Blackburn Rovers head coach John Eustace is bracing himself for a stern test against Hull City when the pair meet again in the Championship on Sunday afternoon.

Rovers were 1-0 winners at the MKM Stadium on December 7 as Ruben Selles watched from the stands before taking over the reins. He saw a positive performance from his new side, losing to Sean McLoughlin's own goal early on in what was Andy Dawson's second and final game in caretaker charge.

Three weeks on from that reverse in East Yorkshire, City will be looking to get back to winning ways after losing 1-0 at Preston North End on Boxing Day. Rovers, meanwhile, continued their fine campaign so far with a gritty 2-2 draw against Sunderland at Ewood Park, snatching a 90th-minute leveller to keep them firmly in the play-off pack.

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“That is the Championship. It is the Christmas period and we are looking forward to each game. We have got some really difficult games coming up and we take each one step by step. We are looking forward to each challenge," Eustace said of the busy festive period before going on to reflect on City.

“I think Hull are a really exciting team, they have got a lot of technical footballers there. Obviously, the new manager coming in there. He likes to play a certain style of football.

“It is going to be a really difficult game. We only played them four games ago so we know that they have a quality squad of players. The manager is a very good coach. It is going to be a tough challenge.”

The Rovers boss hopes for another big Ewood Park backing against the Tigers to round off 2024, having been full of praise for the response from the supporters against the Black Cats.

“The fans have been brilliant all season. Home and away, they have been very committed to the players," he said. "That is what I asked for and they are certainly giving that. The noise when we scored both goals was outstanding and when we went 2-1 down, the way they really supported the boys was magnificent. The 12th man certainly paid off.

“I thought the first half was probably one of the best we have had this season, and we have had some good ones. I was delighted with the way we played and moved the ball, it was really exciting, attacking football.

“It would have been great if we had been a little more clinical and come in two or three up, but we didn’t. We knew that our backs would be up against the wall a little bit in the second half, against a quality team.

“Going 2-1 down, we had to show another side of our game. We have got that spirit and togetherness to keep going to the end and get the point. We try to set them up to play a certain way but when they cross the white line, it is down to them to perform.

“I think they have been doing that throughout the season. I go back to that first Derby game, I thought the football we played was outstanding and the way we defended. That has been getting better and better. The way the group is, they have full confidence in each other. They look forward to each game, each test that comes, home and away, we are prepared and see where it takes us.”