Eustace is John to a winner

ROVERS manager John Eustace saw his new charges end an eight-game winless run amid protests from both sets of fans.

At least for Blackburn, who parted company with Jon Dahl Tomasson and brought in former Birmingham boss Eustace, a clinically taken double from Tyrhys Dolan and a Sammie Szmodics strike was a welcome distraction to the chants against their Indian owners, the Venky’s.

But for Stoke boss Steven Schumacher and his players there was no escape from the cries of, ‘You’re not fit to wear the shirt’ as patience among the Potters fans continues to grow thin after four successive defeats.

He admitted: “We’re in a relegation fight, there’s no denying that. Our start wasn’t good enough. If you give a Championship side a 3-0 start you are doomed.”

The new manager bounce was in evidence as livewire Dolan swept in a low cross from Callum Brittain, leading scorer Szmodics headed in his 17th Championship goal from a Ryan Hedges nod back.

And Dolan confidently ran on to Sam Gallagher’s flicked header for his second goal – all within the first 37 minutes.

Stoke new boy Niall Ennis got his first goal of the season two minutes later.

Rovers coach Damien Johnson said: “John was in the dressing room before the game and at half-time.

“The presence when he came down to the side of the pitch during the game gave everyone a lift.” BLACKBURN: Pears 7; Hyam 7, Mcfadzean 6, Chrisene 6; Brittain 7, Rankin-costello 6 (Garrett (66) 6), Tronstad 6, Hedges 7 (O’riordan (68) 6); Dolan 8 (Moran (86) 5), Szmodics 7 (Sigurdsson (86) 5); Gallagher 7 (Telalovic (66) 6) STOKE: Iversen 5; Tchamadeu 6, Mcnally 6 (Haksabanovic (77) 6), Wilmot 6, Gooch 6 (Baker (60) 6); Burger 6 (Wesley (77) 6), Johnson 5 (Hoever (60) 6), Vidigal 6; Jun-ho 7, Manhoef 5 (Cundle (60) 6), Ennis 6 STAR MAN: Tyrhys Dolan – A bundle of energy capped with a double strike. REF: Gavin Ward 6