How we feeling about this one?

Hornet related commentary, predictions, speculation here please…

Continue the momentum of our 100% league record with a win here. Markanday to score a couple with a Lewis Travis 30 yarder to finish it off.

So it’s that time of year again folks where we get the chance to dare to dream and pray for a good cup run. I’ve started this thread early and I’m not one for starting threads so I apologise if I’ve done it wrong. I love the cups and hope we go all out and try and have a good run like we did last season. The cups were a real highlight of the season with some terrific performances. For the first time in what felt an eternity JDT took the cup seriously and it paid off with some memorable games and good experience for our , now more important than ever, developing youth players . The big question is , in the current climate, will JDT go strong and take the cups as serious this time around with such a thin and inexperienced squad . Is he able to with the demands of the championship ? On to the game. I’m hoping we have enough either way to get past Walsall and into the draw for round two . Walsall, nicknamed the Saddlers were founded in 1888, under the name walsall Town Swifts, an amalgamation of Walsall Town and Walsall swifts. They where league 4 champions in 1959-60 and have three more runners up places during there 135 year history. Last season the Saddlers finished 16th in league 2 Rovers head to head record with Walsall is played 17 , Rovers wins 10, draws 5 with only 2 defeats The first time the two clubs met was an fa cup game back In January 1931 at ewood park with the game finishing in a 1-1 draw. The last time the clubs met Rovers ran out winners at the Bescott stadium. A 2-1 win in our promotion season from league one with the reverse fixture at Ewood ending in a 3-1 victory. We also signed youth prospect Mitch Candlin that season. We played Walsall in the earlier rounds of the cup back in 2002. A goal from corrado grabbi opening the scoring from the spot before being pegged back by a Walsall penalty converted by zigor aranalde. The game went into extra time and Rovers found themselves 2-1 down on the 98th minute before an Ian roper own goal made things all square. In a game which referee Neale Barry had already awarded two penalties the game was decided by them . Rovers winning 7-6 after the final penalty was taken and scored by Marc richards. Let’s all hope for a repeat result and even better a cup run as good as the one from the same calendar year My team for the game would be Pears Brittain Barnes Wharton Batty Travis Garrett Markanday Buckley Dolan Leonard COYB

Finally back at Ewood Park for a league game. Predictions/line ups? 1-1, Szmodics 79’

The draw for the first round of the Carabao Cup is live on Sky Sports News at 2.30. We are ball number four. Hopefully a home game or an away match not too far away. https://www.rovers.co.uk/news/2023/june/22/rovers-to-be-ball-number-four-/

Breakout performance today from the young man. Bossed Karlan Grant all game who many on here would have been happy to come here. The lad didn't put a foot wrong. What next? For me he needs to be put on a par with our top earner and given a 5 year contract. Make sure he knows he is first taxi off the rank and phase him into the first team over the next 12/18 months. Spurs won't offer him that so he'd be a mug to leave at this stage. ⚽️💫

So close. yet so far. Why has it taken until now to come back in a game? I like JDT, but without the backing of new players, we will always flatter to deceive. Comes down to owners who don't give a shit. No passion. Another Championship season beckons. No money, no progress. ST sales down, too expensive. It will not happen under these crap owners.

Bad start for United…

Hey guys if you havent seen this its a must, very interesting podcast with Chris Brown as well, Ben talks about his life and why he quit professional football, quite a bit about his time at rovers, Mentions Bowyer being very paranoid and Coyle as absolutely useless but a nice guy, its on you tube. two other guys doing the interviewing no idea who they are, seems the Legion (Ben and Co) were on the piss quite a lot during his/their time at rovers, makes me wonder why we never got to the playoffs with that team, anyway make your own mind up and leave comments. Its also quite funny. You get to know the characters Pearson and Pulis etc.

Hi all, new to the board (posting at least), lancs lad living in Spain here! Heard a rumour that Rovers might be playing a pre season friendly in Madrid vs Athletico, wondered if anyone has heard anything about this? Cheers!

https://www.rovers.co.uk/news/2023/may/02/decider-at-the-den-selected-by-sky/ Live on Sky but thankfully the kick off time is cast in stone otherwise we'd be looking at stupid o'clock again. The odds are stacked against us but all we can do is go there and win and hope (for a change) the footballing Gods look favourably down on us. I've learned over the decades to never say never where Rovers are concerned and in many respects there is more pressure on Millwall to win and they will be nervously looking at the other scores too.

Time to send his nephew Harry back to crewe i think. He is shocking

Might as well start the thread now. Anything less than a win, we're done for if not already

This is it. Must win. You know the history of this fixture. COYB

A visit to Shepherd’s Bush for an encounter with the Superhoops & a chance to assess “new manager bounce” once again this season. Also a chance for a Jim Bowen style “look at what you could’ve won” as Mr Ainsworth takes up his position…

The stars have aligned and, thanks to assistance from BRFC, I'm going to this one. 😎 This really IS a must win, the others were just rehearsals. COYB

4.5k tickets given. Do we think we will sell out before open sale at £28 a ticket? We don't usually to be fair but away following have been strong lately.

MASSIVE MUST-WIN BASTARD OF A MATCH. It's the hope that kills you....

A night match. We'll have to watch the day unfold. I'd rather this than be the early kick-off. Begin the thread!

Huge game. Let's get down to Ewood and get behind the lads FFS! Good Friday Fixtures:-

Games moved to 530pm 1st May!!

Hi all Birmingham away 1st April tickets released. I'm travelling up from Bristol. Would be good to meet up with some rovers fans for a beer before if anyone is interested? Also looking for good recommendations for pubs near the ground. Cheers Neil

Massive game. One win from our 1st visit to the new Wembley. Tickets on sale on Wednesday. The footballing authorities have made it more difficult for 5000 Rovers' fans to get there, but the club have made a generous offer of discounted coach travel, se be there we will! Was it March '93 that a young Jason Wilcox was selected to take the 1st penalty in the shoot out following a 2 - 2 draw at Brammall Lane in the cup quarter final? Took me years to get over that decision, in fact I'm still not over it 🤣