DavidMailsTightPerm

If only the national press gave us as much credit as this article - then maybe the fans would come flocking back I msut admit - even a couple of seasons back we could have expected 17k+ for this match. To me it adds merit to including Cup matches as part of the season ticket deal.

Tomorrow must be the most important match in Rovers recent history. Make no mistake there will be plenty of "casual" Rovers fans attracted back by the lure of the semi-final. Put in a good performance (and result) - and maybe these fans will be more inclined to come back in the future. Lose (and no matter how unjustified) they will believe that we are still the team that could barely put together a home win for almost two years. Add to this the huge confidence boost for the rest of the season that a Cup Final appearance would make to the squad - not forgetting the potential extra revenue. As I said before - over two matches I am not too confident - but then again I wasn't confident we could beat Middlesborough away once - never mind twice. Hughes is the magician - lets hope he can wield some magic for us.

I can't say that I am overly optimistic about our chances over two legs - especially as United have been able to rest the vast majority of their team over the weekend. However - we have a chance (which is a pleasant change) - lets just hope the referee gives us a chance (unlike previous encounters). What pleases me must is Hughes positive attitude - gone are the days of "we just want to survive" - back to the days of "we want to win things". I am sure Jack will be looking down with a smile on his face.

It must be just me - but I thought that Peter's debut was only compentent. Yes it was his debut - but if MGP had put in a performance like that I don't think he would have got the plaudits that Peter did. Bellamy made the best of a poor cross - with an excellent finish - and also made the best of an average pass for the 3rd goal. Having said that - he did show enough to think he is a worthwhile addition to teh 1st team squad. But I didn't see enough from him tothink he will be the answer to our prayers when MGP leaves for Chelsea Anyone else remember Mark Patterson's debut on the left wing ? He looked great on the day - then the coaches got hold of him and stopped him doing all that silly dribbling lark

Tricky one to call this. We desperately need to rest some players - but look limited in some areas. Though a huge risk - I would like to see some fringe players brought in. Maybe we will see an appreance from Flitty, Amo and Gresko before they go to pastures new. Even if they end up Cup Tied - I would play them to rest Savage, Nelsen and Gray. For me Matteo would play centre half and Nolan right back. I would go with a risky :- Friedal Nolan Amo Matteo Gresko Emerton Thommo Flitty Peter Jansen Dickov Then place lots of attacking talent on the bench for a rescue act On paper the above side should be good enough to beat a Championship side - but can't help feeling it has banana skin written all over it. The problem is for Hughes, the players looked dead on their feet on Monday - and I am sure would struggle to beat United on Wednesday if too many of them play against QPR.

I am all for getting the kids in the ground - and kids for a quid seems a good intiative for games like Pompey where the ground would be half emtpy anyway. But the club really need to better advertise the fact that normally this match would have only been £5 for kids - which I feel is an excellent deal anyway - but they don't seem to advertise it particularly well. Personally I would like to see a get a free Junior ticket with every adult ticket. Not a huge difference - but may help boost adult attendance as well.

It is amazing how much football is played in the head. 1st Half we looked as good as any team I have seen this season - put a fully fit Bellamy up front and we would have been so far ahead ay half time that the 2nd half would have been irrelevant. 2nd half Pompey were up for it - we sat back and struggled to gain the initiative back from them. Though they didn't work out, I thought Hughes two subs were perfect - maybe just add Tugay to actually have someone in midfield that can pass to them I don't think you can underestimate the impact that Hughes has had on the team - they now regularly put in displays that we haven't seen since the glory days of Duff, Dunn, Cole and Jansen. Makes me wonder how well Hughes would have done with that group of players - 6th under Souey - Champs League under Hughes ?

2nd yellow ? it should have been a straight red. From the highlights I have seen of Wigan recently our success will depend on Nelsen and Todd/Zura. If we can keep Camara and Roberts quiet I feel that we have enough up front to worry Wigan. I am actually more optimistic playing this fixture away. The onus will be on Wigan to attack - from what I have seen a lot of their success has been hitting teams on the counter using the pace of their front two. When you look at their stats they rarely seem to have the most possession - but obviously use what little possession they have to good affect. Having Reid playing instead of Tugay may actually work to our advantage as he does add some badly needed pace to the centre of midfield. I am going to go with my heart - and a 2-1 win to Rovers. However, given Wigans current form a draw must be considered a good result at this stage of the season

