to put the ball in the net, which we did today.

"We showed our quality and I'm delighted it all came together. We have been getting frustrated, you can't play well every week and take a loss.

"We would rather not play as well and win, three points is what matters. If you can do that and play good, that's a bonus."