Has someone thrown a switch at Rovers? I couldn’t see the plan or way forward several games ago (not to mention for several seasons past). And now, praise where it’s due, we look a credible team. Really enjoyed today’s game-a real cat and mouse game from both sides attempting to pass it, not a blood and thunder game (which can in their own ways be good.) Manager asked why we are now suddenly winning, what’s different. He answered that it was just a matter of fine margins. Well… -a passing game – one touch stuff -patience (ignore the numpties around me who moan that it should be launched forward asap) -sensible shape with players in the right positions -players that look like they enjoy this shape and way of playing and understand it -dropped the long ball to Gallagher/Graham –tedious to watch and ineffective generally (although I’m not against long ball at the right time as variation) -finally, thank the lord, trying to play the ball into hole and play from there. A word on this. It’s great to knock it into say Dack in there but we need to think more of the next 2 touches. Sometimes, Dack with his back to goal is fending off people and trying to take on a couple of players. If he gets caught here (especially when tiring), a swift turnover can catch us out. -some nice triangles played around Nyambe on the touchline -a word on Rothwell. Still believe, he can be great for us. But another who someone has to get inside his head and make him believe. Make him play a great game every game not once in a while. Talk about positional play. Talk about believing that he can score goals. One of our few players who can drop a shoulder and ghost past people with pace. Sometimes it’s just the little things. For example. In the main, we have (thankfully) dropped the ineffective throw down the line which is just a play safe lottery. We now retain possession from throw-ins really well. Example from today. Late second half in Derby half on our left (in front of JW stand). Throw in. Bennett (I think) takes. Downing to receive but he has a defender in front of him making it difficult. He discretely signals with his left hand which side he wants the ball to go. Thrower obliges. And Downing is able to nicely play a long pass onto the far side of the pitch to maintain possession and start an attack. Simple but effective and missing from Rovers’ play for years. Nyambe –hold my hands up. Always had potential but thought he was a rabbit in the headlights as a defender. Still prone to keystone cop moments and uncertain positionally, but wonderful today at times. One moment, deep in second half, when he stood still on the ball and then dropped a shoulder and surged past their player down the line as if he wasn’t there. Loved it. Bags of energy, runs all day. Got to get inside his head and make him believe in himself. Tosin and Lenihan Can be a very good partnership in this league. Tosin has got it all. We’ve been crying out for nearly a decade for passes into the ‘pocket’, ‘hole’ whatever –he calmly sees situations and delivers passes forward into great positions. Just a matter of watching the body language and doing the nitty gritty at times. Evans was immense. He is never going to be the most silky or pacey. But he really did a job today, worked like a Trojan, made forward runs as well as the usual defensive biting covering and tackling. He and Travis (also limited in many ways) were effective at snuffing things out. Well done lads. Armstrong. Always had ability but in recent times we all know some issues. Work rate? How much does he want it? Head down running into blind alleys? Making the right decision? Well today, he got it all right. Great performance, first on the wing and then when they were tiring, up front he kept going. Let’s hope he can do it every game and has the will to do it. Well done. Downing. Age, legs going but class is permanent. Footballing brain and suspect it is rubbing off on players around him. Calm in possession, does simple thing, keeps ball well. Will never surge past a full back but still capable of creating half a yard and whipping in a great cross (something lacking from Rovers for ages). At full back, you worry about pace but know-how has been enough so far and gives his all. Knocked some great balls forward to Armstrong towards the end. A few things that annoyed me (picky I know after such a good win). Basically all of them at the end when we are trying to wind the clock down. Generally, giving the ball away too cheaply. Buckley coming on and giving the ball away twice when you just need sensible game management. Ditto Walton (good save btw) at the death with a free kick who just kicked it long and it went straight though to their keeper to launch another attack. Keeper has to get it to Gallagher on the touch line so that you at least have a 50/50 of getting a throw and thus hold play up longer. And on another note, Dack not passing to Armstrong who was in a great position to score. These things can cost you. So, praise is due –for now. Keep it up.

Positives. A win is a win, 3 points always needed. Negatives. We were dire and deserved nothing. They gave us at least 2 goals and we still nearly blew it. They outplayed us for large parts of the game and did not deserve to lose. Mowbray’s taxi put on hold due to the points. Anybody who is not feeling sheepish after that performance is foolish.

