Blackburn Rovers boss on Stockport County win and goals

Eustace admitted last term that the squad needed more sources of goals after relying heavily on Sam Szmodics in that department.

Makhtar Gueye, Yuki Ohashi and Andi Weimann have bolstered Rovers’ attacking options this summer, while Sam Gallagher headed to Championship rivals Stoke City.

The new trio have hit the ground running, with Eustace’s side finding the back of the net 10 times in their opening couple of games following a successful trip to Edgeley Park.

“I thought we started the game really well,” said the head coach. “Stockport made a lot of changes.

“We made six changes from the weekend as well so it was important we gave vital minutes to the players who need it. I thought we set the tone from the start, it was good.

“We spoke last year about how we want to be more clinical in the final third and people have got to step up to the party.

“I think we have signed a couple of really good strikers and it is great to see them off the mark, Andi Weimann coming in as a natural goalscorer.

“It is about getting the right players in, the right characters, and we still have players I want to bring in to make us more competitive. It is important we keep doing that.”

Eustace had been encouraged by some of Rovers’ attacking play at the back end of last season but wanted to be more ruthless when chances came along.

“There has been a lot of work over pre-season and last year as well,” he continued. “As I said last year, we got in some really good areas without being clinical enough.

Yuki Ohashi celebrates his goal (Image: CameraSport - Lee Parker)

“We continued that through pre-season and have players who are very confident at the moment, the group is confident. When they are getting the chances, it is nice to see them being put away.”

While Weimann has a wealth of experience in the Championship, Ohashi and Gueye have had to quickly adjust to the demands of English football.

The pair are instantly becoming fan favourites due to their performances on the pitch and character off it.

Eustace has been pleased with their impact on the squad and hopes his attackers can kick on in the coming weeks and months.

“They are great characters,” he said. “It is still early days, we are only two games into the season. They have got to keep working hard and earning the right to play and score their goals.

“It is great that everyone has taken to them but they have got to work their socks off to make sure they keep standards high.”

Attention now turns to Saturday’s trip to Norwich and the Canaries will be eager to bounce back following a 2-0 defeat against newly-promoted Oxford on the opening day.

Johannes Hoff Thorup took charge at Carrow Road this summer – replacing David Wagner, who was sacked after losing against Leeds in the play-off semi-final.

Eustace was asked if he had any selection headaches for the weekend after strong displays from those who came into the side at Stockport.

The Rovers boss maintains that the entire squad will have an important role to play at times this season as the fixtures come thick and fast.

“When you come to any team, you have got to show that attitude and desire to earn the right to play. I thought the way we started the game was exception,” he reflected.

“It doesn’t matter who you are playing against, they can make as many changes as they want but - if you are not at the races and your attitude is not spot on – there will always be problems.

“We have got a really good group, they are all together and led the standards from the start. It was pleasing.

“It is about getting the fitness. We made six changes, all six players needed the fitness. They have missed a lot of pre-season and it is important they got good minutes in a competitive game.

“It is about the squad - whoever starts and finishes the game, it is about that togetherness. It is over the course of 46 games, not just two.

“The most important thing is we have come through it without any injury problems and we can go again.”