Meet the opposition | Blackburn Rovers
As Swansea City get set to face Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park, we take a closer look at the Lancashire club.
What's their story?
Blackburn Rovers were founded in 1875 and became a founding member of The Football League in 1888.
Rovers have spent most of their existence in the top-flight of English football, winning three league titles - the most recent of which came in the 1994-95 season under Sir Kenny Dalglish.
The Lancashire club have also won six FA Cups and one League Cup, with the latter being their most recent major trophy after they beat Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 at the Millennium Stadium in 2002.
Rovers were last in the Premier League 12 years ago, and did have a solitary season in League One during the 2017-18 campaign, but returned to the second tier at the first time of asking.
They have been in the Championship ever since.
How's their form?
Rovers have enjoyed a strong start to the season, and entered October still unbeaten in the Championship.
They have since suffered back-to-back defeats to Coventry and Plymouth, but are yet to lose at Ewood Park in the league.
Blackburn head into the weekend sitting eighth in the table.
Who's the gaffer?
John Eustace is in his first full season in charge after replacing Jon Dahl Tomasson halfway through last term.
Eustace enjoyed a long-playing career, with the midfielder making over 390 league appearances for several different clubs.
His most successful spell came at Watford, where he made 157 league appearances, scored 16 goals, and was captain of the club for three seasons before leaving for Derby County.
Eustace started his managerial career in 2016, when he was appointed manager of National League side Kidderminster Harriers. He led the side to two play-off campaigns while transforming the their style of play.
Eustace then left the club to join Queens Park Rangers where he would become assistant to former England manager Steve McClaren.
He also had a brief spell as caretaker manager at the club and helped them avoid relegation in 2019.
He was then appointed head coach of Championship side Birmingham City in 2022 where he guided the club to their highest points tally since 2016.
Eustace left the club in October 2023 with the Blues in sixth place with 18 points from 11 matches, before being appointed by Rovers four months later.
Who's the captain?
Midfielder Lewis Travis took over the club captaincy when Darragh Lenihan departed for Middlesbrough in the summer of 2022, having previously been vice-captain to the Irishman,
A Liverpool and Rovers academy product, Travis has been a mainstay in the midfield since being promoted to the senior side by Tony Mowbray in 2017.
He fell out of favour during the middle part of the 2022-23 season, and then spent the second half of last term on loan at Ipswich Town.
But he has returned to the fold at Ewood Park and enjoyed a strong start to the current campaign after resuming captaincy duties.
Who are the key men?
Striker Yuki Ohashi has made a bright start to life in the Championship following his summer arrival from Sanfrecce Hiroshima.
The Japan national squad member has five goals to his name in all competitions, including a brace in a 3-0 win over Bristol City.
Prior to joining Hiroshima, he had five years on the books with Shonan Bellmare in the top-flight of the J-League, having featured for Chuo University during his college career.
Talented playmaker Tyrhys Dolan is another attacking threat for the Lancashire club.
The forward spent time with Manchester City, Burnley and Preston in their academy ranks but did not make a first-team appearance for any of those clubs.
However, he has got plenty of gametime under his belt since joining Blackburn in 2020, racking up 20 goals in 175 appearances.
Dolan has the guile and pace to take defenders on, while also having an eye for goal or a defence-splitting pass.
Defender Dominic Hyam led Rovers through much of last season and is a key figure at the back for the Ewood Park side.
Starting his career in Reading’s academy, Hyam had loan spells at Hemel Hempstead Town, Basingstoke Town, Dagenham & Redbridge, Portsmouth and Aldershot before joining Coventry City in 2017.
The Scotsman made 169 league appearances for the Sky Blues, scoring eight times and played a key role in their promotion to the Championship during the 2019-20 season.
Hyam then joined Rovers in 2022, and he has made over 90 league appearances for the Lancashire club.
The defender made his senior international debut in 2023, coming on as a substitute in Scotland’s Euro 2024 qualifying match against Norway.