'Can't play without each other': Branthwaite and Taylor-Davies issue rallying cry ahead of Championship clash at Hillsborough

Duo sign new contracts at Ewood Park and insist Rovers must stick together

Rovers duo Ash Phillips and Hayden Carter have signed new contracts at Ewood Park and both are adamant that the squad must stick together if they are to climb the Championship table and reach the heights they are capable of.

The pair have put pen to paper on two-and-a-half year deals, with the club holding the option of a further year, after impressing since arriving at the club in 2021. Phillips moved to Lancashire from Shamrock Rovers in his native Ireland while Carter arrived from Blackburn's League One rivals Portsmouth.

Having made a combined 47 appearances for Jon Dahl Tomasson's side this campaign, the pair are determined to help Rovers avoid a third successive season of battling against relegation and are targeting a top half finish.

"I think we need to stick together as a group," said Carter. "We can't play without each other. We need to go out there, push each other and make sure we start winning games.

"We should be nowhere near the bottom of the table. We have too much quality in the dressing room not to be up there with the top teams in the league.

"We are more than capable of finishing in the top half. We have shown in spells this season that we can compete with the best of them. Now it's about doing that week in, week out."