BLACKBURN Rovers boss John Eustace has praised Southampton's style of play ahead of Saturday's game at Ewood Park.

The hosts go into the game on the back of a 5-1 win at Sunderland on Easter Monday and will be looking to cause further damage to Saints' slim automatic promotion hopes.

Russell Martin's side had a difficult Easter weekend, conceding a 90th minute equaliser at home to Middlesbrough before they were edged out in a thriller by Ipswich Town at Portman Road.

Eustace insists Southampton are a "very good team" and is weary of a Saints side, who will be looking to respond.

Previewing the game, the former Birmingham City boss said: "Their style of play is excellent and they play some really exciting football.

"They're very well coached and we know it’s going to be a very difficult game, but it's one we're looking forward to.

"The first thing I'm looking for is to get as many points as we can. The most important thing is that starts Saturday and we're very competitive against a very good team.

“No matter who we’ve played so far, I think the group have applied themselves in exactly the same way.

“Sometimes, when you’re playing the top teams, they allow you to play a little more football because they want a good footballing game as well, that’s certainly helped us a little bit.

“Again, from the first game we’ve come in for, the application from the boys has been magnificent and I’m sure that won’t change from now until the end of the season.”

The game also offers the added storyline of the Championship's top two goalscorers going head-to-head.

Blackburn's Sammie Szmodics has hit 23 league goals this season and currently leads the scoring charts ahead of Adam Armstrong, who has struck 20.

Armstrong, who played for Blackburn between 2018 and 2021, has scored in each of his last four matches so goes into the game in good form.

Szmodics was nominated for the EFL Championship player of the season earlier this week, while Armstrong was overlooked.