Blackburn Rovers' impressive start to the Championship continued with Arnor Sigurdsson's late goal making it seven points from a possible nine.

The Icelandic forward's big moments secured a late 2-1 victory over Oxford United, curling in off the post, and lifted the optimism levels further around Ewood Park.

Three games is no time to start looking at the league table but a quick glance has Rovers in third, with only the two teams on maximum points ahead of them.

A fast start from John Eustace's men felt imperative and has helped distract from concerns off the pitch and question marks over transfer activity. The head coach remains hopeful it will be a busy final week.

READ MORE: EUSTACE SETS ROVERS TRANSFERS EXPECTATIONS

'Impressive' was so nearly just 'unbeaten'. Whilst nobody would've murmured too much discontent had Oxford taken a point, another late goal felt like the perfect tonic ahead of the week of two derbies, albeit with very different levels of importance.

Here's a round-up of the key takeaways from Ewood Park.

Siggy sends a message

It's been a frustrating spell for Arnor Sigurdsson, who scored his first goal in the Championship since New Year's Day.

That paints the picture of what has been a disjointed seven months for the Icelandic forward. He has lacked any real rhythm or momentum.

Injuries have not helped him in his Rovers career. He missed last pre-season and then the end of last term too, with the club fighting to stay up.

A groin niggle this pre-season has seen him on the periphery early on too and that's even prompted some speculation that he could leave Rovers.

We all know Sigurdsson has talent. He's clearly a very good finisher too. It was a very classy goal to win the game against Oxford, harking back to his form in September and October last year.

Consistency is the issue. We interviewed him after the game (that to follow on Monday) and he feels he's learned a lot about English football in his debut season. The physicality, playing three games in a week; it can be a culture shock.

Now Rovers fans need to see him producing that level of match-winning quality more consistently if he wants to be a more regular staple in the team. That's the challenge for him moving forward; this felt like a big moment for him.

Statistics tumble

It's always a good sign when you're smashing statistics this early in the season. Let's start at Ewood Park, that was the first time Rovers have won back-to-back league games at home since March 2023.

A lot has changed since then. Personnel, head coach and plenty more. Eustace has already acknowledged that the home form wasn't good enough last year and will need to be a bedrock for success, as it was in 2022/23.

Rovers winning from behind, especially at Ewood, doesn't happen often either. In fact, the last time was a 3-1 win over Derby County in March 2021. A game we all remember for Bradley Johnson and the false nine 'experiment'.

It was a goal from a substitute that scored the winner for Rovers. That's the fifth time someone from the bench has scored, eclipsing each of the last three full seasons (highest of four), after only three Championship games (5).

They're also closing in on beating the number of goals scored after the 76th minute. That's up to four already this term; they managed seven in 46 games last season.

Improving on these kind of statistics are the hallmark of a team that's working towards being successful. Seven points from nine is a great start and it's impossible to argue that Rovers seem to be moving in the right direction.

On the right side of fine margins

In another world, Rovers could easily be sat on four points from three games. Two late goals in the last week have made a huge difference.

Had Rovers lost at Norwich City, they'd have maybe felt a bit hard done to but couldn't have complained too much. Likewise, if Oxford had taken a point at Ewood Park having edged the first half.

But good teams find a way, don't they? It's a wholly positive omen that Rovers are on the right side of these fine margins early in the season.

They haven't been 'smash and grab' points. Rovers haven't delivered a bad performance yet. But there is an appreciation that seven points could be four and there is more to come. I have no doubt Eustace's side will end up on the wrong end of lady luck as the season progresses.

To do all that with the transfer window in the background is mightily impressive. The Sam Szmodics saga, the periods of inactivity. It's hardly been smooth sailing but Eustace has navigated the ship expertly.

He is installing a belief in his side to go right to the final whistle. It's a brilliant habit to have; scoring late goals. It can carry teams further than they expected but nobody is getting carried away here.

Pace priority in final week of the window

Looking at the first half, Rovers lacked a penetrative threat in-behind, I felt. All of front four were more comfortable with the ball at their feet, with nobody really testing the legs of the Oxford backline.

That changed somewhat when Makhtar Gueye came on, though Oxford naturally began to sit deeper as the game wore on and so that space was restricted.

It further underlined that Rovers need an injection of pace in the side, to keep the opposition guessing. We've banged on about it for long enough but it's really a must in the final week of the transfer window.

There isn't a single Rovers forward who wouldn't prefer the ball to feet than with space to gallop into. It's an obvious area to address.

A busy week to come

Eustace has been bullish throughout August that four more players are needed to make his squad competitive. He reaffirmed that again on Saturday.

It should be a busy week at Ewood Park with a goalkeeper, full-back, midfielder and attacker desired. Let's hope it doesn't go right down to the 11pm deadline...