I look at the squad, I watch the games, and I can see the limitations infront of me. Yet this team truly is greater than the sum of its parts, a collective effort and unity which brought together is willing to fight and scrap for every inch, and with it bring results.

I look at this season similar to 2021/22. The star man leaves, little to no funds reinvested, but a settled formula is found and in an open division, it can take you a long way.

We’ve all seen Rovers teams go and good runs, and too often seen it implode, not least that aforementioned campaign.

Who knows what the future holds, but being in the away end at Hillsborough on Tuesday night, you felt that sense of connection between the supporters and this team. They are liking what they are seeing and are willing to back it all the way.

It’s not always the most pretty, indeed there is plenty of frustrating moments in possession, but those are followed by a quick response to try and win it back.

They look a really fit and robust team, not something you have always been able to label Rovers teams of recent seasons.

Rovers won’t be alone, but you feel significant injuries and suspensions to key personnel will hamper them. There feels a lack of an out-ball to often, doubts about how will they fare against teams coming to Ewood and sitting deep, and an ability to chase a game should they fall behind?

Yet on current evidence you would think this group will just find a way. It’s what they’ve done.

The players are seeing the fruits of their labours. If you’re watching Tyrhys Dolan haring across the pitch to help cover his full back, then you’re likely to do the same.

And that sense of responsibility and togetherness is feeding through the group.

Rovers went to a Middlesbrough side flying on the back of 15 goals in three games, but limited them to precious little and came up with a moment of quality to win it.

They had just 28.5 per cent possession against Leeds, yet created four clear-cut chances to score, outside of the penalty that did find the back of the net.

That came on the back of the win at Cardiff courtesy of three beautifully crafted goals which shows the quality they possess when time allows.

A game at Hull where conditions dictated, they took advantage of a stroke of fortune to grind out three points on the road.

Then, at Hillsborough, another tightly-contested, midweek Championship away game, one I’ve watched hundreds of times previously with Rovers coming out on the wrong side of a 1–0 scoreline.

Yet this time, the margin moved in their favour, an ability to stay in the game, and then take the best chance which came their way proved the difference.

You feel that Eustace has a core group in his mind to build around, as a result the starting XI rarely just changes out of necessity.

The spine of the side is looking particularly strong, the Travis-Tronstad axis among the best in the division, and with Danny Batth showing his experience alongside a Dom Hyam looking akin to the player of 2022/23 than 2023/24, there is a steely determination not to let the opposition through.

Now for the matchwinner.

From a rollocking from Lewis Travis when failing to make a run into the channel in the dying embers of the Leeds United win, to the ironic cheers when winning a header later in the same game, Makhtar Gueye was hero of the hour, mobbed by the fans when heading in the only goal of the game.

The momentary pause from ball hitting net to celebration was either a shock to see it go in, or my initial thought that it may not have been his final touch to divert Joe Rankin-Costello’s cross into the back of the net.

But after said pause, there was no stopping Rovers’ №9 as he hurled himself into the crowd and lapped up the adulation after a first Championship goal of the season.

You could sense a confidence in his all-round game after said goal, something Eustace will be hoping he can take forward to potentially become a legitimate starting option, rather than merely the 60-minute replacement for Ohashi.

Given Rovers’ position in the table, something we have seen in recent winters past (2021 and 2022), the big question hangs over January. Rovers have been blessed with a goalscorer in the squad for long enough, but 19 games in, the leading marksman has four Championship goals.

Recruiting a striker in the summer, something Rovers had needed for some time, proved difficult, and January will be even more challenging.

Although we are told of no restrictions to owner funding, the evidence infront of you would suggest they will like be priced out by other clubs in the race for the players that would likely make an instant impact.

Those that would be available would likely fall into the bracket of untested and/or short of game-time, and potentially needing a domino effect to secure their arrival which may be at the latter end of the month.

However, the manager’s greatest strength appears to be getting the most out of the options available to him, it is the job of the club to supply them. More upheaval in the recruitment department doesn’t fill you with the greatest confidence, but this feels like an opportunity Rovers cannot pass up again.

And while he’s not gone on the attack with the same vigour as JDT, Eustace has made his intentions clear that the squad is in need of additions, not least given there are several players likely needing/wanting January moves themselves (Buckley, Sigurdsson, Leonard).

This isn’t a make-or-break January, not a certified promotion bid, but for once, a show of ambition, to the fans at least, would be particularly timely.