Despite being a Rovers fan, I was lucky enough to get a ticket for the match through a friend at Arsenal and, for 76 minutes, I had a fantastic night. It's interesting to read through the points on the thread as you always get a different perspective of the match watching it live than on the telly. While the referee was frustratingly reluctant to book any of the Barca players, I don't agree with the argument that he "ruined" the match. Lehmann had to go. Even if the referee had played on, allowed the goal and Lehmann to stay on the pitch would Arsenal have found a way back in? Trying to chase a lead and therefore leaving yourself vulnerable at the back against that Barca team - I don't think they could have won. What was most thrilling about the game was that Arsenal, against all odds, got their noses in front and managed to heroically defend their lead for almost an hour while still creating clear chances to put the game out of reach. I think the reaction of Wenger and Henry are completely understandable. I mean, you can't expect to get a level-headed interview straight after one of the most disappointing nights of your life, can you? I felt really gutted for the Arsenal fans at the end. I can't imagine how their real fans must've felt.

An Aberdeen fan's banner at Ibrox at the weekend: "AGENT MCLEISH... MISSION ACCOMPLISHED... RETURN TO BASE. - W. MILLER" It was confiscated by the stewards.

You've touched on a reason why a lot of Scots absolutely love to see England lose: the media. That is the one reason why I lean towards whoever you play. Nothing against the players, the fans, the people, the country, but the media seriously get on my tits.

It's not just a problem at Rovers - Chelsea are struggling to sell out their forthcoming midweek game according to the Independent: clickety click Chelsea can hardly point to the excuse that they don't provide entertainment - fans have simply woken up to the fact that no matter how good your team is, £40 to go and watch a game of football is simply not worth it.

Just heard from a reliable source that Arsenal have sold 27,000 tickets for the semi-final. Roves have sold... 11,000.

What an ignorant, ill-thought comment. Being Scottish myself and having lived and worked - and met numerous other Scots - in countries such as Japan, Australia, and your own wee town London, Jan, I can't help but take offense at your broad generalisation of the Scottish, especially the "poorly-educated." Speaking of poorly-educated footballers being taken away from their support network and falling apart, did anyone see Beckham on telly "speaking" Spanish the other day? No wonder Barry wants to leave: he probably came here with the promise that Blackburn would be challenging in the top half of the table and going on to bigger and greater things. I'm sure he didn't want to leave as captain of Rangers to be fighting against relegation in the Premiership.

I watched the Hearts v Celtic game yesterday and am now praying that we don't go for Hartson. He was shocking against a very poor Hearts team. The guy has got the touch of a one-legged baboon...

I think Fergie's performance yesterday answered your remarks. He was fantastic and didn't put a foot wrong, so stick it right up ye. As for the youngsters, ie. McEveley, his lack of experience and naivety cost us a goal last night against Liverpool, so there's another one of your points answered. You should apply for the manager's post the next time it becomes available. I'm sure the team could use your fantastic knowledge of football: "No Barry, you can't play because you've got a face I want to punch."

Just thought I'd let everyone know that the Scottish Sun has dug up an old story with today's "exclusive" back-page headline: "Gers want to use 10m to buy Barry back." Alastair Donald is due to invest 10m quid in the club and they plan to use that money to buy Bazza back in the January transfer window. Looking over the article, there's absolutely no foundation in the story and they base it on some pretty flimsy facts. They state that "Eck (Alex McLeish) must wait to see if his former captain wants to quite Ewood Park and his shot at the Premiership." So they even concede that Bazza doesn't want to leave. They even manage to contradict themselves by saying that Hughes is wanting to build his side round Fergie, yet Rovers would be willing to do business as we're running on a tight budget and need funds for transfers. That's right, build a team round our captain, then sell him a few months down the line. What a load of cack. How do the Sun get away with journalism like this???

The reason ticket prices were slashed was a result of protests by fans across the country forcing the German authorities to lower the prices across the board. Until there's protests of a similar kind from fans in this country ticket prices are just going to rise and rise...

Don't get ahead of yourself, MrsJansen, he's not back to his old self yet. I think we should have learnt that from his 'comeback' goal against Liverpool. I do think it's a step in the right direction, though, and I was as delighted as any Rovers fan to see the joy on Matt's face after he scored. He certainly deserved the plaudits after the game. I think a lot of the negative comments on this thread are borne out of frustration at the excruciatingly slow process in Matt's rehabilitation. I even admit that I didn't think Matt would make a return to the first team squad after hearing the noises coming out of Ewood and his performances when he did come into the first-team fold. Let's just hope that Hughes gives him a decent chance and rebuilds his confidence so that we can see the Matt of old back in the starting XI. Indeed, the change in management seems to have rejuvinated Matt and given him fresh hope, so let's just hope he takes this chance with both hands and continues to fight back.

What a load of rubbish, and I'm not saying that just because I'm a norwegian! The guy is 22years old, he has just moved to a new country, has been away with the national team to Italy and Norway, have only had a good couple of training sessions with the team, have played 3 games -- and you are slagging him off?! What a joke! I'm not saying he will be a success here at Blackburn Rovers, but I'm surely not going to base my judgment on 3 games in the Premier League! I agree, I think a few folk should tone it down with their criticisms of Pedersen. To say that he's close to being one of Souness' worst signings after just three games is a bit over-the-top to say the least. He's 22, come to a foreign country, has to adapt to a different style of football which is a huge step up from what he's used to, and has only just finished his third game for Rovers for goodness sake. Plus he's moved away from his friends and family and all of the Norwegian home-comforts that I'm sure he misses. Moving abroad and starting afresh is harder than some people think. Give him a bit of time. Do you think all those scouts would've been checking him out over the summer if he was pants? Look at how long it took Ferguson to settle in, and he was experienced at Champion's League and International football. There are countless other players who took time to settle to the British game and have turned out to be wonderful players: Henry, Bergkamp, Larsson, even our own Henning Berg had a few shockers when he first came here and look how he turned out. No wonder our players lose confidence with some wonderfully patient (!) fans like this...

Is he not a striker, though? Start him in place of Stead, I say. I think the pressure of reproducing last season's form has got to the young lad. Heart-in-mouth moment as Fuller went down there....

Sounds like Brett Emerton's havin a blinder!!

YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!! Matt's back...