IF THE events of last autumn are anything to go by, Blackburn Rovers boss John Eustace had better watch his back.
Just as he did at Birmingham 12 months ago, the 44-year-old has steered an unfancied club with a modest squad into the highest echelons of the Championship.
Bizarrely, that minor miracle earned him the sack at St Andrew’s, but it’s probably safe to assume that nobody at Ewood Park would dream of doing something so suicidal.
Slowly but surely, Eustace has become a revered figure at Blackburn, following up last season’s painstaking rescue act with a summer of rebuilding and realignment that has turned one of the division’s most recklessly open outfits into the sort of obdurate grinders nobody wants to play.
Unlike predecessor Jon Dahl Tomasson, whose team thrilled in spades but ultimately flattered to deceive, Eustace specialises in defensive organisation and the use of tactical tweaks to stymie specific strengths in opposition sides.
Denne historien er fra September 22, 2024-utgaven av The Football League Paper.
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Denne historien er fra September 22, 2024-utgaven av The Football League Paper.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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FUMING GRANT'S BLAST PAYS OFF
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BOSS MARTI'S ON A MISSION TO RESCUE R'S ALL OVER AGAIN
ARTI Cifuentes proved he was up for a challenge when he took the manager’s job at QPR just over a year ago.
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DAVIES AGONY AS BLUES BLOW IT
ADEJECTED Chris Davies gave a bleak assessment of his Birmingham City side’s draw against Northampton Town.
WARNOCK: ONLY A GAME? IT'S LIFE OR DEATH IN SHEFFIELD!
JUST another game? Don’t pull that one on Neil Warnock, a Sheffield native, boyhood Blade and managerial veteran of nine Steel City derbies.
BISHOP AT THE HEART OF POMPEY WIN
COLBY Bishop’s spectacular return after heart surgery was a well-kept secret, said Portsmouth manager John Mousinho.
ACE VAKOUN CLEANS UP FOR THE HORNETS
VAKOUN Bayo took the plaudits once more after his goal sunk Oxford on Friday.
ANDI'S AT DOUBLE TO SPARK AWAY JOY
BLACKBURN Rovers boss John Eustace believes his team gave a text-book performance to get a first away win of the league season at Cardiff.
COV CATCH BLACK CATS NAPPING
SUNDERLAND head coach Regis le Bris was frustrated his players couldn’t build on two moments of first half magic that should have seen off managerless Coventry City at the Stadium of Light.
FARKE: WE HAVE THE WINNING MENTALITY TO STAY COURSE
Pressure mounts on Hoops manager
