Blackburn boss Paul Lambert has praised the form of central defensive duo Grant Hanley and Shane Duffy since taking over at the club.

The pair were once again excellent as Rovers won 2-0 at Bristol City on Saturday, a result that extended the Scot’s unbeaten start to life in Lancashire.

Blackburn’s two victories and a draw under Lambert have seen them rise up to 13th in the table and they have an extremely winnable game on Friday when they host relegation-threatened Rotherham.

The Lancashire outfit are 1.50 to claim all three points, while the draw is currently priced at 4.00 and the Millers 6.50 to earn just their fifth Championship triumph of the campaign.

Captain Hanley and central defensive partner Duffy will be key to the home side’s chances at Ewood Park and will be doing all they can to help their team keep an eighth clean sheet of the campaign.

Having recorded just 10 shut-outs last term, Rovers have undoubtedly improved at the back and the pair’s form has certainly been a factor.

Lambert admits he has been impressed by their displays and has urged them to continue playing to their current standard for the remainder of the campaign.

“The two of them have been outstanding,” the Scot is quoted as saying by the Lancashire Telegraph. “They’ve been strong, resolute, and all the things that you want in your defensive players.

“The two of them have been excellent and they are only going to get better.

“They have set the standard now and they have to maintain it because if you don’t, then you have a problem in this division.”