Dom Hyam insists Blackburn Rovers should not be afraid of targeting the play-off places after his first goal of the season saw them beat Middlesbrough.

It was a statement victory from John Eustace's side as they restricted Boro to very few clear-cut chances. Off the back of three successive wins, scoring 15 goals, the home side rarely tested Aynsley Pears.

Hyam then converted at the other end to send the 600 away fans home happy. It was another impressive performance and only a second midweek away win in the Championship in more than two years.

"First half we had quite a lot of the ball and played some nice stuff but they were always going to come out in the second half and press a bit more," Hyam said, reflecting on the game and his goal.

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"We were always looking to get a goal but we pride ourselves on having a good shape first and foremost and playing from that. You have to build from those foundations when you come to a tough place.

"I'm proud of how we defended, it was a good defensive performance all round from us, you know, starts with Yuki and Todd up there as well. We picked our moments, we set traps and I thought it was an all round good team performance.

"One of the key messages from the gaffer especially away from home, you know, it's football, you're not gonna get the run of 90 minutes away from home in the Championship. 

"It just doesn't work like that. Most teams' solid foundations are at home, you have to ease into the game and we did that and we got confidence in that and nicked one at the end."

He added: "Yeah, buzzing, yeah, I need to get a few more, but really happy to get a goal today. 

 "I was a recycled corner and it was a really good move. You have to stay alive in the box, we're quite big on second and third phases of set-pieces and being alive in the box and anything can fall.

"So it's just about anticipating and trying to read what might happen. I got in front of him, it was a bit fortunate with the offside but we'll take it."

The victory leaves Rovers eighth in the table, having played a game fewer than their rivals. In matches against Burnley, Norwich City, West Brom and Watford, the performances have been good even if the results haven't always followed.

But on Teesside, both married up to make it a memorable win for Blackburn Rovers. That came from the base of Hyam and Danny Batth, who have formed a strong partnership since Hayden Carter's injury.

It has left Rovers fans dreaming of a first top-six berth since relegation from the Premier League. Hyam insists that talk of the play-offs shouldn't be feared and the group are confident in their own abilities.

"Yeah, it's been a good partnership. We sort of bounce off each other really," he explained, first discussing the defensive partnership.

"We're always talking to each other when, you know, if I'm behind him, I can see more of the game, I'll tell him and vice versa when he's behind me, so I think that bond is massive.

"I think centre-back is the sort of position where if you can get a solid partnership, then you can flourish and hopefully we can do that.

"If you don't believe then what we're doing, you know? We want to push with bigger and better things and to aim for higher positions on the table and the play-offs.

"You have such a short career, we don't want to just stay up, maybe we did last year, we want to push on and see where we get us. 

"I think preseason was a big one. The gaffer came in last season under tough circumstances and obviously, with one aim, to keep us in the league. 

"We had a decent seven-week pre-season worked to really implement a lot of his ideas and he was able to get his own players in as well, so I think that goes a long way."

The challenge doesn't get any easier this weekend, though, with league leaders Leeds United visiting Ewood Park. The Whites will be tough opposition but Rovers, equally, feel as though they match any team.

"Football can change quickly, we can't dwell on this result. It's good to appreciate it and see this good stuff we're doing, but also we're going to realise that every game's different," Hyam detailed.

"We'll be up against a different challenge on Saturday against Leeds as well. Our solid base is really good at the minute and confidence is good.

"Getting a result here can be massive, I think it's only been one or two games this season where we have let ourselves down. On the whole, performances have been good.

"We've been a bit unlucky but things often even themselves out if you keep doing the right things."