On balance more positives than negatives - aside from the result. I thought Buckley had one of his better matches ,- but the stars were undoubtedly our new players - with Dennis and Kargbo looking threatening throughout. All we need now is JE to stay 🤔

Though I understand people's emotions post match - I personally didn't feel it was as bad as performance as is being made out. It was just a typical Championship match - you only need to look at the table to realise that beyond the top 4 - there isn't much to choose between the next 10 teams. As well as getting key players fit again - we do need the rub of the green - unlike the handball prior to their goal - it will be the teams who get that rub of the green - be it in matches, injuries, referee decisions timing of when you play certain teams, that will heavily influence who gets those final 2 spots. Of course the one thing the owners didn't do is help weigh the odds more in our favour.

Having not really seen much of Dennis and Kargbo - it could be an interesting dilemma for Eustace. Though, as forwards, Dolan and Hedges should contribute far more threat - but in terms of hard work they contribute to our defensive shape. So we may find the defensive shape (on which much of our early season form was built on) could be disrupted. Who would be a manager 🤔

As interesting - who is leaving to accommodate these signings ?

I keeping everything crossed that they are playing brinkman ship with another club over a really good striker - and the Luton guy is just a smoke screen. Unfortunately then I woke up 🤪

It is funny - just prior to our penalty we were discussing how 50-50 decisions were going against Rovers. Though seeing our penalty closer up after the game - it was a definite penalty - Hyam had headed the ball and the Preston player recklessly followed through with his challenge. Their penalty shout - you definitely see them given, but not 100%. Overall we were the better team on the night - I do think Preston look a decent team - just on the night we were better.

Don't think Sanderson ever played for Plymouth.

scrappydoo 🤣

Personally I can see the benefit of playing hard ball to get the best possible quality of player in, within our budget. Unfortunately we have seen the incompetence over the last 15 years, and I have no confidence that we will get even a half decent couple of players in. But we all hope and pray every transfer window that - even if pure luck - we get some quality in.

What has JE said ?

Bill Eckesley - 5'6" Another good player of diminutive stature (and I do think it is more difficult for a defender to be smaller)

I thought he possibly had his best match for us.

Dolan looks like he has pace - but in reality isn't that quick. It is some form of weird opical illusion - possibly down to his diminutive stature.🤣

Another typical Championship match that, despite the 3-0 scoreline could have gone either way. They hit the bar at 0-0, could have had penalties prior to two of our goals. Equally we missed chances - its all about fine margins. We desperately need a decent striker to make those fine margins more in our favour.

IMO Buckley has the ability to be a poor man's Adam Wharton (I mean this as a complement). I am not certain what is missing - but if he put in the effort Travis does he would be a good player at this level.

Good chance of being on TV as well

I remember Colin Randell making the same journey from Plymouth.

All this reminds me of the Howard Kendall days. Though you have to give Pears some credit for 4 clean sheets - but he is still making a hash of simple saves and catches - only difference at the moment is that the ball isn't falling direct to a forward (though he has a worrying habit of palming into the danger area). To be fair to him, he has also pulled off some great saves. Gueye scoring last night could be even more important than the three points - a bit like Duncan Ferguson - given the right service he could be unstoppable.

Interesting to watch yet another refereeing masterpiece on the same day Haaland deliberately (with some force) throws the ball at the back of an opponents head - retrospective red card ?? (we all know the answer) and yet previously Buckley got straight red for throwing the ball with far less force. The inconsistency is unreal.

As we saw earlier in the week - that can disrupt a team - fingers 🤞

Yup - two footed studs up challenge by Burnley in first few minutes - not even a free kick. And yet he books Travis ???

Can't see Burnley keeping this effort up for 90 mins -

Today is a true litmus test against a team that should (even with Parker as manager) be a cert for top six and challenging top 2. We are possibly playing them at a good time - as they re-adjust their squad - but this will be a far bigger challenge than our first 3 matches. Let's hope Blackpool was a flash in the pan rather than a more realistic reflection of our team (though that team will obviously change as our new players come into the team)

Alongside Pears clangers - this is the most worrying part for me. We are one injury away from having to play kids in a key position.