Blackburn Rovers boss John Eustace on Swansea City trip

Eustace oversaw a 1-1 draw in South Wales on the opening day, returning to the Midlands with a valuable point.

Michael Duff was in the dugout that day but Luke Williams is now the man in charge, arriving at the club in January after guiding Notts County back to the Football League.

Eustace is expecting another tough test but hopes his side can give the travelling supporters something to celebrate.

“They are a talented group of players, a very good team and we know it is going to be a difficult task,” he said.

“They have recruited very well and have good Championship experience. We know it is going to be a tough game but it is one we are looking forward to.

“You want to win football games but it is about the process as well, and I think the way we have been developing over the last five games has been good.

“The performance on Tuesday night was very good. If we can go there and show that same level of intensity and desire, hopefully we can come out with a positive result.”

Despite losing out on penalties, there were so many positives to take from the display against Premier League Newcastle in the FA Cup fifth round in midweek.

“I think we have shown over the last four or five games that we are very committed,” Eustace explained.

“The support at Preston was outstanding and I thought the performance was very good at times. To get through that period really showed that level of commitment from the supporters and the players.

“Preston are on an extremely good run at the moment, so the way we showed that togetherness and the way we played at times was evident for everyone to see.

Sam Szmodics was on target against the Magpies (Image: Camerasport)

“I don’t think Tuesday night showed anything different to what we have been showing up to now.

“The fans were outstanding, it was more or less a full house and the football was good at times. That level of commitment is exactly how it has been for the last four or five games.”

There is still plenty of football to be played before the end of the season as Rovers look to keep climbing the Championship table.

“It is about us growing together and as I’ve said, the fans are going to play a major part for us going forward,” the head coach continued. “Home and away, they are going to make a huge difference.

“It is about sticking together if there are any disappointing results. That is the Championship, but it won’t be because we aren’t doing the right things.

“We all believe in what we want to do here at the football club and that is to move up the league as quickly as possible. To do that, we have to stick together.”

The fixtures continue to come thick and fast heading into the business end of the campaign, and Eustace insists the whole squad will have to play their part.

Yasin Ayari, Jake Garrett and Dilan Markanday were among those who came off the bench against Newcastle, and the boss was encouraged by what he saw against the Magpies.

“It is about using the squad,” he stated. “We did that really well on Tuesday night and everyone played a big part.

“Again, the squad is going to be needed at the weekend. I have said from day one, it is not about any individuals.

“It is about the group of players and over the course of 46 games in the Championship, it has to be about the squad.

“There are players who came on the other night who weren’t on the bench at the weekend and it shows that we are together, united and want to bring success to the football club.”

Eustace’s side enter the game 16th in the table with a four-point cushion above the drop zone following three successive draws in the league.

Rovers were beaten 1-0 when they faced Swansea at Ewood Park earlier in the season, with Liam Cullen getting the decisive goal.

They recorded a 3-0 victory on their last trip to the Swansea.com Stadium, with Sam Szmodics, Ben Brereton Diaz and Lewis Travis all getting on the scoresheet on a memorable away day.