Blackburn Rovers sent the perfect message to the Championship as they beat play-off rivals West Brom 2-0 in their first match without John Eustace.

Whilst the soon-to-be-departed head coach is still technically a Blackburn Rovers employee, it was David Lowe who led from the dugout as Rovers won at The Hawthorns.

After a bland first-half, but one where Rovers sat in and frustrated West Brom, they executed the perfect second half. Torbjorn Heggem's header off the post was the closest either side could muster in the opening 45.

But Rovers came out with renewed vigour and attacking intent after the break. Makhtar Gueye had a penalty appeal turned down before he then acrobatically turned Dom Hyam's header into the net to give them the lead.

It was the Gueye show from there in. The number nine rattled the underside of the crossbar with the ball somehow bouncing away from goal.

But he wasn't to be denied for long as he made it seven for the season in all competitions. The hard work owed to Lewis Travis as he won the ball back, drove at the defence and picked out Andi Weimann. His effort found the path of Gueye and he took his time before finishing into the corner.

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Rovers began life without Eustace with Lowe in the dugout, assisted by Damien Johnson and the rest of the club's usual backroom team. Though the head coach remained in charge on a technicality, this was very much the start of a new era.

The question before kick-off was whether a beaten-up Blackburn Rovers would respond with fight or flight. For all the poor PR and negative headlines written this week, the squad has given themselves a chance at the top-six with 15 games to play, prior to kick-off and their reaction would be telling.

Unsurprisingly, it was a very Eustace-looking line-up. One change from the defeat at Queens Park Rangers and seven from the cup exit. Yuri Ribeiro came in for his league debut in place of the injured Owen Beck, sidelined by a small hamstring strain.

That left plenty on the bench to change the match should Rovers be able to keep it tight by the hour. Amario Cozier-Duberry, Augustus Kargbo and Emmanuel Dennis offered pace and athleticism to change the dynamics.

The game was dripping with narrative irrespective of the Eustace factor. Tony Mowbray in the dugout with Adam Armstrong leading the line; those superstitious Rovers fans were already fearing the worst.

The early indications from the away end suggested blame on both sides in the Eustace-Rovers divorce. Chants against the ownership were quickly followed by those against Steve Waggott and then Eustace. They can't be repeated in print but let's say they're unpopular figures.

On the pitch, the entertainment was in short supply. Rovers did a very good job of restricting West Brom to very little. They sat in a mid-block and opted to absorb pressure, which did little for the spectacle.

When the hosts looked most dangerous, it came from the wide areas. A recycled corner saw Isaac Price deliver, which was met by Heggem but came back off the outside of the post.

Whilst Rovers were doing a good job of frustrating West Brom, they lacked much punch on the counter. Having opted to leave the pace on the bench, there was little out ball or quality in-possession to pose a real threat.

Tyrhys Dolan's shot from the edge of the box was the best they could muster before half-time. His shot forced Joe Wildsmith into a fairly simple save but one that needed making.

The only real negative at half-time was an injury to Danny Batth sustained just before the break. Luckily, with Hayden Carter around the corner and Dion Sanderson able to deputise, Rovers finally have some deputies in that area.

Within minutes of the second half, Rovers posed more of a threat than the half before. Immediately after the restart, Gueye got behind the defence and was brought down but the referee waved the appeals away.

From the resulting corner, John Buckley's delivery was headed down by Hyam and acrobatically finished by the Rovers number nine. His sixth of the season in all competition was too powerful for Wildsmith to keep out.

Whatever was said at half-time, it had the desired effect. Rovers were suddenly streaming forward and as chants of 'Are you watching John Eustace' came from the away end, Gueye smacked the underside of the bar with a thunderous strike. Sadly for Rovers, it didn't cross the line as it was hooked to safety.

Armstrong then had the ball in the net but it was ruled out for a clear push as the corner was whipped in. Substitute Will Lankshear then followed suit but this time the offside flag denied him.

Those decisions, which were correct, proved crucial as Rovers put their stamp on the game with a second goal. It was a brilliant counter-attack, instigated by Travis as he won the ball and drove up the pitch.

His back-post cross found Weimann who scuffed his effort into the path of Gueye. The striker took his time before finishing into the corner from 12 yards to send the away end barmy.

Rovers did not have to weather a particularly brutal storm. Whilst West Brom had the lion's share of the ball, they never really threatened to wipe out the Blackburn lead. Instead, they were frustrated to overhit passes and shots from range.

It turned out to be the perfect away day for a group of fans that deserved nothing more. A difficult few days rounded off with renewed belief and confidence that this can still be a season to remember.

Nobody knows who might be in the dugout come May but this victory sent a clear message that Blackburn Rovers are greater than the efforts of one man.