Given the amount of money at our disposal (whatever else nonsense we all know the Venky’s have done in their tenure) in comparison with other teams we have been serial underachievers. It’s just all so tragic and we all know it and can see it. Decent forward thinking manager, decent background staff and managerial set up and a sense of grown up professionalism and we could easily be challenging. With this amount of funding we could quite easily be a well-run club. Er, a bit like Preston. Or like Burnley. One can only assume that the Venky’s are incompetent or don’t care or disinterested or unaware. And that it is in the interests of many within the club to keep it that way.

On the game Nothing to add to what you have all said really. Tosin quality but mustn’t be too ambitious with that forward ball which can be stolen. Team fitness certainly looked an issue late on. A conspiracy theorist would suggest Mowbray likes mid-table mediocrity to keep the gravy train going. £12 million wasted – a championship club like us simply cannot do that. Sackable offence in its own right. Just on the ref. Not bothered about the fact that he was poor but minded to make a comparison with the rugby (England v Aussies) earlier on today. In that game, the ref is of course miked up so we can hear the conversation with the players and the reasoning for decisions plus of course the TMO on screen for the fans. Can you imagine miking up the ref and players in a footy game? LOL. I’ve seen players scream in the face of a lino (“you c***) for a throw-in not going their way (even when it was obvious the official got the decision right). PS bazza –it was Dack.

No point in wasting too much time on this game. No point in dwelling on the ref’s performance, opposition time wasting etc. A simple classic case of smash and grab from an away side. 11 men behind the ball, score 2 good goals from 2 good crosses and headers (poor defending again obviously), sit deep, defend resolutely and well in the air and we simply weren’t composed/good enough to prise them open. Pretty well all us in last 20 –how many saves did their keep make? Classic huff and puff. Classic Rovers. Classic Mowbray.

Would be easy to point out all the usual deficiencies - they’re all still there - I’ ll keep it to the idea that it could easily have been 1-1 (if not 0-1 had the ref let them get away with the shirt pull.) But let’s look for positives. Middlesborough were poor. We won. We started well. We really dug in 2nd half, determined not to lose and win ugly (cf. Johnson, Lenihan, Travis tackling). Williams at centre back- giving it large to others. Rothwell/Armstrong game management with 10 to go. Gallagher will run all day for us - bless. So, no real fan of TM but we’ll middle through. On another note, ref was poor? Rubbish. Gave us the pen (how often do you get that for shirt pulling in the Chumpionship?) Johnson, who had an excellent game, could easily have had 2 yellows.

Gallagher the new Ashley Ward?

Hughton? Ah, Rovers- it’s the hope that kills you.

No sane Rovers fan expects to win every game and go home every time elated. But there are things we should expect which do not rely on mega bucks or being a top 4 prem side. -good fitness/desire/determination -good tactics -good scouting -good transfer dealing -good substitutions -good onfield organisation/shape/blend -sound inspiring management

There are always excuses that are made and we all know what they are. You know how it goes –chill, at least we are not Bury or Bolton. It’s the first game. Tony is a nice guy and saved us. We are Rovers and it’s part of the package, just get behind the team. Relax, mid table consolidation will suffice this year. Got to give it time to ‘bed in’, be positive. No need for panic, knee jerk reactions. And so on. But given all this, despite any mitigating circumstances you care to elicit, serial consistent underachievement is undeniable. Were any kind of coherent plan or steady upward change be in hand, then such excuses may be warranted. I haven’t seen any such improvement for some time now and the feelings of frustration on this board both with the manager and unfounded optimism are entirely legitimate.