To an extent I agree - but I think part of the reason that other players have looked so good is that defenses are scared of Bellamys pace and adjust accordingly. Also any midfield player will tell you that you need the forward to make good runs - which Bellamy is excellent. This is a huge loss - where we need Kuqi to step up - in the final pre-season game he looked excellent - if he can start repeating that form more regularly we could be alright. I am just hoping that this forces the board to give MH the money for our McCarthy (we can but hope)

I keep waiting for Pedersen to score direct from a corner. It will almost definitely happen at some point. Maybe better to save it for United / Chelsea or Arsenal at home - 90'th minute to win 1-0. Can you imagine the press coverage we would get

I don't agree with what Savage did - I agree at times he can be a grade A pillock. But under it all he is a half decent footballer who gives 110% everytime he pulls on the shirt. I'll stand by what I said on the Arsenal game thread : "Is it only me that thinks me again Blackburn are being portraid as the villians by the pro-southern press ? Yes, Savage over reacted to the Reyes attempt at a punch. But he didn't roll-around as has been described in many portions of the press. I have also seen matches where players have raised their arms - and not been defended by the media - with the common comment "you can't raise your hands and hope to get away with it". What really gets to me - is that over the last few years Arsenal themselves have been well known to feign injury in an attempt to get players sent off. It reminds me of the out cry against Todd last season. Yet again the whiter than white Arsenal fans and their devoted media machine lambasted Todd for an incident that nobody could prove whether was deliberate or not. And yet only a few seasons previous a blatantly deliberate elbow by Begkamp on Nissa gets barely a mention in the press."

Is it only me that thinks me again Blackburn are being portraid as the villians by the pro-southern press ? Yes, Savage over reacted to the Reyes attempt at a punch. But he didn't roll-around as has been described in many portions of the press. I have also seen matches where players have raised their arms - and not been defended by the media - with the common comment "you can't raise your hands and hope to get away with it". What really gets to me - is that over the last few years Arsenal themselves have been well known to feign injury in an attempt to get players sent off. It reminds me of the out cry against Todd last season. Yet again the whiter than white Arsenal fans and their devoted media machine lambasted Todd for an incident that nobody could prove whether was deliberate or not. And yet only a few seasons previous a blatantly deliberate elbow by Begkamp on Nissa gets barely a mention in the press.

I have never forgiven City for us playing them off the pitch - but still getting beaten at Ewood the year they went up. Or watching Rovers play some enterprising football at Maine Road - only to see them have 6 attacks and score six goals. Then they had the cheek to keep us locked in. Still, let bygones be bygones - I hope we stuff them I have a certain amount of respect for Pearce, and also the loyality of their support. Though has been pointed out - with only one football team actually in Manchester they should get good gates Lets hope for another good game - yet another opportunity for Rovers to show that the myth started by Chelsea and Arsenal is just a load of soutern hot air.

For the poster complaining that kids should be allowed in for a nominal amount - £5 isn't that much to pay. Even £10 to watch us play United, Arsenal or Chelsea represents good value for money. The gate issue isn't just a Rovers problem - it is a general disenchantment with Premiership football. It would also be interesting to see when the decline started - as I feel Football First on Sky has a lot to answer for. Many people that swelled the gates in the Jack Walker era started watching Rovers as we had a genuine chance of winning things. In the old 1st Div we still maintained gates as we were going for promotion. Fans need to feel that there is something to fight for - and that the players reflect that passion. More and more fans are complaining about lack of passion from players in the premiership - which is largely due to the lack of competition. Thankfully Hughes has given the team back the passion, we also now seem to be playing with a certain amount of flair. Time for the crowds to come flooding back - we can only hope.

This is a really tough match - but their excellent away record has to end somewhere - so why not at Ewood Park. The first goal will be the key - if they score first, they will be able to keep hitting us on the break. If we score first - they will have to change their game plan. Personally (though a fan of Reids) if Savage is out - I would sit the Axe just in front of the back four - and give Neil and Gray the ability to push further up the field. Given the way Charlton like to play - I wouldn't be surpised to see Bentley back on right hand side (even when playing well Emerton requires a certain amount of room) or even a surprise recall for Thompson. I am going for a Rovers 3 - 1 win - come on the blues

I am a little surprised how Chelsea seem to be a little rattled by what has only been two draws. They also seem to bear some grudges from last seasons match. Amazing to hear the thug Terry (who should have been sent off for his disgraceful un-necessary challange on the Charlton goal keeper) complaining about opposition rough tactics. In the unlikely event that we get a decent referee - I can actually see Chelsea having a player sent off. More likely though - that we end up with a "home" referee - we get kicked all over the place - retaliate once and have a player sent off.

