Blackburn Rovers match-winners reward brave selection

It was two wingers who played crucial roles in both goals. Jayden Fevrier was the provider for Andri Gudjohnsen's 10th of the season before Dapo Afolayan crashed in the second from the edge of the box.

Wary of West Ham's threat down the right with Jarrod Bowen, Mowbray revealed he almost left one of the wingers out in favour of a more defensive set-up.

That would have likely been Fevrier, who had yet to have his big moment in a Rovers shirt prior to the weekend, before then delivering it.

"I'm happy for Fevs," Mowbray said.

"I watch him in training, and he's got a rocket in both feet, left and right foot. He can take the net off the back of the goal.

"I said to him at half-time, 'You've got to start showing it; I need to see it'.

"Whilst it wasn't a rocket of a shot, it was brilliant down the outside and just stood it up for you. Maybe I'd have even scored.

"The beauty of what Andri (Gudjohnsen) does is he's always there between the sticks and when it breaks, he just bangs it in.

"It's so pleasing for him and pleased that the team got the benefits of it.

"I initially toyed with the idea of maybe playing Ribeiro and Pickering against Bowen, just so that we doubled up on a very, very talented football player.

"Anyone who watched the game against Cardiff saw all those assists and things he creates for their team.

"In the end, I decided to try and be more positive and go with Dapo and Fevs. So yes, I'm pleased that they both contributed and worked so hard."

Blackburn Rovers' Jayden Fevrier set up the opening goal. (Image: CameraSport - Dave Howarth)

Rovers have now already won more matches at Ewood Park than in the entirety of last season. It's five victories in eight outings at home and a sense there could have been more.

It has created a very different feeling around the club. Last season, home matches felt a chore but the entertainment on offer could not be more polar opposite.

There is a belief at Ewood Park, both on the pitch and in the stands, that nobody will find a visit to Rovers easy.

They have already beaten Middlesbrough, Millwall and West Ham, three clubs heavily fancied to be in the play-offs, at least, come May.

"Every game we want to try and win," he said on the home form.

"It's just finding that form, like I was talking about away from home; if we can crack that, we'll be pretty strong in the division.

"I genuinely believe whoever comes here, we feel that we can win, we feel we're going to create chances, we feel we're going to have efforts at goal.

"I'm pleased that's been reinforced against a team who are obviously very talented; obviously they can dominate the ball for long spells, but it doesn't mean they're ever going to win.

"You have to convince the players you can win the game and I thought we always looked a threat."

Rovers' bench made a big impact, which was crucial in the game. Yuki Ohashi set up the second goal whilst Augustus Kargbo and Moussa Baradji added energy too.

Mowbray feels that when his squad is fully stocked, he has good options to choose from, which he'll need in the winter months.

"I think the squad depth is so much better than that day against QPR a couple of months ago, where we were bringing three kids on the pitch," he explained.

"We are bringing footballers on the pitch now who are probably all a little bit disappointed that they're not starting in the team but generally for different reasons, coming back from injury and the fact the team is functioning pretty well.

"It's not easy; it's no guarantee anybody just walks straight back in.

"Yuki (Ohashi) is getting himself up to speed; he is a running machine. AK (Kargbo) always carries a threat. Baradji probably deserves to play but with how we are playing, he has to be patient, another top player.

"I feel confident with the team and you're making changes; you're not weakening it, you're giving it extra energy and boosting the team."

Rovers will now pause for breath before preparations begin for Burnley, their most important away of the season.

Players will be given some rest days at the end of this week before the intensity increases next week.

"We'd lost back-to-back games so it was important to win," Mowbray insisted.

"We want to keep giving them belief; don't get sucked back into a black hole where you think about just defending.

"Keep playing and if we are playing a good team, let's be solid but always carry a threat as we did.

"We will train Monday to Wednesday next week and then let the players have a few days off. Then have a full week before the next game."