Dom Hyam insists Blackburn Rovers do not want to settle for a season of mediocrity after an impressive start to the season.

Tuesday's 3-0 defeat at Coventry City was the first blotch of Rovers' Championship copybook but with 15 points from eight games, it's been a good opening two months to the campaign.

It has Rovers fans hoping for much grander prizes than simply staying in the league, as was the case last year. It is too early to ever be definitive but relegation worries look a long distance away on the basis of the first eight outings.

Instead, the dressing room is ambitious. They're quite comfortable harbouring an 'underdog mentality' but have aims far beyond simply making up the numbers this season.

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"We can be the underdogs all season, as far as I am concerned," Hyam told The Lancashire Telegraph ahead of facing Coventry on Tuesday.

"We are winning games of football and we're challenging. We feel good about ourselves and we're confident.

"If people want to write us off, let us go and prove them wrong. We feel ambitious. We don't just want to survive again, we want to push for the play-offs and be in the Premier League.

"It's a short career and you should always dream bigger and better. We want to play in the best stadiums, the best leagues, that hasn't changed.

The lads feel confident, we have a great bench. Players can come on and change the game to show what they're made of.

"We all know last season wasn't up to standard. I like to think we have learned from that. The gaffer has emphasised there is a long way to go and we're feeling good.

"Ever since the gaffer came in, he's focused on making us harder to beat. We finished with six clean sheets in 10 and that kept us up. We had to be harder to beat.

"Myself and the gaffer have said that we have come trickier to play against, harder to beat.

"We always have a good opportunity to win a game of football if we're keeping a clean sheet. It's something we want to improve on and so far we have.

"We're also now scoring more goals and looking threatening. We have attacking players that can flourish in this system. We're staying in games and we have players in attack, at the top end of the pitch, that can take their chances."

The improved spirit and mood around Ewood Park, from the stands to the players, has been well commented on this term. There is renewed optimism and hope all around the club.

Four wins from four in front of their own supporters helps that. As does a bond and togetherness within the dressing room itself.

The win over QPR was a good marker for how the atmosphere has changed, considering their last meeting in February.

"If you're going to do well, you need your home form. So far, we have four from four," Hyam explained.

"It's night and day to last year's performance to QPR. We are training well and we have competition, it was night and day to last year's performance against them.

"If we train well, we have a better chance of playing well. We're feeling good at the moment.

"I'm happy, we've been solid. We've had the clean sheets, now perhaps I'm due a goal, Danny (Batth) got one so I'm a little jealous. The aim is just to play every game.

"I'm fine physically, having that camaraderie in the team helps. You know if things aren't going well, your mates will back you.

"We have a real togetherness this year, we all feel positive. It might be worth 10 points, you run more, you do more for a mate than a colleague. That's the way it is.

"You always run for your mate because you're mates, not just colleagues."

Having game-changers off the bench will also be vital for Rovers as the season progresses. Having encountered their first blip of the season, the competition for places helps keep everyone on their toes.

"It's massive, we know we have to train well, let alone play well to keep our places," he said.

"You know someone is right behind you who can take your shirt. It's good for a team that wants to do well. We didn't have as much depth or experience last year.

"There might have been more of a relaxed feel in terms of knowing you're going to play. Now, if you have a bad game or training session, you might be out of the team.

"It's good to have that competition but it keeps you on your toes. The lads feel confident, we have a great bench. Players can come on and change the game to show what they're made of.

"This is where the squad is important in these quick turnarounds. We look after ourselves, we have to do things in meeting rooms. This is the manic feel of the Championship.

"It's challenging but you have to look after yourself to be ready. Learn in different ways to improve."