Garnersfags/JH Rover –perceptive and spot on. Just a few things other than the mountains of posts which rightly bemoan the obvious defensive efforts. -Did their keeper make a save in the first half despite our more or less total control of the game? -Downing certainly isn’t going to beat several players and finish but his class in terms of receiving the ball and keeping it was apparent. Ditto Johnson. Downing and Bell actually linked up quite well in terms of attacking. -So our subs completely changed the game. At 1-1 we were on top. Rothwell brought on (all on here glad?), Danny brought on (cheers from all here who thought he should start?) But shape all changed. Gallagher (still the same talentless runner he always was –nice lad and willing though he is) pushed out wide (not his fault) and totally ineffective. They score. And with 20 to go we proceed to play hoofball and look bereft of ideas. Simply stopped playing properly. Picture this in the last 20 countless times. They are ahead and running down the clock obviously (well done ref +6mins). Every man behind the ball for Charlton, 5 across the back. Lenihan picks up the ball half way line. Looks up. Countless times launches it long. Graham offside at least twice. Into touch at least twice. Gallagher stuck out on right not even competing. Rothwell, our most creative player hardly touched the ball for last 20 but just watched as it sailed over his head. Utterly useless tactics. We wouldn’t’ have equalised if we had played another 20. -Mowbray antedelluvian. What exactly is the plan? - If you were to draw up a league table of wages and transfer fees in relation to league success, where would we be last season and predictions for this season?

All been said really by lots of perceptive posts. Just 3 things. 1. When we beat Hull City on Jan 26, I thought that was the best I had seen us play for a long time and posted as such post-match. I did want to post some ‘issues’ re our team/tactics etc. but thought it churlish in the circumstances at the time. All those ‘issues’ were present today. 2. On the signing of Brereton. On evidence so far I am with most of you here –why and why so much money wasted when other areas needed reinforcing. The only thing that might be mitigating is when I think of say, Kevin Davies (and others for other clubs as well as us) who have not performed initially and then gone on elsewhere to be a success. No, I don’t buy it either but you never know (says the eternal pessimist!) Aged 19. Many players don’t mature until their 20s. Having said all that, it’s not what we needed and further evidence of the gaffer’s ineptitude/misjudgement. 3. I was going to say something about refs. But just not worth it. Home sides always see things through a certain type of lens. Only one I would like to see again after being there live was the booking of Reed? for the foul on Gallagher? that meant we were clean through. As for the stuff about ‘men were men’ in the old days, well yes, but then players were cripples by the age of 28, skilled players were hacked down and defenders were knuckleheads like chopper Harris. And I would agree about rugby but then they give no lip whatsoever to refs unlike the supposed ‘industrial’ language that is tolerated and deemed necessary in soccer. Always enjoy seeing clips of Hunter and Franny slugging it out though. :-)

Hmmm. One of those games where you think, ‘OK, we’ve been lacklustre but I can go home just a little bit glum with a point.’ But then failing to grind out a point means you have to go home and open the bottle of red in a much more irritated mood. Better side won. But that doesn’t excuse a few things:- Why did we look ‘leggy’ as someone mentioned? Why does an expensive striker not come on when needed? That’s whole season’s worth and more gone…. Why not reinforce when clearly new energy and impetus is required? At least if we are not playing well, why can’t we grind out a draw? Agree with Miker and AAK. Spot on. Too many players had an off day. We are a team that has to have everyone more or less on top form to do well. This was typified when we went behind (with 7 mins to go?) They kept the ball really well for about 5 of those mins. We had our moments. First 10 seemed to start off like the last home game-lovely crisp passing and interplay, good tempo. But it fizzled out as they took a stranglehold on the game without actually killing us off. We then had another good 10 in the second half after the 1st sub. Dack came a little deeper to play well with Reed and Bennett got down the right well. Again fizzled out and you knew there was only going to be one winner and very likely from a cross or corner. As to the comments on the ref –so predictable here. Travis should certainly have been off. Armstrong’s attempt to buy a penalty was infantile and risible. Only thing maybe that might have mattered was the corner he didn’t give late on –and then that was one of those where there are so many bodies involved that refs just have to guess really. The ref was not a factor in this weak performance.

Lord knows we have weaknesses but you've got to enjoy today. Travis ..poorest game since he broke in, his passing was loose at times but he was still 7 out of 10, Nonsense. Outstanding , particularly 1st half. Presssing, tackling, keeping the ball, moving with the ball forward. Dack poor for coming back to pick up the ball? Nonsense. One of his most energetic and thoughtful games for a while. Made the whole midfield PLAY rather than STOP. Lovely pass for Armstrong’s goal. Graham did nothing? Nonsense. Intelligent hold up play, fed in other players, smart, chased down defenders. OK lost his pace but still massively influential for us at this level.

