After the shit show that we are experiencing with our seniors it was really enjoyable to see a committed and aggressive performance from our under 21's. Igor Tyjon will get the plaudits for his two goals, the second which was terrific but for me Isaac Whitehall was the stand out player. Playing in the middle of a three he won everything in the air, tackled like his life depended on it and played when the opportunity arose. I also thought Adam Caddick looked promising. Interestingly Batty was taken off and stormed down the tunnel. Perhaps that's an example of why he can't get close to the first team. For lots of young Rovers players it's coming up to decision time and I expect quite a few to be released. Hopefully they get fixed up and go on to have successful careers.

When you think how much money they made from cup runs and promotion the punishment doesn't actually for the crime. It's almost akin to playing an unregistered player as in theory he doesn't belong to them.

This should really be in the Leeds thread but I don't know how to do it 😃. I have written to Waggott and sent him the link advising him that Saturday's referee is a confirmed Sheffield Wednesday fan. I got an email back thanking me and saying he has forwarded my email to the Secretarial Department. Leadership eh?

I was told about this yesterday morning and found it strange that he couldn't referee Birmingham because of their relegation scrap with Huddersfield but can referee us who are also in the relegation mix. I know Birmingham complained and this forced the change. We have James Bell on Saturday who is a self confessed Sheffield Wednesday can according to this article. https://www.scfc2.co.uk/referees/james-bell/

Steven Schumacher at Stoke could be another after having managed Plymouth for half a season. Do you mean Bassett at Sheffield United Andy?

My fear after last night is that Eustace will go with a back five after last night. Doing that would play into their hands and allow them to overrun us. I would be quite happy to see Hyam and Brittain left out and replaced with Carter and JRC. Bring Garrett into midfield and at least we look more competitive rather than rolling over like last night.

We said the same about Carter. We were being pulled all over by their mobility and Eustace brought on a 37 year old leaving a young, athletic centre half on the bench. Poor decision from Eustace.

This weekend we have Sheffield Wednesday v Stoke. A win for either and they are level with us assuming we lose at Leeds. Pretty much every set of fixtures now have games like this. The Sheffield Wednesday game right now looks huge.

Just got in and I'm still confused. After Sunderland lots of us said 'where did that come from' in genuine disbelief at the performance and the score. We could say the same after this game but from a polar opposite perspective. Individual errors have done us tonight but I thought the spark was missing, the pace and intensity sorely lacking and we paid a real price for it. Eustace should leave some of the more calamitous players out on Saturday but I don't for one second think he will. My belief is that he doesn't really like upsetting players and likes to keep them sweet. This is based on nothing more than his interviews when he uses superlatives to describe them and the cringeworthy use of nicknames. I have warmed to him in many aspects but in my view he needs to get tough and even if they are senior players they should be axed after the disaster tonight. One thing for sure is that four more performances like this will more than likely see us relegated.

Which clubs and who were the players involved?

He said it. It doesn't matter if he was told to say it or not (personally I don't believe he was). It's on him, he insulted our intelligence.

It was Cheston who called Coyle the 'outstanding candidate' when he was appointed thus insulting us and our club. For that alone I'll not be sorry to see him go.

It was interesting yesterday that we were zonal marking on Southampton corners and one of these markers was Gallagher who normally picks up a centre half. And it worked because he got the first contact on at least three of the five corners they had.

Did anybody else notice that Ewood didn't get its usual soaking by the sprinklers yesterday but almost a cursory few seconds before and at half time. A deliberate ploy by Eustace to keep the pitch dry and impede their passing game?

The game plan was really good and I think it's almost unanimous that we were deserving of the point. In fact we could have nicked it with a bit more composure in the penalty area. We looked solid pretty much throughout and despite the possession stats weighing heavily in Southampton's favour we were quite comfortable and I was never unduly worried. Once again the collective stood out but Callum Brittain deserves a special mention not just for today but the last few games. I have been critical of him in recent times but I'm happy to be wrong right now. I firmly believe that Tronstad is the glue that holds us together in this system. His tidy, effective way of breaking up play and keeping possession is perfect for us. We aren't out of the woods yet and a combination of results in midweek could see us tumbling but I take great comfort in the knowledge that we are more than capable of keeping clean sheets against anybody in this league.

He is the third choice now and as such will be at Ewood to cover injury/illness to Pears and Wahlstedt.

Rovers under 21's are playing Liverpool at noon today.

As ever I really want us to win today because that is the most important thing but I have a couple of other reasons too. I can't stand Martin. His air of superiority and arrogance is so much of what I despise and his touchline demeanour leaves a lot to be desired. And it looks like he dyes his hair and beard black too 😃. Another reason is Harwood-Bellend. Unless you were at the game you might not have seen it but the way he celebrated at the Turd after they beat us last season was over the top to say the least. He danced right in front of us in an antagonistic way. I understand he was doing similar in the match at Ewood too. So to knock them two cretins off their arrogant perch with a win would be so satisfying.

And Rotherham were awful despite us wanting them to get something. It occurred to me whilst watching that we dropped nine points to those two and conceded eight goals in the process. Another five dropped against Huddersfield too. Just winning those games against poor teams would have put us on the cusp of the playoffs.

I thought we set up the most defensive we had been under Tomasson down there. We sat deep and invited pressure as we let them dominate the ball and territory. We conceded a really poor goal from a corner just before half time and the game plan went to pieces. Shortly into the second half Brittain got a stupid red card and from then it was simply damage limitation. I think Eustace will adopt similar tactics on Saturday but with the new found resilience we a more than capable of keeping a clean sheet. And with Szmodics we can always nick one.

We've found a buyer. 😄 https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/doctor-who-matt-smith-blackburn-32503334

It did and was a big part of that winning run. However Mowbray changed to that after the Fulham debacle when we shipped seven. If I remember correctly the next game was against Sheffield United and despite conceding an early goal we were solid defensively. Van Hecke came back after his suspension and slotted in with Lenihan and Wharton. Hyam seems really uncomfortable in a three.

Wow, where did that come from? I thought we would win today but that exceeded my wildest dreams. It was a terrific team performance and the type of match when you struggle to pick any outstanding players because they were all on their game. After a tentative opening we simply blew them away with some great pressing and transitioning, both done with a great tempo and aggression. To score five after the dearth of recent goals really was something to behold and credit to Eustace who got his tactics right and the game plan worked exceptionally well. The effort put in was another feature epitomised by Dolan and Szmodics. The former has his detractors and can be inconsistent but the last two games have shown he has these performances in his locker. What can you say about Szmodics? I was thinking the drive home that his goals to chances ratio must be really good because he doesn't seem to miss many. In the last couple of minutes of stoppage time at the end he was still chasing and pressing. In truth I would have taken him off after an hour to protect him but with his attitude he would probably have had a meltdown. It's only one win and we have some work to do yet but I'm going to enjoy the next few days. Well done to the fans who travelled today too. They really supported the team today and after recent weeks I'd like to think the win is for them.

A word of warning for any Rovers fans going today. You will be searched and any loose change you have will be confiscated as will vapes. This is because some Dingles threw objects at the Sunderland fans in the tier below them last season. They advise it is a cashless ground but last season you could only but programmes outside the ground with cash. Work that one out.

Most people don't know who Pasha is let alone what he looks like and that is how they want it. The majority just want to watch Rovers play and hopefully win. You should just respect that rather than having a go a people for not boycotting or whatever. It's their choice. When you watch a match wherever you are do you pay for it?