That game yesterday was still a full-on bubble game.

And if the shot that got slightly deflected and the jutkiewicz shot had gone in first half we would have been 3-0 down. Other than the Hedges shot, we had no real chances until the last 5 minutes once Brereton and Dack had come on. The last 10 minutes of that game are clouding people judgement. We got what we deserved, and if we play like that for the rest of the season, with that lack of midfield tenacity or cutting edge, we will fail.

Lets me have £340 on Skybet. Only £120 available on BF.

11/10 Skybet. Fill your boots pal.

That but I’d drop Szmodics for Dack. Harsh on the lad, but as Gallagher can’t score we need to increase goal threat.

Not to their fans, but it’s hardly attractive viewing for the rest of us. “Ooh, which team might get into the Europa conference league.” I’ve sat down, put the tv on, seen what game it is and turned it back off. Other than either of those teams playing Fulham, I couldn’t think of a more drab fixture with the league as it currently stands.

It’s not down to luck.

I do worry about bottle from here on in. We know Gally and Brereton have been part of sides that have faded. Attacking-wise, we need Szmodics and Thomas to keep up the form they have showed over the last few months. Both were poor today. We will find out a lot about character over the next fortnight in games we should perform well in.

As much as I want to say “oh fuck off Sparks”, he was actually excellent in the first half I watched against Blackpool today.

Exciting Premier League season. 9 clubs in relegation danger. A genuine title race. Man U, Spuds and Newcastle battling for 2 CL places. Brentford and Brighton above Liverpool chasing Europe. And yet we’ve got Chelsea V Villa on Sky this evening. It’s possibly the only fixture possible in the entire Premier League that’s a dead rubber. 🙄🙄

Agree on the CF, and thus the Dack issue raises its head again. We put numerous low crosses in that either went to the keeper or got cut out . Gallagher is nowhere near them. Dack comes on and makes 1 good run and has a shot in the box, then ends up with another chance reacting to a rebound. Other than Dack, there is a serious lack of striking instinct in this squad.

I thought we were second best first half clearly. They had far better chances. In the second half I can only recall the Hedges shot until the last 10 minutes. We then had two chances late on, the Dack effort, and the Travis / Dack effort, and put some pressure on later, but generally I thought they clearly deserved it. They just won most battles in midfield. Every little scramble or melee they seemed to come away with.

We got exactly what we deserved. We were second best both halves.

Luton have looked very comfortable against Watford here. I keep expecting them to stutter but they keep on picking up the points.

Gets resurrected next weekend.

Should have gone by barge after all.

Blackpool have been woeful at Preston so far. Preston just a yard quicker and better on the ball.

No strolling around passing it pointlessly sideways thinking “we are in the top 6, we’re better than these” today Rovers. Can we have that FA Cup underdog application from the first whistle please.

Plus I’m potentially going to Huddersfield and Preston this month. Is it a big surprise I also don’t want to go to Birmingham?

And as I keep saying, Norwich, Coventry and Luton are equally as important to our league position so if the reason is because it is to our benefit why are we giving those teams as many as they can sell.

The high in the FA Cup was beating Leicester, and comprehensively outplaying them for 60 minutes. Eventually losing to a side we had beaten only 2 weeks earlier, in the manner that we did, left me feeling flat to be honest. I found the Rovers video a little cringy showing all the fans travelling to Brammall Lane like it was a special day out. That's what I would expect Grimsby to do for their game at Brighton. I enjoyed the cup run, but it won't stick long in the memory like the 2 previous semi-finals did. Getting in the play-offs after 46 games would be a huge high. But for those who haven't experienced it, losing in the play-offs balances it out as one of the biggest lows you can get. That feeling that the past 46 games have been irrelevant, next season will be the same again and having the summer to stew on it before we play again is a real nasty feeling.

No they didn't. They gave all Premier League for the last couple of years 2200 tickets, and have given all clubs this year 2200 tickets. Home fans have been in the other half of that stand for the last few years. Burnley treated Rovers no differently than they have every Championship or Premier League club in recent times. I don't think it's the right decision. I'm enjoying the meltdown, but I don't think it's particularly right or fair.

No I'm not forgetting hence why I put on this seasons form. edit- just realised that you count one of those years when Pears dropped us out of the as this season, when he saved two 1-on-1's.

And Pears may well save the Birmingham and Middlesboro goals at Ewood. Kaminsky also threw one in against Rotherham. It's swings and roundabouts on this seasons form. At the moment I wouldn't want to 'rock the boat' when I don't see it as necessarily and upgrade in what we will have on the pitch. But it's a tough call, and if he did put TK back in I wouldn't complain.

From the World Cup break onwards there were a few goals where you felt Kaminsky could have done better. His form wasn't top notch up to the injury. Pears has surprised us all, and there are very few, if any, instances I can think of where I have thought “Kaminsky would have done better there”. Therefore it is counter productive to the whole squads mentality if you come in and do a better job than the previous incumbent on form, and yet are then dropped. Pears remains number one for me.