Blackburn Rovers defender Hayden Carter says that the team are using last season’s play-off disappointment as motivation to do better this season.
Rovers finished in seventh place last season, missing out on the top six on goal difference to Sunderland, despite beating Millwall 4-3 on the final day.
Speaking to the Lancashire Telegraph, Carter said he wants to put that right this season and wants to use last term as extra motivation.
“Last season, being in the play-offs for so long and then missing out on goal difference. We just have to use that as energy really to try and go one better this season and get in the top six,” Carter said.
“It took a few weeks (to get over). We all wanted to get this club back to where it belongs in the Premier League and to miss out on goal difference really hurt.
“But like I said, we have got to use that this season and try to go one step further.”
How has Hayden Carter found the Championship?
On a personal level, Carter has found the physical demands of the Championship challenging but says that his previous loan spells at Portsmouth and Burton Albion helped him improve in that department. Last season was his first full season playing at Champinship level
“We don’t have the biggest side physically this season so it is up to the bigger lads to try and step up to that a bit more,” he stated. “As a defender, you need to be able to do that side of the game and I enjoy it.
“23’s football and first team football is completely different. You come up against men who are physical and use the dark arts of the game. I think the loans that I had definitely helped me get ready for that.”
Blackburn have been looking at other centre- backs to help Carter out at the back, with the likes of Ross Sykes, Tom McIntyre and Danny Batth being linked of late.