Ryan Hedges believes Blackburn Rovers are benefitting from more time on the training ground with John Eustace and his coaching team.
Rovers' unbeaten start to the season has increased confidence around Ewood Park that they can have a successful season. 11 points is a great return, with plenty of goals scored.
However, defensively, they've also looked impressive. Despite Saturday being their first clean sheet of the season, Eustace's side have looked well-organised and structured without the ball.
The pressure Rovers applied forced the mistake from Max O'Leary which gave them the opener against Bristol City. From then, they controlled the game and again won it high for the second, Tyrhys Dolan robbing Joe Williams and feeding Yuki Ohashi.
READ MORE: ROVERS FIXTURE MOVED AS LEEDS MAKE POLICE COMPLAINT
Those moments are a product of extended periods with Eustace on the training ground, in pre-season and with more free midweeks. Keith Downing has been working with the attackers too to improve in the final third.
"You can see that the manager can get us very well drilled and we know how to follow a game plan. We can be organised and structured to frustrate the opposition," Hedges told The Lancashire Telegraph.
"We've had two weeks to work on our game plan (for Bristol City) and we got it down to a tee. The pressing was excellent, they didn't know how to get through and that's where our first goal came from.
"It comes from the front. It was Yuki, myself, Ty, Lewis, all pressing intensely and then bodies on the line behind us. That's what the manager wants.
"Once you go 1-0 up in our league, games change. Then I felt we were in control. We know how tight every game in the Championship is and you have to take advantage when you're on top."
Rovers have begun the season with three wins out of three at home. They're already halfway towards their Championship tally at Ewood Park from last term.
Squad depth and options from the bench have been spoken about frequently. Hedges believes marrying the two could see them challenge for the top-six again.
"It's huge. In JDT's first season, we were really good at home and just narrowly missed out on the play-offs," he said.
"It wasn't where we wanted it last year but we're determined to improve that. It's been a great start and everyone is behind us.
"There is no reason why if we can keep the home form there that we can't be there or thereabouts.
"We lost Sammie and everyone would like to hit 30, obviously, but we are not a one-man attack. We have four, five, six, multiple players that can get us goals and get us up pitch, in dangerous goal-scoring positions.
"I'm happy wherever I'm playing. I just want to be on the pitch, the manager has spoken to me in-depth about my roles in games.
"I want to be out there and affecting games, thankfully I am doing that at the moment."
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel