Football, eh? Bloody hell.

The footballing gods were smiling on Blackburn Rovers at Elland Road on Saturday. Nobody ever learns from trying to predict the Championship, do they?

For so many neutrals or league observers, this was the home banker of the weekend. Beleaguered Blackburn Rovers, off the back of a 5-0 tonking, going to Leeds United.

John Eustace threw his support behind his players on Friday, less than 48 hours after the disappointment of Bristol City. Whilst wins haven't been free-flowing since he took over, he was right when he pointed out that the Ashton Gate no-show was an exception, rather than the rule, since he has taken over.

READ MORE: Rovers ratings as Pears and Szmodics heroics seal priceless win

Eustace's optimism, and a vocal away end who travelled across the Pennines in blind faith rather than belief, was rewarded in emphatic fashion. Not just with three points but potentially Championship football for another season.

IF 49 points are enough for Blackburn Rovers, that achievement won't be celebrated. But days like Saturday have to be savoured. What a performance, what a win.

The conditions could not have been less ideal. Rovers arrived back from Ashton Gate in the early hours of Thursday morning and the early kick-off gave them even less time to recover. 

Leeds, by contrast, played Tuesday night at home and were given a shot in the arm by watching Leicester lose at Plymouth on Friday night.

The hosts came flying out of the blocks and a goal did feel inevitable in the first 20 minutes. The pressure was ominous but Rovers defended for their lives, something they didn't do in the last outing.

It was a backs-to-the-wall performance but after they'd rode the first tide of pressure, the game started to turn. The atmosphere went from ferocious to anxious and Rovers sensed their chance.

Whilst Leeds, of course, had all of the territory, Rovers ended the game having had three big chances. Sam Szmodics got his first sight of goal after pouncing on a loose, square pass and his left-footed drive which brought Illan Meslier to full stretch was an early warning.

It was one Leeds United didn't head. Joe Rankin-Costello went close before, somehow, Szmodics' cross to the back post didn't result in a goal. Connor Roberts did excellently to clear it from the line and a combination of Sam Gallagher and the Leeds defender couldn't shovel it in. Was that the big chance gone?

Walking into Elland Road, I tweeted that Rovers needed a hero, with four games to go. In truth, they've had one all season. The talismanic figure of Szmodics, who deserves to be named Championship Player of the Season on Sunday night.

How about that for a finish? It is an excellent team goal. Gallagher showing his value with the flick-on, fair play to Tyrhys Dolan for stepping up with the assist and Szmodics does not miss. 

It is such a cool finish, to delay and wait for Meslier to go to ground. The silence inside Elland Road was deafening. 

Of course, that magical moment was only possible because of Rovers' defensive heroics. To a man, they were outstanding.

Aynsley Pears pulled off some great saves. When his team needed him, he was there. Nobody comes to Elland Road and wins without their goalkeeper playing their part.

Junior Firpo and Georginio Rutter whilst Daniel James were mightily close. But Rovers put their bodies on the line.

Hayden Carter battled through his first start since January and Scott Wharton soldiered on despite not being fully fit. 

But the biggest nod has to go to Dom Hyam. What a way to respond. A captain's performance.

There were plenty of critics after Wednesday night and fairly so. He's had a shocker. Every professional footballer has. But there was no doubt in Eustace's mind he was going to play because he is a leader for this team.

Whether it be in the middle of the back three, where he is probably most comfortable, or on the left, he didn't put a foot wrong. The whole team defended for their lives. It was a blood and guys display whichever successful Championship team must be capable of.

Eustace will make no apologies for the use of 'the dark arts' which helped run the clock down. For so long, this Rovers team has been dubbed 'soft'. They were anything but.

Understandably, the character of this group has been questioned this season. They have conceded too many goals and not turned up against the team in and around them.

But you can not question the bottle this team showed on Saturday, in one of the toughest arenas, at the real crunch point of the season. Since Eustace has come in, Bristol City is the only performance that hasn't been backed up by spirit, togetherness and desire, even if the quality has lacked at moments.

It certainly didn't at Elland Road and three points gives Rovers a massive chance of survival. They are up to 49 points and, after the Saturday 3pm fixtures, five points above the drop zone.

No team has been relegated with more than 48 points in the Championship since...Blackburn Rovers in 2017 with 51 points. 

Realistically, a draw with Sheffield Wednesday next weekend secures their status as a Championship club. It would deny the Owls the chance to get three points and take Rovers to the magical 50 mark.

More importantly, it relieves some tension heading into those back-to-back home matches. As it always has been, Rovers' future is in their hands.

When they failed to beat Swansea City, Millwall and Plymouth Argyle, we knew they'd have to pull a rabbit out of the hat. Fewer believed that they would do it.