I can't believe the Chelsea fans on their forum. They hold Essien as their hero - the player that put in one of the most disgraceful tackles seen this season. No matter what is said about our approach last season - at no time was it over the top (as the media would have us believe). They gave as good as they got. What they don't like are players like Savage - who just keep running. You get past him, and he is back at you. The same could be said of most of the team - they are running on Duracell It is time somebody put Chelsea in their place - they are almost as arrogant as their manager. Whether it will be us is debateable - but it would make my weekend if we went to Stamford Bridge and got a result. It would be even better if we could match them for football (as we did at United) - but in reality if we defend for 89 minutes and then win with a break-away goal in the 90th minute I will still be happy. I just hope that none of our players get sent off - as it will just add even more fuel to the media witch hunt that seems to follow Rovers

I can't understand the debate on here - it has to be Reid in the centre. The problem with him early season was that he and Savage are too similar - both being members of the headless chicken brigade. However, pairing him with Tugay is ideal as he has the althetisim to make up for Tugay's ageing legs, and Tugay has the class to make up for Reids (at times) limited passing. Though it may seem harsh - I would drop Dickov for Kuqi. I think WBA will be play defensive which won't give Bellamy the room to exploit his pace (unless we score early). In this situation a bit of height may help to ruffle a few feathers and leave Bellamy with a few knock-downs to feed off. Also - realistically - Kuqi is no worse a finisher than Dickov.

Maybe Souness has been on the phone to him

Injuries permitting - it has to be the same team - but with Reid replacing the suspended Lilly. This has got to be one of the key matches of the season. The additional publicity gained by beating United - favourable for once - should add a little to the attendance. It is for Rovers to put in a decent performance to convince the fans that the poor home results of the last two years are finally coming to an end. Also, if we are going to finish anywhere above mid-table we have to beat teams like WBA or beating United counts for nothing.

A good match - that we should have won by more (not taking anything away from Huddersfield who gave a good acount of themselves). A few worrying signs for me though :- Brad - should I come or should I go - his hesitancy off his line considering his experience was strange Neill - Ok Nelsen - Ok, struggled at times with height of their attack Zurab - See Nelsen, though this guy does look as though he could replace Todd given a few more games. Gray - Ok - but against Ronaldo, I think not Emerton - actually felt sorry for the guy, obviously struggling for form (been 2 years now) - and he is playd largely on the left Tugay - down to him we actually controlled the football, but can't shake off his invisible friend - which against Utd would be costly Bentley - class player, like Tugay likes to get ball down and make us play. Faded in and out of the game badly Bellamy - a reason to be optimistic Dickov - Kuqi without height or pace Savage - I thought he was a good buy, but when you see him next to Tugay you can see how limited a player he is - always gives 100% though MGP - Looked better than he has for a while Kuqi - Hustled and bustled well - too little time really Axe - Ok For me MOM was close between Tugay and Bellamy - Tugay mainly for making us play football rather than constantly giving the ball away (see Savage) On to the next match - Bellamy with Bentley just behind him has to be worth another try.

I'll be there - I just hope that he tries Kuqi and Bellamy up front. Maybe give Taylor a go at left back. We have to pair Reid and Savage - just to see if they can actually build any sort of understanding. I previously had high hopes for this pairing - not the most skillful - but both have high energy levels to play a high pressure pressing game. The one thing that is missing is a little bit of intelligence - as we need one to sit back as the other goes forward - the problem is both are inclined to run around like headless chickens at times. Oh for Tugay being 5 years younger.

Unlike many on here - I do believe that there is goals in our current squad of players. The worst thing that happened was our capitulation against West Ham on the opening day - it made Hughes doubt the ability of players at his disposal to play a 4-4-2 formation. What interests me - was the dropping of Kuqi to the bench. I am not going to pre-judge this - as he could have been carrying a slight knock after internationl duty - but in the days of the SAS we defended from the front. Kuqi offers us this - and with Bellamy will be enough of a handful for any defence. Better times could be just around the corner - but I fear that the crowds won't return even then.

Interesting that nobody has noticed the alarming drop in away support. Newcastle have in previous seasons taken the vast majority of the away end. This year huge gaps - believe me this isn't just a Rovers problem. As someone on the forum has already mentioned - a sides drop in away support is a good barometer for future home support. Watch their crowds start to fall away. Slowly at first - Cup competitions etc, the people will start to realise they can pick and choose matches and it will gather pace. Owen's first match away from home - and they can't take up their allocation - for a City 10*'s the size of Blackburn that is disgraceful