SAM Gallagher and Marvin Emnes have given Blackburn Rovers boss Owen Coyle something to think about.

At the start of the season we would have all said that Danny Graham and Anthony Stokes would have been his first-choice front two.

But you cannot be so sure any more given the way the on-loan duo have performed in recent weeks but especially in Saturday’s badly needed win over Rotherham.

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They’ve put pressure on Graham and Stokes and, like every football club, that’s exactly what Rovers need. You want your players being kept on their toes.

Now the lads coming into the team for tonight’s cup game at Leeds have to follow in Gallagher’s and Emnes’ footsteps.

This is a chance to prove they are worthy of a place in Owen’s starting line-up.

When you’re out of the team and you get given a chance you’ve got to play well enough to say to the manager, ‘how can you leave me out after that?’ That’s what Gallagher did after Cardiff and what Emnes did after QPR. They have given Owen a headache. But it’s the type of headache all managers love to have.

It sounds like Owen will ring the changes tonight. I can understand that given the injuries and given Rovers’ position in the table.

Yes we’re in the early stages of the season but the league, and the game at Derby on Saturday, is the important thing.

Derby are struggling, and while they have got a good manager and good players, this could be a good time to play them.

And the players should be confident given the way they played against Rotherham on Saturday.

When you are where Rovers are you take wins whichever way they come so it was good to do it in style.

Here’s hoping the fringe lads come in tonight and do the business and set us up nicely for Derby at the weekend.