Hallelujah! Wanted us to play this style for a while but just not seen it enough. Just got so used to a typical Rovers performance -1) set up 4231 with a rigid back 6, 2 wide players stuck out and Dack and Graham miles away ie not as a unit 2)slow start with no energy 3) falling behind and only playing in the second half 4) my real bugbear, a real Rover trope –picture poor Lenihan at the back picking up the ball after a few sideways passes, being closed down and looking up only having the option to send it long to Graham, or long diagonal hoping to hit Armstrong or aimlessly down the line. So today, 1), 2) and 3) reversed. Yes we still played with TMs beloved 4231 but this time an energetic Dack played much deeper and we got some lovely quick 2 touch stuff going on (Hallelujah). There were options with players closer together as a unit. Essentially, we passed it slickly and effectively even in tight situations. This was particularly helped by an intelligent Travis who can deal with this. Also by a poor Hull side who allowed us do it. And then occasionally, we did go long with much more control and conviction. Add to that, we got every second ball in the first half, pressed with high energy hunting in packs (Evans, Reed and Travis constantly nicking the ball) and got our 1st goal as reward and didn’t tire too much at the end. Icing on the cake, a lovely finish from Reed to dink it over the keeper that Messi would have been proud of. Well done Rovers –highly enjoyable and definitely appreciated by a delighted Rovers crowd.

Never a pen....and the earth is flat.?

Thanks. So we haven’t paid anything yet (wages excepted.)?

I do apologise for this probably naïve question but I haven't read the thread. Genuine question. Have we paid any money for Brereton thus far?

On the Smallwood tackle. Agree years ago it would have not been a red. But even Bremner and Hunter might have been embarrassed by such a daft tackle. As to the world cup, lack of sendings off and no contact anymore. Well, for a start, players in the world cup aren’t stupid enough to do a tackle like that. Simply brain dead. What on earth is the point? Let’s say he wins it –so what, it’s in a nothing area. Situation of the game? No still daft –they are down to 10 men, why bother? Stopping a certain goal or break away with goal potential? No. Just all round stupid.

Law 12 HANDLING THE BALL Handling the ball involves a deliberate act of a player making contact with the ball with the hand or arm. The following must be considered: the movement of the hand towards the ball (not the ball towards the hand) the distance between the opponent and the ball (unexpected ball) the position of the hand does not necessarily mean that there is an offence touching the ball with an object held in the hand (clothing, shinguard, etc.) is an offence hitting the ball with a thrown object (boot, shinguard, etc.) is an offence The goalkeeper has the same restrictions on handling the ball as any other player outside the penalty area. Inside their penalty area, the goalkeeper cannot be guilty of a handling offence incurring a direct free kick or any related sanction but can be guilty of handling offences that incur an indirect free kick.

As to formations -we can all play this game and each one would have issues. As has been mentioned, there are plenty of other issues that also need dealing with. For the record-maybe:- Raya Lenihan Downing Mulgrew Nyambe Reed Travis Bennett Dack Armstrong Graham Palmer/Conway/Smallwood/Rodwell/Evans/Brereton/Nuttall? And to add, it goes without saying that formations mean little if attitude, fitness, desire etc are not present.

TM -talk about deflection. Dear, oh dear. "It was an Intense football match, two teams who were at it. Sadly I would say the officials had the biggest impact on the game today. "I think the referee mismanaged the game. He's come from the Premier League to the Championship, thought he'd have a nice easy day and he's guessed his way through the match with his decisions. "He's upset the stadium, upset our bench and I think he had the biggest impact on the game.

