1-2 Why did Brittain not go to Barnes there?

Yep. We need him back in time for the three trips to Wembley.

Sammmmyyyyyy

Oh FFS Hedges

We had it for the 3rd round tie against Newcastle a few years back. It was controversially used in the first game but not in the replay, when they went in front with an offside goal in extra time. Mowbray whinged about it here.

We’ve not actually sold out. Still on sale at Ewood until 11am tomorrow.

Not sure what you mean or how that is relevant (in the case of the away club paying for tickets in blocks).

Not sure if it applies in this game, but your allowed 15% of the allocation. However sometimes at some grounds (usually ones who can sell out the home ends) the allocation is offered in ‘blocks’. You can take as many blocks as you want up to 15%, but the away club pays for the tickets taken whether they sell them or not. It’s to stop an away club taking thousands of tickets they can’t sell which could be sold to the home fans. edit - Gav gives a perfect example above.

Bearing in mind we may have to pay for unsold seats, and the seats will be released in blocks, the fact we’ve sold out the taken allocation on the eve of the game means we’ve probably got this one just right. Anyone that wanted to go is surely going.

Also live on BBC red button and on Sky TV channel 981.

This is like those cup finals Newcastle were in with Shearer. They just haven’t turned up at all.

As several people have said recently, we’d be better playing that team / formation but with BBD in for Gallagher. For me that would keep the balance / fluidity, add more of a goal threat and lose nothing in ‘presence’.

There’s not many domestic cup finals I want Man United to win, but here’s one.

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.