The mood around Blackburn Rovers is at its highest for 12 months after a difficult year for their supporters.

John Eustace's side are a different beast to the one beaten by Queens Park Rangers eight months ago which spelt the end of Jon Dahl Tomasson's reign. This time fans saw a cosy 2-0 victory and another clean sheet.

Jonathan Varane's red card was a turning point, with neither side able to muster much against the other for 45 minutes. But unlike at Deepdale, Rovers made the most of their man advantage.

Lewis Travis and Danny Batth got the goals but it was the contribution of Todd Cantwell that was most eye-catching. It means Rovers are still unbeaten this season, one of only two sides that still hold that record.

READ MORE: ROVERS PLAYER RATINGS AS CANTWELL AND DOLAN IMPRESS

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

Cantwell shines on first proper showing

Rovers fans have had glimpses of the player that created the most fanfare of all their summer arrivals. 15 minutes in the last two games had whet the appetite but now fans will be hungry for more.

Cantwell was the game-changer for Rovers, introduced at half-time. It was a bold and proactive substitution which Eustace insists was happening before QPR were reduced to ten men.

The frustration at Deepdale was Rovers' inability to prize Preston open. They didn't move the ball quick enough or with enough care to sustain attacks and really put their opponents under the cosh.

Within minutes of coming on, Cantwell was in the thick of the action. A little jink, step over and a forward pass. Tempo instantly raised, fans off their seats.

He played off the left with Rovers keen to target the wide areas and pull QPR from side to side. His link-up with Tyrhys Dolan, who often drifted to that side, was encouraging. Cantwell's early sighter, saved by Paul Nardi was a sign of intent. Somehow, that goal-mouth scramble stayed out.

The quality he then showed with his delivery for Batth's crucial second was fantastic. A clipped, driven cross which was begging for a touch.

It's quite obvious that Cantwell is blessed with quality. But his career hasn't panned out as many expected and it's up to Rovers to harness his ability and get him producing consistently.

I think Eustace is the perfect manager to do that. These were ideal settings for Cantwell to strut his stuff, endear himself to the home fans and get his fitness levels up.

The sooner he is at full tilt, the better for Rovers. He gave the whole team and the crowd a big lift and that was match-defining.

Lessons learned from Deepdale

The introduction of Cantwell was critical but Rovers stepped up their game across the pitch in the second half. Lessons had been learned after their frustrating half against ten men last week.

They moved the ball far quicker and attacked at pace. They sustained attacks and tried to pull and push QPR's backline, probing for the opening.

Roared on by the Blackburn End, there was a very early sense of inevitability that they would score. In the same way, there felt like a growing concern they wouldn't last time out.

Eustace showed Rovers clips throughout the week of how to create overloads in wide areas to hurt QPR. That was the tactic pre-game and they doubled down on it once they had the extra man.

It worked a treat and the players followed the game plan through.

Attacking balance still to be found

Until Cantwell came on, Rovers had lacked rhythm in their attacking play. It was not as dour or frustrating as at Preston but defences were once again on top.

Whilst Rovers had edged the first half, QPR had their chances too. Paul Smyth should've scored at the back post and both teams were frustrating one another. The red card was a decisive moment.

I don't believe Eustace has yet found the right balance in his front four. It was Andi Weimann, Tyrhys Dolan, Ryan Hedges and Yuki Ohashi to start and they lacked the dynamism and pace to really worry QPR.

Dolan was the brightest in the first half and continued that into the second. But the other three were on the periphery. They're all players that like the ball to feet and with two more defensive-minded full-backs behind them, Rovers lacked real ingenuity or one-vs-one threat.

I personally believe Rovers look a better team with Makhtar Gueye leading the line. Dolan seems to benefit from having a focal point and he is a real handful for defenders. Cantwell would start when fully fit too, leaving a spot on the right which feels up for grabs.

Eustace has great options and he will rotate accordingly. But in the last two matches, that front-four chemistry hasn't been quite there.

Ewood Park mood

It always bodes well with supporters when you win matches at home. You might not get any extra points for victories in front of your own fans but given it's where the bulk of your supporters pay their money, it can set the tone for a football club.

Rovers have now started their season with four successive home league wins for the first time since 1994/95. They only managed six in the entirety of last season. That sets the tone for positivity around the football club.

Considering where Rovers were the last two teams met, the mood around the club is night and day. Speaking to the players, their confidence is high and they're all enjoying their football. Why wouldn't they be?

Defensively, they look fantastic. Even when they were conceding goals in the first few matches, their underlying numbers were good. Now it's three successive clean sheets for the first time since December 2021.

That is not just the contribution of the back five but the whole team. Rovers press from the front and look a well-organised unit.

That doesn't happen overnight, it's credit to the hard work on the pitch. Everything feels pretty positive right now.