It pissed me off as well - but it has struck me since that maybe JDT was trying to protect them. Personally I think the experience would have been good for them - but they would have been heavily targeted.

If Jack was still around, he would have been in the dressing room pre Burnley match and NOBODY would be in any doubt as to how important the match was.

It is amazing how the pendulum swings with opinion over JDT - every victory and he is a managerial mastermind - every defeat and he is deemed worse than Mowbray. Today was very painful viewing, and unlike the players, for fans will continue to be until we can get one over the Dingles. Roll back to mid-week - and the polar opposite. I am still trying to be balanced over JDT - we have played some excellent football under him, similarly we have played some absolutely awful football. At the moment I can't make my mind up which way it will go under JDT - we have accumulated far more points than we imagined at this stage of the season - and for that he deserves far more credit than I think he gets. He tinkers far more than Mowbray ever did - at times it is inspired, at times it is awful. I am confused - even today, a stronger referee gives a penalty, we go 1-0 up and the match changes drastically. Biggest problem - as soon as they scored I knew we were beaten - if as a fan I think that, lord knows what goes through the players minds.

From the moment he hit Kaminski after the ball had gone in the first half, Barnes knew he could get away with almost anything. For a Premiership referee, he was shocking. Rovers were poor, but it is very difficult to defend against a team who feel they can get away with almost anything. Especially Barnes who tried to intimidate with almost the referees apparent blessing.

After watching your fans throw slates from the top of the Darwen End onto your own fans - I think you are on dodgy ground. There are idiots on both sides - lets not lose sight of the fact that this game is to be top of the Championship going into the World Cup break. Burnley, with their parachute payments and remnants of a premiership team probably expected to be there - for Rovers it far exceeds our expectations - though JDT does seem to have a lucky touch as a manager. For us the game probably swings on Diaz - he hasn't been at his best this season - but still looks the best striker in the division capable of moments of sheer magic

Gotta say - that looked like a foul in the lead up to their first goal - but hey ho, we are through

Where are you watching this - I can't find a stream

Only watched the first half - but even then you could see that Sheffield could bully them. Their two wingers look good - so will need to keep them in check

Think yourself lucky we weren't formed later - or it would have been more expensive 🤣

I am possibly alone, but I think I can see what JDT is trying to achieve. When it comes off, we score brilliant goals, when it doesn't (as last night) we continually give the ball away. Is it a tactical problem, or inconsistency in performance which you generally get with such a young team. I am as frustrated as anyone about his unwillingness to change tactics during matches, my only hope is that he sees this as a long term approach worth sticking to for long term benefit. Guardiola struggled initially at City - but stuck to his principles. Is it arrogance, or just self belief ?

Interesting gambit by our owners - could be a double bluff to get the best price for him in January - but they did show with Rothwell that they are prepared to gamble on promotion. Even if we got top price for him in January, with our wage restrictions, replacing him will be tough - unless JDT has someone in mind.

Dack could argue the same - as could Markanday, Edun etc. The shirt is earned on merit, playing for the team and the approach JDT wants to see.

Who 😅

Travis right back ?(

It is interesting that we are third in the league, have just won three on the bounce, and yet pre match talk is as much about Dack as it is the fixture itself. I think we all cling to the image of the pre-injury Dack. His fleeting performances in the first team haven't been great. All reminds me of Jansen post head injury - we all want them to get back to the pre injury heights. Possibly, as with Jansen, injury has taken too much of a toll to regularly contribute.

I can't disagree with the first paragraph - but what nobody knows is how much the injuries have taken their toll. His fitness levels may be good - but can he twist and turn like he used to, has he still got that little burst of pace that used to create space for him. I wouldn't be surprised if his relatively large salary is playing a part - but if he is 100% fit (in all ways) - would it not be better to play him, potentially improve the team, and then get a bigger transfer fee if we sell him in January ? If that is the case - then why aren't they ? Without wishing to open up the debate - Rhodes was a brilliant goal scorer, but I always felt his lack of pace and hold up play had a detrimental impact on our team play. JDT is all about the team - maybe he sees Dack as not being a good fit for the team pattern and overall team play. People seem to think he has singled out Dack - but John Buckley has largely disappeared from the first team picture.

It was interesting to hear commentators on Radio Lancs say recently, how they have seen few Championship sides that have put in a 90 minute performance - and that can definitely be leveled at Rovers. What I find difficult to judge - especially in the last two matches - how much of our second half struggles are down to us just sitting back on our lead, hoping to hit on the break and conserve energy - or how much is down to the opposition stepping up and us struggling to cope. Over the last few games JDT seems to have decided on a preferred formation - 5-3-2 - which seems to suit players at his disposal. We do lack depth up front - and I do fear if either BBD (ESPECIALLY BBD) or Gallagher were out for an extended period. So much will decide on the World Cup break and January transfer window (especially if we get a half decent offer for BBD). Are we any good - jury is out for me - has JDT brought the club closer together, and by promoting youth helped fans to reconnect with the team - do I see a team pattern and general approach - a definite yes.

I would counter what you have put - unless you have actual evidence that he is being frozen out based on orders from "higher up the food chain". Bottom line, nobody knows if Dack is performing well in training - and importantly whether he is training to the new team pattern. It is interesting that for a number of youngsters that have made debuts - he always quotes how they understand the team structure.

Plus - do we not have a year option on his contract ?

I am sure Dack isn't happy at not playing, and I think many on this MB have speculated he doesn't fit JDTs style and we may look to off load - so not really news. I just hope we don't sell on the cheap - be interesting to see what the asking price would be. Even given injuries would personally be looking for £2m to 3m or even more linked to appearances

Would have been an interesting couple for VAR - for the penalty not given, it took Sky quite a few goes before they decided it should have been given. Would VAR have been able to reach a decision quick enough to stop Diaz scoring ? For the offside - which was tight - Wharton was only offside as he had been pushed - so what would they have given. Either way makes no odds - we won 2-0 - and it is a refreshing change to get the rub of the green from officials 🙂

Not getting too excited at the moment - it was a good first half performance, second half was difficult to judge as we obviously sat back. At the end of the day, the game swung on the penalty decision. If it had been given this MB may have been a different place.

I agree with much of this - the first goal is so important in the Championship - had they scored one of their early chances this MB may have been a different place. I disagree about Travis - who I think does a Savage like role for the team. I will admit he doesn't have Rothwell like pace - but he did break their lines well on a number of occasions. Ayala did get away with a number of shirt pulls - but he wasn't alone. Interesting to see Rotherham attacking players pulling our defenders shirts to get an advantage.

IMO - this was part of the problem last night - we pressed high with the front four, but when they were bypassed they had acres into which to pass. Throughout the whole match we played far too deep - which in turn disconnected the midfield from the forward players. By contrast, Cardiff pressed as a team - which contributed to our poor performance. You are right about the tempo - IMO both midfield players contributed to that by hanging onto the ball for too long - though to be honest, given we had four forwards, they seemed to have limited options to pass forward. If we are to continue passing from the back - we seriously need to work on giving the receiving player options. Ayala held onto the ball for far too long, but I think this was due to lack of options. There is also nothing wrong with mixing it up - not certain if Cardiff got nervous - but we looked far better in the last 10 mins when playing a little more direct. Overall Dolan had a poor match - but it was nice to see him releasing the ball far quicker (most of the time) - so obviously JDT is getting through to him. You can see glimpses of what he is trying to do - but I think JDT has to mix it up a little.

Must admit I didn't think he meant the Cardiff fans 😉