@rigger, you had it right. What a nice surprise win. As to the game. Rovers did what teams at all levels do when playing against superior opposition; keep it tight and hope for a chance on the break. It's not pretty, it's not a tactical masterclass, but it is effective. Leeds players were trying their hardest to con the ref into giving them a pen, not a chance for any of them. Gallagher's arm may have been given a long look by VAR, but I doubt the official would have overturned the ref's initial no pen decision. Gallagher won 1 attacking header all game, and Dolan had 1 decent pass. Those combined led to Szmodics cool finish. How did both of them miss the cross from Szmodics? I think that Gallagher was far more effective in Rovers box defending Leeds crosses.

I finally got around to watching the highlights. Shambolic is an understatement. I disagree with your defend from the front comment. They were all individual errors by defenders. Hyam on ice skates. McFadz looking uninterested. It was awful. There are calls for Hyam to be dropped. He was woeful, but he's a championship player, so I think it's likely that he'll be fine next time out.

I found this website; https://www.11v11.com/teams/blackburn-rovers/tab/opposingTeams/opposition/Leeds United/ In the entire history of the fixture Leeds have won 50% more games than Rovers, with BRFC losing 8 of the last 9. It's not looking good for Saturday.

You should have kept it. There are some harsh replies on this. I'd wager that people's responses would be different if the name was changed to Tugay. I played against him when he was young, even then he was being tipped as a future England player. Going from 20 years of constant ego boosting to nothing caused a massive drop in his mental state. He, like many, turned to synthetic means to try to rekindle that high. It is hard to feel sympathy for millionaire footballer, and especially one who was utterly abject for BRFC. He stole a living whilst at BRFC, and I also remember his wife crassly attempting to defend him. For this have a go all day. Yet, to me, this should be separated from him getting hooked on coke. People either abusing, or being addicted to drugs, need help not scorn.

1 loss in 6 for Eustace's Rovers, tempered by only 1 win though. A result on Wednesday will be immense as I expect zero points against Leeds on Saturday. There is a full slate of Championship games midweek. 2 games feature teams directly above and below Rovers; Plymouth v. QPR Swansea v. Stoke Should us Rovers fans hope for QPR and Swansea wins?

Hard to disagree on the drop off. Yet what team aside from maybe France (excluding Mbappe) could you say that for? Last night was essentially it for Southgate. His next games are tournament warm-ups. He will already know 80%+ of his squad, now he has to wait and hope that all the players he wants stay fit. 9 of his 11 is set; Pickford, Walker, Stones, Maguire (yes, he'll play if fit), Rice, Bellingham, Saka, Foden, Kane. He needs to decide on a midfield partner for Rice, and a left back. Of Southgate's usuals Grealish, Shaw, Trippier, Alexander-Arnold, Pope, and James are injured. Potential new boy Colwill is too. I assume if they are all fit come end of May they'll be in the squad. Toney, Rashford, Watkins will be in the squad as will Chilwell and Gallagher. Phillips, Sterling, and probably Henderson are gone.

I don't think that he had any money. After his Rovers foray he was interested in a second tier US club, Rochester Rhinos. That went nowhere, Rochester ended up going bust and are now rebranding.

Evey England manager besides Alf Ramsey won nothing. Using that as a stick to beat Southgate with is a bit harsh. England are not a top table football nation, as much as I want them to be. Yet thanks to Southgate's efforts whilst aiding England youth development the national talent pool is getting better. As for yesterday's game. It wasn't the best. Gallagher and Chilwell were poor. Watkins anonymous. Bellingham got kicked off his game, especially by Paqueta. Maguire will play at the Euros, but he needs significant game time week in week out until the tournament to get sharp.

I think Gallagher's greatest attribute is his defensive heading ability from corners. He can't head in the opposition box but does a good job in his own. As for Saturday, a draw was fair. A pretty even game. Rovers had a couple of chances in the second half that on another day may have gone in, yet so could the Boro one that hit the bar and the fresh air kick off the rebound. Still no wins for Eustace. I had Rovers picking up 4 points from the last 3 games, they got 3. Ipswich next who manhandled Sheff Wed.

It is going to be one interesting run in. Usually one team romps away with top spot, this season it's a 2 possibly 3 horse race between Leicester, Leeds, and Ipswich for 1st. Southampton look safe for a play off spot behind the top 3 which leaves West Brom, Coventry, Hull, PNE, and Norwich fighting for the 2 playoff spots. Relegation, unfortunately with Rovers very much in play, is even tighter. Rotherham are gone. Sheff Wednesday have won 5 of 6 but are still second from bottom on 38 points. Yet Watford in 12th are only 6 points better off. Sunderland in 10th have lost 5 in a row and conceivably could be dragged into a relegation fight, albeit slight. Let's hope for results to go Rovers way tonight.

I said the other week that there is something wrong at Sheffield Utd. Last night was another example. 5 down before halftime is disgraceful. Neither the manager or players are performing. Selling their 2 best players and losing a couple of good loan players hasn't helped, but from the outside it looks like the whole lot of them have given up. Is their owner trying to sell up? Both Sheff Utd and Burnley utilised the loan market in the Championship and deployed completely different strategies once promoted. Luton had no loans and only brought in a couple of new players and are in trouble but faring better than the other two.

Someone posted a topic like this around the same time last season when there was genuine hope of a playoff spot. Fast forward 12 months and Rovers have 11 games left to pick up enough points to stay up. Here are my predictions; Millwall (H) - draw Plymouth (H) - win Boro (A) - loss Ipswich (H) - draw Sunderland (A) - loss Southampton (H) - loss Bristol City (A) - loss Leeds (A) - loss Sheff Wed (H) - draw Coventry (H) - win Leicester (A) - loss I have 9 more points. Will that be enough?

The whole team was. Ten Hag set them up to play on the counter and they couldn't even muster that bar a few early forays. I know City are streets ahead but Man U weren't trying to play. They'd get the ball to the halfway line then concede possession. Their subs were pitiful. Amrabat, Antony, and two youngsters. Amrabat cost them a goal. Antony did nothing but pass it backwards twice. He has to be up there as one of the worst Premier League signings. £80m+ for no output. Ratcliffe's PR team keep pumping out grandiose statements about getting back to the top. It will cost an inordinate amount of time and money to do that. His first action should be to bin Ten Hag, but that would be cruel to those like me who enjoy watching Man U's ineptitude.

You cannot compare the physical demands on professional footballers to any uni or Clitheroe level players. There is a reason why football clubs now have teams of performance analysts. Clubs need to eek out as much from players as possible. Anyway, all signs point to a loss today. I hope not though.