Some astute points already made. Agree with bigdog –most frustrating game this season. Highly annoying and Mogga’s interview, typically dour but sensible, didn’t help improve feelings in my household. Young side, we’ve just come up and so on –well yes, and before the start of the season I would have been happy with mid-table but some of the positions we find ourselves in with these games, it doesn’t really require genius to manage a game for a better result. The BlueNoses looked dispirited and the worst side I’ve seen here this season –no pressing of the ball, no urgency and some aimless long punts to little effect. So 2-0 up, without doing anything special in appalling conditions and on 76 mins Raya goes crackers rushing out for a ball and gives away a pen. Gardner (who galvanised them a little when he came on before that) duly converts. So 13 mins to survive by intelligent game management. Nah. They now have a little belief (something not present for the previous 79 mins). On 80 mins, can’t remember exactly how but we lose the ball, Gardner picks it up centrally and I lean over to wife and have time to say 3 times “he’s going to slot it inside Nyambe.” All Ryan has to do is make sure that his man is not going to get the ball –he seems to get mesmerised in no man’s land, the ball is duly slotted inside him and they score. 2-2. Cue head shaking from players and fans’ ire. So:- Where is the backbone when you need it? The leadership? The game management? The grit? At 2-0 nil up you work just as hard if not harder-didn’t happen. Lazy passing, not working as a unit. Agreed on the new personnel required –odd that such a large sum was used on a player who neither plays, or plays out of positon or doesn’t seem that effective On Graham –why should a team fall apart defensively when he goes off? Doesn’t account for a stupid goalie rush of blood and brainless right back defending. Agree that it was inevitable that his clockwork/fitness would run down in games and a replacement was necessary. Not sure Brereton is the answer. Looked like a floppy schoolboy to me today but it wasn’t his fault we drew Armstrong scored but just doesn’t seem interested to me-sulking because he is on the wing? Reed looked busy and lively and at it-effective centrally I would have thought Tony’s beloved 4231. No issue with it as such but strange that what is effectively a back 6 can leak so many goals. Perhaps that just comes down to players and ability. What is absolutely striking to me is the paucity of flair going forward. You could argue that today, in appalling conditions, that it didn’t really matter and was less of an issue and especially when you go 2-0 up. Perhaps that is more for another time, when we are drawing and can’t open a side up. One other thing –Raya cost us the game? Nope. He gave them some hope and it was 2-1 with 13 to go. That’s when you need the leadership and grit I mentioned above from all your players. Didn’t see it and the inevitable happened.

OnePhilT Bannon played through our 2 holding players (Evans/Smallwood) all day long to Reach/Jaoa. Something I would dearly wish we could do. Previous to yesterday, time and time again you would see our back 6 look up from our own half for that 20 yard ball into the hole but nobody is there. And if Dack or Graham finally manage to get there, they are usually well outnumbered and without an instant lay-off option. Still, yesterday it mattered a bit less since they weren't great defensively and Conway offered so much out wide.

Some interesting pre-match comments, that were, ahem, somewhat wide of the mark. Let’s just say that Conway would have been my MOM. Agree though, that he is not a saviour either. Ditto the nonsense posted that we “pasted” them or they were “abysmal”. They controlled a lot of the game in the first half after our goal. And they looked dangerous for most of the second half. They also taught us a lesson in midfield triangles (but of course that’s not everything.) Very enjoyable game. Great open game from both sides. Loved the interplay of some of their players in the second half, particularly the diminutive number 10 who controlled much of the game strangely. Cracking 2nd goal from them (Joao) and they looked as though they could easily draw level. But in their openness to create they left us room and we kept on scoring at the right time. Our third goal (I think) started with a square crossfield Conway pass that was a little dodgy and left Smallwood (?) with a 50/50. It was one of those that if their player had won it they would have caught us and be in on goal. Ditto the other way round. If it had been me, I would have just remained goal side and played safe. Smallwood, aggressively decided it was going to be his, won it, and on we go to score. Clear right from kick off that high press and work hard were in the team talk. We were at it from the off –that makes a nice change. My immediate thoughts then were a) will we fade late on and b) can we score in this hot 15 mins? Answer, yes on 11mins to b) and yes a little on a) but we kept on managing to score again just as they looked likely to get back in it. Did enjoy Dack’s clever pull back for Graham’s tap in for the 4th. Earlier in the season, he would have taken that on himself and had the goalie save. So, good win and a very enjoyable game. It’s probably not a day to bring out some glaring issues (not least his love of 4231 and the personnel) but they haven’t gone away. Does he know his best team and formation? As usual, overreacting works both ways. Ewood ace We concede a hell of a lot goals considering how we line up, with 2 holding midfielders That is something I also find very interesting. Mowbray loves 4231. So effectively a back 6. What I think happens (not necessarily today, which seemed quite an open game), is that those 6 often cautiously sit deep (a reason for our slow starts?) whilst the forward 4 are adrift upfront (the 2 wide players and Dack behind the striker). This means that opposing teams have effectively got easy control to my mind of the midfield and thus play.