21st October 2014: My wife was rushed into hospital for an emergency C-section due to a potentially dangerous placental abrasion. After a crazy few hours, I was dumped in a room with a newborn baby girl in my arms while the medics stitched her up. Dazed and confused, I sat there wondering how I was gonna look after this wrinkly alien, and then a thought popped in my head - We're playing tonight! Cradling the alien in one arm like a rugby ball, I shifted in my seat and fished into my pocket for my phone. It's HT, 0-0 against Birmingham. A midwife came in to check on things, scowled at me pissing about on my phone, and promptly left in silent disapproval. Within minutes, everything started going our way. Ben Marshall scored, Brum had a player sent off, and we went on to win the game 1-0 (by which time my wife had been wheeled in like a drugged up zombie from the epidural). I looked down at my newborn and thought - You're a good luck charm you! Bear in mind we'd kept 2 clean sheets in 14 before that day. And it was 9 matches following before we kept another. Since then we've had 2 more matches on 21st October, 0-0 Derby 2015, 3-0 Portsmouth 2017. So the overall record for my good luck charm reads played 3 matches, Rovers 4 goals, opponents 0. Which is fairly impressive considering the teams defensive abilities over that period. If the run continues, hopefully we win tomorrow, and we win to nil. The last time we beat Watford away? Which was to nil too (0-1). Feb 2001, the season we got promoted to the Premier League. Summary: Win tomorrow and I will be hopeful of us getting promoted. Win to nil tomorrow and I will be 100% convinced we're getting promoted. Lose tomorrow and my daughter is immediately getting booted out the house as she will no longer be of any use to me........

Amazed and appalled that an employee is taking up his rights under UK employment law to take paternity leave?

Just finished listening to this, and it reaffirms to me exactly why I won't be kissing Venky's feet after a few good years under Mowbray. The fact Coyle was even appointed, let alone kept on for so long is an absolute disgrace, and just shows to me that we are always one decision away from everything collapsing again.

Wanking.

Amen. Anyone putting in Gallagher at RW needs their head checking (sorry Chaddy!).

more chance of brereton winning the ballon d`oer

He has already got kudos from me for referring to us as 'Rovers' and not 'Blackburn'. A good start!

Might not be a popular opinion and don’t get me wrong I do like the guy. He gave me his shirt in Austria before he didn’t pay the taxi driver and ended up in the nick but he did come across as a bit of a man child. We’re about the same age but he didn’t seem very professional. Him and dacky might have enjoyed nights out but I wasn’t enjoying working overtime and travelling for hours to watch his lethargic overweight ass struggle as Southend battered us. The night in Manchester after we got promoted he talked like the season was done . There was a league title at stake plus other little comments and his attitude confirmed the holiday mentality with the we best do abit. He was a good player for us as is Dack and I’m sure they arnt the only ones but it just annoys me when they have all summer to have fun with there massive bank balances and can’t be 100 % committed during the season. The start to the league one campaign was abysmal and there coming in with the same body fat as me and playing with hangovers. I didnt think he came across well at all

Now that has a familiar ring to it!

It's not about who's the best teams in Europe being invited,it's more whos the teams with the biggest revenues that could be generated,thats why 6 English teams are invited as they are supported worldwide.even if United had been bad for the last 20 years they'll always be one of the first teams invited into one of these competitions.

We shouldnt be signing Downing at all. Time to move on

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-8859255/Harvey-Elliott-reveals-meticulous-briefing-Liverpool-ahead-Blackburn-loan.html

It's almost like if you get the defence right the rest follows. Build from the back might be a cliché but it's also very true.

Gallagher doesn't have the attributes to play as a wide forward. He either needs to be played as a target man or not at all. If SG does play then we'd be better off having Arma in the wide forward role - at least he has pace and the ability to cut in with a great shot from outside the box.

??

Graham deserved to be dropped at the start of the league 1 campaign, he was ridiculously out of shape and not interested when on the pitch. Credit probably goes to mowbray for his attitude shift.

Not sure he is an upgrade. Looked to me like his legs were gone towards the end of the season. Would rather Buckley get further opportunities.

I like this, but I am also somewhat sympathetic to Bell. He’s playing awfully well, maybe start him, and give Douglas a half. JR-C I might pencil in, & give Trybull a runout in the 2nd half. If guys are doing well, leave ‘em alone, & change at 66’. I still like Dolan, but I would bring him off the bench in this one. I will optimistically say 1-1. I was worried about this fixture when they dropped down from PL.

Good boy Danny, but maybe not so great on self-reflection. First he tells on being hard done by Mowbray in League One, where he started 2 games, and then was out of the squad untill November. Shortly after he tells about him and Dacky going out on the piss all the time and getting called into the gaffer's office 3 times before October. Might seem related

Good podcast with Danny Graham here. Mentions his time at Rovers towards the end of it, describes his relationship with Mowbray as "love-hate" and mentioned him being unfairly punished and made an example of for being late after getting stuck on the motorway due to a car accident. Also mentions going vegan, his relationship with Mulgrew and Dack, Coyle being a laughing stock and his time with Lambert too.

I've been to Millwall plenty of times - they are a fucking nasty lot.

#teamsky

Might turn out to be our key player. Even more so than Armstrong or Dack in isolation.

