John Eustace was delighted with Blackburn Rovers' performance after showing both sides of their game at Middlesbrough.

Rovers produced an impressive first-half performance where they matched Middlesbrough, who had scored 15 goals in three games.

In the second, they had to withdraw pressure from the hosts but maintained a threat on the counter-attack. They then took their opportunity with Dom Hyam turning in Todd Cantwell's cross.

Having been to watch Boro at Oxford on Saturday, where they scored six, Eustace was impressed with how his team carried out their instructions. They restricted the hosts to two shots on target with Aynsley Pears not having a save of note to make.

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"I am very proud of the performance," Eustace said.

"In the first half, I thought we were very good with the ball. We played some very good stuff but we missed that little bit of belief and we weren't clinical enough in that final third.

"In the second half, we were always going to be under pressure. Middlesbrough are a good team and we knew they'd come out strong against us so we had to show a different side to our game.

"We were resilient and together and scored a really fantastic goal. We did a lot of work in the last few days, I went to watch them play against Oxford. I don't know if that was a good thing or a bad thing with the amount they scored!

"They're an excellent team and we knew we'd have to be disciplined and concentrated with our shape. I thought the lads were excellent.

"I try to watch all the opposition and you pick up on things that you don't see on the screens. It's small details but the lads have to go out, work their socks off and defend the box and play their football. It's our instructions but they have to carry it out and everyone was fantastic from the starters to the substitutes."

Eustace admitted that Hyam was offside as he bundled the ball into the net. But given the decisions Rovers have had against them this season, the head coach was unapologetic for getting the rub of the green.

"It's something the lads have been working on in training, getting those combinations on the sides," he said on the goal, another well-worked team move.

"Becky coming in, we knew he could link up well with Todd just like Hedgey does. We have to allow the lads to play with freedom and style, we have good players at the football club.

"The goal was another excellent one today. You don't always get the rub of the green but over the course of 46 games, it usually evens itself out.

"Tonight we were fortunate because he looked slightly offside. That's what we've deserved after some other decisions and we got that today."