Well we didn't bring anyone in. Next step is do a risk analysis. First XI has shown itself to be decent despite losing Dack and Cunningham (and Evans, but given our plethora of centre mids not too much of a loss). We can probably handle one further injury/loss of form in centre mids (mad right?!), but every single other position is very fragile. Injuries to Walton (not because he is very good, but because Leut is so bad), Lenihan, Tosin, Nyambe, Bell (again more about lack of backup than his quality), Armstrong would all be huge blows. We've got to be really really lucky with injuries. Particularly if Armstrong, Lenihan or Tosin is taken out we are buggered.

I'm not convinced by this - we've looked worse when we've gone 442.

I think there's a decent chance it will be more like Walton Nyambe Lenihan Adarabioyo Bell Travis Johnson Gallagher Holtby Downing Armstrong Mowbrays wedded to the ideal of Gallagher on the wing. Can't see him changing it. And as bad as it is, it is still better than Bennett back in the team. We absolutely fell apart when Benno came on against QPR.

The championship is utterly mental. WBA are second and havent won in 5....

On the plus side the spine of our team - Tosin, Lenihan, Travis, Downing, Armstrong - looks as good as anything in the league.

Anyone else think Bells looked pretty good since Tosin and Nyambe have come into the team? I can see him being extended.

Good post that. I would say you only really look 2 seasons ahead in football so I would say the other CM berth is covered by Evans and Johnson. Agree everywhere else though.

All a bit of a stretch though. I for one am not really convinced at all by Rothwell. Very talented but he's a number 10, not a winger or centre mid. We're in a bit of a daft place where we have 3 good options for number 10 (Dack, Holtby, Rothwell) but no wide players. Davenport had really struggled with injuries, JRC essentially untested.

Tonys clearly dropped Bennett both from the team and the captaincy. So I think we can give him some credit. He's also hardly played Smallwood or Williams. Yet people keep on harping on about it...

Will be same team absolutely certainly unless we have injuries. QPRs staff will have gone back and forth over the video of the Wednesday game, in detail. They will stick someone to man mark Downing, will double up on Nyambe and target our left side. Will be totally different game I think.

It's certainly interesting that English players are in demand on the continent. Only other time that has ever really happened was when English clubs were kicked out of Europe in the eighties and the players were queuing up to leave. Coaches must be doing something right. Just need more of our players to be brave and make the plunge like Sancho. Only way we will catch-up with France and Spain in terms of number of players in the Champions League.

I agree that if you took Travis out of the team we would be a much worse outfit. The ground he covers is phenomenal. He knits everything together. Also when he first came in he looked like a pure physical water carrier. But over the last couple of months he's started to add a real bit of technical quality. His strike today and some of his passing was excellent. Also love the way when he's closed down he can just shift the ball, skip away and drive past the opposition player with ease. Does it half a dozen times a game. Really promising.

For me Armstrong is as effective wide as up front, while Gallagher looks better through the middle. So I'd play them that way. But Mowbray is absolutely committed to Gally on the wing, and it worked quite well today, so I doubt it will be changing soon. Will be interesting what happens if we sign a right winger as rumoured.

He's powerful, good on the ball, pacey. If he can add a bit of quality on his crossing he'll be a huge asset. In Joe H's defence Nyambe has looked hugely better in the last 2 months. I'll be interested how he performs against a good winger.

JRC looks like another narrow player to me. Not saying he's bad but we've got a lot of inside forwards/number 10s (Dack, Holt, Rothwell, Buckley) and not many genuine wide players. Seem to be a rare beast. Anyhow promising player nonetheless.

Downing played in CDM alongside Travis. He was brilliant, but it is worth saying Wednesday put absolutely zero pressure on him. When Downing has played in the centre before he has really struggled when pressed. So I'm on the fence as to whether it is something we persist with. I'm sure the team will be unchanged for the next game so that will be better judge of whether it was a one off or not. Gallagher played well and finished his goal brilliantly. Still ultimately looks awkward on the right wing. All his best work was when he cut in.

Also - on today's game you'd say probably 7/8 of the Rovers starting XI really should be in the playoffs.

For me Walton - ? Had basically nothing to do. I guess 7? A couple of routine saves. Nyambe - 8 - skinned the opposing full back over and over and over again. Final ball a bit poor. Defensively majestic. Bell - 7 - decent outlet down the left, but average end product. Defended well. Lenihan - 8 - Physically dominated the defence and scored a goal. Tosin - 8 - defensively solid. Picked sensational passes through the middle. His role in the first goal was equally daft and brilliant Travis - 8 - Physically dominated midfield. Also showed good passing, and constantly can make himself a yard. Essentially scored a goal. His technical quality seems to improve game on game. I think destined for the Premier League. Downing - 9 - total and utter superb use of the ball. Great assist for Lenihans goal. Gallagher - 8 - best game for us capped by an excellent goal. Totally dominated his full back. Mowbray justified to play him right. Holtby - 8 - like Dack quite quiet but scored two well taken goals. Seems to have a similar "fox in the box" instinct to Dack. Plus similar quality on the ball. Looks a perfect replacement. Rothwell - 7 - had a couple of good runs, but struggled to make an impression. Silly yellow card. Feel really hes another number 10 like Holtby and Dack and will always struggle wide.... Armstrong - 9 - the guys magic. Will always create chances and score goals. I think will potentially turn into a 20 goal striker next season. Kind of reminds me of Josh King. JRC - 8 - looks decent, setup Gallagher, and much more physically ready than Buckley. If I was Rothwell I might be a bit worried. Whole Wednesday team - 0 - maybe the worst ever showing by a supposedly decent home side in my time following Rovers? I mean unbelievably bad. They let us play exactly how we wanted. So take the ratings with a pinch of salt.

I don't really get this personally. I thought he scored two good goals but didn't really get too involved outside of those. Quite like Dack to be honesy. Downing was the real string puller.

Great great finish by Gallagher.

We've played great. But, maybe unpopular opinion, a lot of it has been how unbelievably bad wednesday have been. I mean absolutely shocking! Anyhow everyone in Rovers colours has played well. But particularly Armstrong, Travis, Downing, Tosin, Nyambe, Lenihnan, Holtby. Edit - also great to see the we have shown we can really play without Dack. Holtby looks a tailor made replacement.

Well it looks effective today....

Fantastic goal.

Overall great start today. But we've said that a lot.

Question - why does Gallagher look threatening on the right today but totally ineffective last week? Baffling.