We've had all these arguments over the last 2 seasons. What you say is of course correct but another way of looking at it is we're 3 points off it after ONLY 5 games. Extrapolate that over 46 games and....... We're also 3 points off 18th. Massive improvement needed on performance levels shown in the last 2 games. I'd say we need 4 points minimum from Watford and Coventry.

Goals scored in last two games = 0. They'll be shitting it.

Holtby isn't even taking up his full legal rights-I understand he is already back in the UK. He could have missed the next two games as well.

For those saying Armstrong wasnt comfortable out wide. I'd say that was only true when he played in the 4-4-1-1. When he plays in a front 3 then he definitely can play left. Take Bristol city last season at home when he came on playing off the left. I and probably he would prefer to play through the middle but if it isnt working for him I dont see why we cant shift him to the left or right to get him in the game more. Depends where the space is. I always thought that if he was pushed up on the fullback getting in behind then he works as a inside forward. His greatest attribute is his pace and when he cant get in behind I'd rather shift him wide to get him inbetween their rb and cb to the byline then have him dropping deep into midfield.

Speedie showing Armstrong that you don't have to be a giant to lead the line.

I dont think the reason to take Brereton would be to rest him down to his age or out of fear of overdoing him, I think he simply hasnt done enough over the 7 games to continue to warrant a start. Travis has never needed a rest since he broke through, and Rankin Costello again probably never has guaranteed a spot in the team. Dolan is the most obvious example of someone needing to be taken out due to his age, someone totally new to proper football, but even then, the main reason is that he has been totally ineffective for a couple of games. Douglas has to start for me. Also Trybull is also a defensive midfielder and Johnson lacks the ability on the ball to be the deepest of the 3 so I would swap them round.

We're in mid-table after tonight's results. About right for where we are as a club under this manager The new signings won't make any difference Watford 2 Rovers 0

Gallagher on the wing presumably against the evidence of him never ever having a good game from that position? And chaddy, Elliott and Trybull straight in despite us not needing either player?

Phil Jones left out of this seasons United squad... Possible pay out and return to Ewood?

Login to IFollow. Go to Matches-First Team Results-(select game)-Match Report-Videos (select replay or highlights) and Play

Disgusting appointment. No respect. I knew it at the time and everything I have heard merely confirms that judgement..

I found it really interesting that he said Mowbray and Venus have conflicting views on how we play the game. I don't think I have ever heard of that before. Coyle is the clown 99.9% of us knew he was and his appointment cost the club millions. He speaks fondly of Lambert.

That’s a great shout, thank you

Well Notts Forest may as well forfeit all their games then because on that reckoning their season is well and truly over ..

Could the top one be Damien Duff or David Dunn? I'd have to dig out some signed stuff I've got at home to confirm it.

Kaminski Nyambe Lenihan Ayala Douglas Holtby Trybull Rothwell Elliott Brereton Armstrong

I think Johnson has much more credit in the bank than Buckley after a good start to the season, whereas Buckley had a chance and fell massively short. Johnson should be played slightly further forward where he can offer a goal threat breaking forward with ideally Trybull sat in front of the back 4. Dolan and Brereton have been equally poor in the last 2 games, in an ideal world both should be taken out of the side.

Trybull would of been better than any of the three that started Saturday and regarding Liverpool , thats because there Liverpool. The best team in the world . If you can’t get into the 18 in the best team in the world at 17 then your not good enough for rovers . Behave. The fact he’s played in that team means he’s more than capable of holding down a shirt at ewood. If they don’t want him back he will sign for a better team than us, fact

This game for me, I'd be dropping: Johnson, Evans and Brereton. Johnson and Evans weren't up to it and after a bad performance should be dropped. I'd bring in Holtby, Trybull for those 2. Think having those 2 will suit Buckley more. Whilst bringing in Elliott for Brereton, who looks much worse than Dolan. We CANNOT play Gallagher out wide, it baffled me how Tony is still yet to learn.

I think Gallagher was a monumental waste of money, but if Mowbray wants to persist with him it certainly has to be in the middle. Armstrong's best position is also central. He never really looked comfortable out wide.

Do you not see Rovers as top 6 candidates then Chaddy? Only Cardiff are far more likely to be competing for the top 6 than Preston.

Kaminski Nyambe Ayala Lenihan Bell Trybull Johnson Holtby JRC Armstrong Elliott Pears, Douglas, Wharton, Evans, Buckley, Dolan, Gallagher

Good move for him, as he lives at Wrea Green, kids are at Kirkham Grammar. Classy footballer, just a shame his legs went, and quickly too.

He definitely doesnt deserve to leave amidst any bitterness or contempt for a tongue in cheek if slightly petty tweet. He has been an excellent servant for us and seemingly has been very professional when not playing. There is no reason to do anything but wish him well.

Is that you Tony ? Give my regards to Mrs Mowbray.

If and when people are allowed back in and thinking of “entertaining” clients what impressions will that give. Thanks for your business I’ve taken you to the largest rubbish dump in Lancashire. Perhaps could make a feature of it on the ground tours. This plate is what we were awarded for 3 consecutive fa cups. Now follow me to the pile of beer cans and discarded vehicle parts. Or directions for away fans. Join the M65 and exit at junction 4, join the A666 and head towards Blackburn. If you hit the pile of pushchairs you’ve gone too far.