Hasta

Of course, there is a very slight chance we play Burnley on the 19th, just not in the league.

There will be no announcement until they know whether the game takes place on the 19th March or not. the chances are it won't as I can't imagine they won't beat Fleetwood at home. I also believe the allocation will be affected depending on whether the game is on a Sunday lunchtime or a midweek evening.

To be fair, I myself said Brereton would not make it at Rovers so I’m having a pop at myself. I also argued like mad that Jason Lowe wasn’t even a league one player despite people saying he will end up in the premier league after he leaves Rovers, and also saying “surely all these managers who keep picking him know better”. They didn’t.

You can, and it will happen time and time again this weekend without punishment. And in most of those cases the player won’t have been hacked at 5 times. You would also get away with it without question in rugby, a far more physical sport than football.

Like what? You get kicked multiple times but “can’t stand over someone in a slightly aggressive manner” There have been about 10 people pushing in this game in flare ups. A couple of minutes before, the Sunderland centre half got pushed over two handed waiting for a free kick to be delivered. They have all gotten away with it despite the violent conduct rule which saw Buckley sent off (but not Saka). Coventry clearly we’re trying to kick Diallo, and when they eventually got him at the 5th attempt he ‘stood over somebody like that’. Yeah outrageous behaviour

Diallo getting booked there for getting kicked 5 times in 10 seconds and daring to get slightly angry about it.

And last year we shipped 7 goals to Fulham with 10 men in one single game. I was actually quite surprised when I looked back how good our defensive record was up to this point under TM last season. I hope for our sake we manage to greatly improve on the goals we conceded from March to May though.

But we've conceded more goals this year than we did after 33 games last year?

That's because I feel we have 4 centre halves now who are better than Lenihan / Mulgrew at defending under pressure. It's noticeably that JPVH was hardly mentioned at all during the previous window.

That’s ok when Brittain then ‘stops’ passing from the back and takes a risk to make something happen. But all too often nobody takes that risk and we pass it for 60 seconds and then lose it. There are far more goals conceded because of it than scored because of it. And I’ve already said , Blackpool we’re the shittest side we’ve seen for pressing, closing down and picking up (unless we suddenly improved massively for that one game). So bravo for a good team goal. Maybe that’s JDT’s version of the Derby away goal for TM. And we’ll done Brittain for not passing and taking a risk to get us on the front foot. But is doesn’t take away the memories of the suicidal play early season including the unholy trouncing at Turf Moor (and Wigan). When it’s not working zt doing it (which I feel we have a bit recently).

I can be a bit glass half full on players, but I did think he was good last night. When he gets the ball he seems to want to actually create something and be direct. It doesn't always come off, and that's his limitation, but I do feel his attitude when he is on the pitch is spot on. There were two flicks late on that were unnecessary, but other than that he was good.

At Burnley we created our solitary shot on target when we did exactly that. Sometimes when messing around hasn't worked, that is a viable option. The other thing last night in the first 25 minutes was the front 4 were literally right up on the Blackpool defensive line. This meant there was no real option between defensive midfield and the forwards to pass to. Therefore we did just knock it around at the back with no option to go into midfield. That all changed second half when Buckley and Travis suddenly started appearing in huge pockets of space.

When he hit the pass the Blackpool fans jeered like it was a crap ball, too high/hard and was going out of play. It then holds up a bit and Thomas brought it down on the touchline perfectly. Watch the Sky Sports highlights and you can hear the Blackpool jeers as he plays the ball out wide.

After years of any long ball into our box causing panic, it’s good to now have 4 centre halves who are all adept and dealing with the basics. And we now appear to have 3 full backs, 1 who is able to play left or right. I enjoyed last night from the 30 minute mark onwards. Great finish from Dolan whose decision-making in the second half only cost him MOTM to Brittain. The only negative is Blackpool looked truly awful. Not only was their general technical play shocking, but so was their inability to get close to us in possession. We were stroking the ball around at the back like vintage Barcelona in the second half. The number of times we could play the ball into midfield and turn in yards of space was alarming for them. Contrast that to Swansea, who until they tired every time we got the ball in midfield were nudging, pressing and harassing us.

Hari Kari incoming

Yep. We've been pretty dull and slow as ever but they've been shocking that half. Worst team we've seen down here by a mile so far

Pears Brittain Carter Hyam Pickering Travis Buckley Thomas Own Goal Dolan Ayala

I like Dolan but when you watch him enough though, you actually realise he's not very quick. There was a chance on Saturday to break near the end and yet the defender got back at him. He looks like he's fast, but actually isn't.

Just noticed only 4 teams have scored more goals than Swansea in the Championship this season. Likewise only 4 have conceded more.

It’s a decent point only if you accept Wigan was a shocking result. (sorry, didn’t scroll down 1 more message to read the next post)

He probably left on 88 mins to beat the traffic.

Well that worked. Get in. 😀

Dangerous free kick to Rovers. Which of our set piece wonders hits the wall with this I wonder?

I would bring a bucket on for Morton.

Morton showing he is ‘further along in his development’.