Obviously not bothered about the league either going on that observation

And the winner at Welling Utd in the FA Cup - that was a great day out.

Generally I would agree but Rovers are a special (basket!) case at this moment in time. For me, sorting out the issues at the club is as important as sorting out the performances on the pitch. I think Ainsworth would understand this more than most.

I thought Mowbray's body language at Huddersfield was that of an unhappy man. Not determined or disappointed or frustrated just unhappy. Anyone who is unhappy in their job won't be performing well. I really hope he does the decent thing and doesn't hang around when he knows it's time to give someone else a go. Mowbray seems a decent guy and this may well be his main asset as a manager - he creates harmony within the squad becasue the players all like the boss. We all know he's not a tactical genius. It may well be his biggest fault too because he doesn't like upsetting anyone so tries to keep all the squad happy. One reason he may not resign is that it could well signal the end for Waggott and Venus and Mowbray may not want to jeopardise his friends' positions. I am sure these things will be on his mind. I have been lucky enough (!!) to speak to Steve Waggott on a number of occassions and he does not seem to have any real affection for the club - it's just a job to him. He never refers to the club as 'us' or even Rovers. He is a business man and not a football man, he cares about reporting financial improvements to Venky's - the fortunes of Rovers in a football sense are secondary. There is no way he will be considering any change of manager. But, you never know what is around the corner. For me Ainsworth would be the ideal option because he understands what we, as fans, have been through. He may be able to make Venky's realise the club needs to be run properly and that providing money is not the only thing required of good owners. We need local people with local understanding in position at Ewood. It may seem appealing to get Pearson or Bilic to come in but I can see them floundering around in the Venky void for a couple of years before moving on. Mowbray has the run of the club at the moment and is happy to have no input from above. Other manangers may prefer a different set up. Ainsworth has had success on the pitch but is obviously untested at a big name club. What he does have is a passion for Blackburn Rovers. I would take the risk and hope that he could start addressing some of the internal issues and build up some trust between the club and the fans once again. We may have to wait a while though.

Oh no it's not!

Mowbray : "we can be more ruthless away from home because teams attack us and that leaves space in-behind them for us to exploit" Was he at Stoke ??

Great news about the new contract for Dack but many questions to answer before we know if we are getting the same Bradley back. Post injury fitness, pace, confidence, form. New increased celebrity status - does he still have filming commitments ? No Danny Graham to combine with - will he be as effective with Armstrong up front. Fingers crossed he comes back firing on all cylinders.

Exactly. I see people are still pinning their hopes on Dack and Travis turning the season around when they return. As you quite rightly point out, it will make very little difference in the long run. We will still do just enough to be comfortable in mid table.

Oh please. This must be a wind up. As for it being history, we are still living with then legacy of what happened un Kean. Protesting was/is the only option for fans to make their views felt.

Haven't you just answered your own question? Maybe we are a better team and they have a better manager.

Anyone surprised ?

The decision to 'allow' Williams to risk further injury by playing at Bristol now seems even more crackpot. There is no hard luck story there - just stupidity. He may well have been fully fit to play today.

You missed it

I think the injury excuse is a red herring as you suggest. OK Dack will make a difference of couse but who else will come into that team from last night and make us considerably better. Travis for Johnson, Brereton for Gallagher, Lenihan for Williams ? They are all much of a muchness. Bristol had more important players out last night and we should have taken advantage.

Felt like a mid-table battle between two average teams. I think we deserved a draw but no more. Considering the 11 players we put out wasn't far off our first choice team ( bar Dack ) and Bristol were missing quite a few big players it was a missed opportunity.

If you want to earn brownie points you can watch Sky Sports on your computer easily enough. All main events available via the Sky web site.

Given the number of players we've had out this season, that line up is not far off Mowbray's first choice 11 ie the players I think he would pick even with a full squad. Dack would have to be in there somewhere but I don't think Travis would be guaranteed a start playing that formation. The bench is weak defensively and other missing players such as JRC, Bennett, Travis etc would be on their normally, but if Lenihan is available and Williams is dropped to sub ( or vice/versa ) it's a strong 11.

Only because we have so many injuries at CB. With everyone fit I'd have Lenihan 4th choice. Liability.

Please don't say anything like that again.

Lovely afternoon to be at work here in Preston although a lot of my colleagues seem to be avoiding me for some reason. A lot of very unhappy, scowling faces today. Even heard a new conspiracy theory that Paul Gallagher gave the nod to Rovers when PNE were dithering over Dolan's future. Oh happy days!

I have the misfortune to work in Preston and have been getting the expected levels of stick this morning. However, I can detect much higher levels of apprehension in the locals this season. Their team has been really poor at home this season and I think that is making them nervous. One thing they all agree on is that their players will be really 'up for it' which may be enough to swing it against our comparatively timid bunch. I've been trying to appear quietly confident but I'm actually thinking about booking tomorrow off!

That is what really annoyed me about yesterday. Rothwell apart, there seemed to be no real desire or urgency until Luton scored. It's as if the players and Mowbray were happy to sit there at 0 0 for 90 minutes. We can list the excuses - injuries , covid, referee etc but there is simply no excuse for continued lacklustre performances.. We had 11 players on the pitch who were more than capable than beating the 11 from Luton but we didn't really look interested. Unacceptable. Some people saying it's a decent draw because Luton are above is in the league - well they really shouldn't be. When Mowbray took over they were in league 2 and have spent a fraction of the transfer fees and wages that we have since then. We should be out of sight compared to Luton by now. According to 'transfermarket, our squad is worth £42 M to their £14 M. Slow build my arse! The problem is endemic. Venky's have no interest, Mowbray and Waggott on easy street, and under no pressure the players are coasting. Not surprising though really - it's been like that for 10 years - no pride in the club or the shirt.. Depressing indeed.

I hope the manager or the players don't approach any game with such an attitude. Every game is important at any point of the season although Mowbray's laissez faire attitude sometimes suggests otherwise. It will be an extremely 'slow build' and a very long 'journey' if we don't go to Luton expecting to win.

I can't face listening to the podcast as it will only dredge up ten years of resentment. From what I've read on here, it doesn't add too much to what we already know. I'm more worried about the future, not the past. I refuse to recognise their continued financial input as any proof that they actually give a damn about the club. They have no interest at all in the club, the community, the history or the fans which, to me, are really more important than results on the pitch. Supportung Rovers has been a massive part of my life but for the last 10 years the relationship has been conflicted. It feels like the club is being occupied by an 'enemy' and the fans are being suppressed but, in the main, submissive. However, we will always want the club to succeed. Surely, one day they will decide to leave but what state will the club be in by then? Given that they will never get their outlay back, why do they continue? May as well cut their losses and go sooner rather than later. Given their total lack of communication, can anyone have a guess at their next move? What does the future hold? I can't imagine just treading water under Venkys for another decade. Will they just continue ignoring the situation until everyone is just too fatigued to care any more.? We want our Rovers back.

yes