The reason I ask is that we're an extremely bi-polar team with a very thin unbalanced squad, thanks to mad old Tony, but we're third, with a very chequered injury list up to now. We seem to average an injury per game, sometimes two! Which again I think is fallout from Mowbray's time here, it can't all be bad luck. When we played you and Preston we were at our strongest (work that out!?) with few out, I think the big miss there was Tomasson's head. However there have been games this season where we've been so threadbare at the back and lost, we would definitely have picked up a few more points. The injuries combined with JDT imposing a new "style" has cost us points - but to put it bluntly, we've been shit and we're only two points from an automatic promotion spot. Bizarrely, I believe we'd be above Sheffield United right now if we'd been able to keep a more stable team with defenders fit and Gallagher. But watching them on my telly, Sheffield United still look a better team than us and I expect them to finish first. I don't believe it's just because other teams have been unlucky with injuries, but that's a factor for sure.

He's got the perfect username.

Looking forward to it.

If they've been missing all season, can they really be described as first team players? Certainly good enough I'm sure but if you haven't played them you can't have missed them. Like say, us losing 3 defenders for over a month, losing Gallagher several times who despite his shortcomings, his inclusion usually coincides with a win. Pickering our LB was out for several games. Brittain, the RB has now been out for two games so we're playing with a makeshift full back on the other side now. And that's just the half of it. We had Bradley Dack out for years with two ACL's, we didn't go... "oh we've got a first team player out." And he was our best player. Out of interest, if you lost 3 defenders, plus Benson, then other key players out for two games here, three games there, how would do you think you'd get on?

Agree that there are more urgent appointments required but Ayala is 32 and no stranger to the treatment room. We need an excellent replacement for him.

My main criticism is usually that I don’t know what he is. Attacking midfielder? Wide player? Striker? Which is mostly not his fault. Yesterday he actually looked like a decent striker in the Dickov mould. His decision making could be improved, he passes to Brereton and it’s 3-0. Which brings me onto the other issue, which is he’s still greedy, but he’s also still young. Anyone remember when Matt Jansen wouldn’t pass?

You don’t go on about them because you’re not sure.

I don't know whether he the best but he's played very well when on the right side, and even did a good job once on the wrong side. Sadly JDT has taken that one good performance out of position and seems to want to play him there whenever he's fit.

They've had more injury woes than you and watching the two teams SU play the better football. Don't think of it as some kind of popularity contest because I hope both teamsfall off a cliff, truth be told 😉

Not when he left, when the atmosphere was toxic at Ewood.

Sheffield United are better.

Wonder if Sky Sports will run a hit piece on them for being nasty to the manager.

13 minutes in... Boooooooooo! The last time I witnessed anything like that, we had Kean in the dugout.

This seasons Scott Wharton yes, but not last seasons. Let's not forget how immense he can be.

Dack played really well for the hour he was on. I hope JDT uses that as a platform to build on. Brereton was sleeprunning through the match. I hope we get a trademark Diaz appearance against Tony's juggernaut.

Yet they are in 5th place.

Back in third place chaps, Merry Christmas.

I hope so.

Hard work and a bit of luck.

Fantastic away win. 2-0 and could have easily been 3 or 4.

Kaminski with a worldy of a save.

Well we wanted a positive result and some passion. Kaminski almost took the ball boy out.

Almost 3!

YESSSS±!!1111!!!!!

Brereton's sleepwalking through this match.