Hayden Carter insists Blackburn Rovers' players are determined to right the wrongs of last season and prove themselves to supporters.

Rovers finished narrowly above the Championship bottom three last term, surviving on the last day of the season at Leicester City. It was a dramatic fall from grace, with the team around the play-offs until the start of December.

A mid-season collapse, which resulted in a change of head coach, saw Rovers staring at the prospect of dropping into League One.

However, John Eustace made the team harder to beat and they ground out the results necessary, including big wins at Sunderland, Leeds United and the champions.

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Now the team have had a full pre-season under the new head coach, the patterns of play are starting to show. Whilst Rovers have been slow to improve the squad in the transfer market, the existing players have benefited from time on the training pitch.

Carter revealed that the players have spoken about ensuring there is no repeat of last season's display. The whole squad are determined to right the wrongs and give the fans an easier ride.

"Towards the end of last season, we were trying to stay up and we couldn't really implement the style," he told The Lancashire Telegraph.

"We had no time to train or work on it. Pre-season has been good for that, ideas on the ball and how the gaffer wants us to work off the ball too.

"We want to play football and win games, it feels like it's coming along. We're trying to be positive, everyone is looking forward to the new season.

"Everyone is keen to right some wrongs from last season. It wasn't good enough at all from us.

"On the first day, we came in and said 'Let's not do that again', it wasn't nice for us and it certainly wasn't nice for the fans. We're looking forward to the new season and I hope we can do a lot better than last season."

At the time of the interview, post-Wigan, Rovers had yet to make a summer signing. That is now set to change with Makhtar Gueye and Yuki Ohashi set to arrive imminently.

Carter insists player recruitment hasn't been discussed by the players and hasn't been focused on.

"We stay patient, we have seen the rumours online but we can't do anything about that, we're focusing on ourselves," he explained.

"We'll do the best we can and if nobody comes in, we'll be ready for the first game still and give our absolute best."

With the squad thin, Rovers have been bolstered by their Under-23s to supplement the group. For many, the trip to Austria was their first taste of a warm-weather training camp with the senior side.

The weekend's matches were a step up in duration and intensity, with Rovers playing 90 minutes for the first time this summer. Fitness remains the focus of these games with the big kick-off 10 days away.

"I think overall it was good, we put a lot of energy into it, with it being our first 90 minutes," Carter said.

"It's great for our fitness and I think there was plenty of good stuff in there but also things we can work on over the next few weeks. Overall, a positive day.

"We need building back in after our weeks off. Today was all about fitness and trying to implement the gaffer's ideas. I think it can only put us in good stead with the first game in two weeks.

"There wasn't any time to work on his ideas on the training ground last season but pre-season has been positive. Everyone has bought into it and hopefully, we start well against Derby with a win to start the season."

On the trip to Austria, he added: "It was positive, a lot of team bonding and some downtime where we could get to know some of the younger lads coming in.

"It was good, tough with the heat conditions but all pre-season has been useful and put us in good stead.

"I think we've got a few leaders and lads who can take that role as captain. We've seen in pre-season that it's been passed around to see how people cope with it.

"I'm just focusing on my performance and trying to help the team. The gaffer will make a choice on the captain and everyone respects that."