They always say actions speak louder than words. Well, Blackburn Rovers fans just gave supporters something to get behind for the final 12 Championship games.

The John Eustace era is well and truly off the ground after a stunning performance against Newcastle United. Sure, it didn't end with the perfect result but every player was deservedly applauded off the pitch at Ewood Park.

It was a pulsating FA Cup tie and another real highlight for the club after great success in the domestic competitions in the last two years. Jon Dahl Tomasson restored value in what was previously seen as a distraction for five years.

The hope is Eustace will share the same outlook. The games against West Ham, Leicester City, Sheffield United and now Newcastle have bred unity and strengthened the connection between the supporters, the players and the head coach.

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Nobody was judging Eustace after four games, especially with virtually no time on the training ground. Everyone knows that time and patience are needed to develop a philosophy, a style and an identity.

But, undoubtedly, it really helps when there is tangible evidence you are going in the right direction. Fans need something to cling to, something to believe in. You can do that with words and rallying cries, but the most effective way to get people on board is to show them.

Blackburn Rovers did that against Newcastle with a superb display. Since Eustace came in, most of the talk has been about the intangibles, heart, grit, desire, being tough to play against. Focusing on that would be remiss because Rovers played some fantastic football against a very strong Newcastle team, the best they've produced under Eustace.

This was not the Magpies' reserves, which would still dwarf the Rovers team in terms of expense. This was pretty close to as strong as Eddie Howe could've gone with and they were, at times, on the ropes.

It was the perfect blend of the quality football Rovers produced under Tomasson but with the added solidity and defensive assuredness Eustace has installed in his first four games. They got the balance absolutely perfect.

For a bit more luck and a bit more of a clinical edge in front of goal, they'd have been in the quarter-finals. Eustace is putting building blocks in place and ticking off small checkpoints as he does so.

Rovers showed incredible character to come from one goal down, after their resistance had finally been broken. There was a worry the substitutes would weaken the team and there was an initial dip but they then really influenced the game.

So many players produced their best performances in a Rovers shirt for some time. Ben Chrisene, Yasin Ayari, Andrew Moran, Dilan Markanday and the influential John Buckley, to name a few. The 24-year-old set the tone and, alongside Scott Wharton, was my pick for man of the match.

You need a bit of fortune too and Aynsley Pears' remarkable double save, plus Wharton's goal-line clearance in extra-time, were let-offs. But entirely deserved ones. Newcastle had plenty of their own.

Penalties are a lottery and regardless of the outcome, Rovers did their fans proud. That was the most important thing to come from Tuesday night.

With 12 Championship games to go, Rovers will have no trouble staying in the division if they play like that. Any doubters have now been turned into believers, which will buy Eustace and the squad patience until the summer. The most important thing is they get over the line.

Rovers have three crucial Championship matches on the horizon. I think they need a couple of wins from Swansea (A), Millwall (H) and Plymouth Argyle (H). We'll have a much clearer picture of the situation in 10 day's time.

If Rovers can produce anything like that display over the next two months, they'll be on the metaphorical beach by April.