Just watched the game on TV... Great result, I was expecting to be unhappy about this time tonight, but a very solid and determined effort from the Rovers (without too many bookings too!). Matteo did a superb job dealing with Ronaldo, surprisingly, Nelsen and Todd were excellent as well. However, I think the best Rover on the day was Mokoena.. not a foot wrong, and made so many great interceptions and tackles... Stead had a couple of chances, but I wasn't really expecting him to put any away, so I'm not going to slag him off. Thompson, Flitcroft and Neill had average games, Pedersen slightly better (could've scored with a header if he put a little more on it). Friedel made two great saves to deny Silvestre and Rooney, the post made two more, and Pedersen made another. Emerton and Gally didn't do anything while they were on. Pleased

Against Arsenal, he reminded me a bit of the old, not-as-good Joe Cole. He gets into great positions, but his final ball has been horrendous.

I just have this bad feeling that if we beat the Gunners today, they'll beat us in the semi Although... I guess their revenge attempts haven't been so good lately (Bayern, ManU).

If you read SuperStella's article up a couple of posts, Reid is quoted as saying: "It was important I took my chance with Robbie coming back. I wanted to put myself in the frame for the game." Looks like Reid thinks hes a central midfielder now... and after his display at Everton, that's quite alright with me!

So happy for Stead, hopefully this will ease our striker worries! ROVERS!

Just watched the game last night (wasn't gonna stay up till 4 am to watch the live match!) and am disappointed with the result... I thought we were pretty good in the first half, but the second got a bit iffy. I don't know why everyone thinks Mokoena was poor.. I can't say he did too much wrong. However, Matteo is definitely not a left back. I thought Neill and Todd were the stars in defence. Savage faded in the second half, Thompson wasn't as effective as in previous matches, Emerton and MGP were decent. If Bothroyd could stay on his feet a little better, I think he'd have tucked at least one of his chances away.. Gally was nearly invisible. Stead wasn't, but he was shockingly bad. Johnson is too tiny... I'm praying for striker before the window closes.

I say we sic Toddy on Johnson, just like we used him against Defoe last week. If he can nullify Defoe, I'd say he has a good chance against Johnson.. and if Toddy can nullify Johnson... Rovers should win! I wish it was so simple.

I also agree with bellamy11... Especially in the "play Nissa at centre-back or not at all" point. I think Gray or McEvely would be better choices at left back.. I can't say it was a horrible performance. We defended well up until the goal, someone should've been marking Keane.. but we do need to replace either Gally or Dickov with one of our taller strikers. I'm hoping for Stead next match... I think there are worse teams than us, but we definitely need to improve the squad in January to ensure safety.

Reserve Lineup De Pedro's not even on the bench for the reserves... perhaps he's going to be included on the trip to Norwich? I'll go for a 2-0 win for the Rovers..

Just finished watching, and its 2am so heres my thoughts quickly: Johansson was great, almost never put a foot wrong! McEvely had some very nice defensive play, but the free kick he gave away for their equalizer cast a shadow over that.. Emerton was excellent down the left (or Josemi was horrible on the right), but putting Reid on the right didnt really add any options. Tugay looked good till his high kicks, was so scared he was going to get sent off again.. Dickov was excellent, I think he fully deserves his starting spot, with Bothroyd and Stead interchanging as his partner. Neill was poor. And wow.. that was the nicest referee we've ever had, I think if someone had gone down in the box he'd have pointed to the spot.. Was sickening watching Cisse's leg snap in slow motion in the TV replays though (4 of them in a row). I think everyone that played tonight deserve to start next week, except for Neill and Reid.

We now have the most goals conceded and the worst goal difference in the PL

Just got done watching the Rovers match (same-day delay was best I could get.. its 3 am now). This is the best Saturday night I've had in a while! The first half was pretty disappointing, especially the last 20 minutes, but once we got going in the second half I was much happier. I'm not seeing why people were impressed with Flitcroft so much, he didn't do anything wrong but he wasn't very impressive to me... However I must agree, Pedersen gave the ball away too easily.. I say we let him play some reserve matches or come on as a sub, there are better players for his starting position for now. Jansen was alright, thought he had botched his goal when it was under his feet, but he got it out and scored.. should improve with more games. Stead was unlucky, looks frustrated. Dickov did well, as did Ferguson, and all the defenders. I was enjoying watching our Australian duo team up down the right hand side and they both had a run down the middle too.. Bothroyd had some refreshing tricky ball control, but all 3 of his shots were closer to the moon than the goal.. impressive debut though. I believe we'll get better, just relieved to get the 3 points for now. That being said though, Fuller should've had a penalty Maybe Lady Luck just didn't like Souey?

Heart-wrenching stuff. I'm glad we started with a 4-4-2 ... I think we'll start getting results now, I was pretty impressed overall. Few notes: MGP really should've made it 2-0. Fantastic cutback from Emerton (who was astonishingly good for the most part). That said, he didn't look completely out of place.. just needs training. and 4 minutes? No way.

(not sure how to do this quote stuff, from scotty) Two keepers in goal huh?

1-0 rovers GRESKO to score! He did it for Slovakia this week, why not?

won't predict, but just wanted to say... I'm glad we're facing them while they're still under sturrock. He seems like a dodgy manager to me Hoping for a rovers win!

my alarm failed to get me out of bed this morning, so i only managed to watch the last 30 minutes of the delay match, so heres what i thought of the last 30 minutes.. we were definitely the better team, they barely carried the ball into our half. yorke surprised me with how much he seemed to care about the game.. he was the best player on the pitch for the bit that i saw. i honestly cant say stead or dickov provided any direct goal threat, other than stead's cross, but i'm not worried that this will be the case all season.. matteo was kind of disappointing... and emerton boggles me. he put himself in a good position two or three times, so he was good in that respect... but why didnt he do the easy part and put it in the back of the net? i won't say he doesnt deserve to be in the starting XI until i see thommo get a crack at his spot to compare. i personally thought that our 3-5-2 looked great, but i dont know if it'll hold against a better team all that being said, i wish i had seen the starting formation (sounds almost comical from how its been described) and i wish i had seen de pedro.. i'll be really disappointed if he flops this season

Only got to see the game's goals on ESPN, will watch the full match tomorrow morning (630 am ugh) but I have only two things to say... What kind of lame excuse for a wall was that? and Short scored? of all the competent midfielders and strikers we have, what an odd way to grab a point

the Sky Sports website predicts Rovers will win 3-1 Lets hope they're right!

Lot of hilarious nicknames coming out

1. Arsenal 2. Chelsea 3. Liverpool 4. Manchester Utd. 5. Newcastle 6. Middlesborough 7. Aston Villa 8. Birmingham 9. Blackburn 10. Charlton 11. Fulham 12. Southampton 13. Tottenham 14. Portsmouth 15. Everton 16. Bolton 17. West Bromwich 18. Manchester City 19. Norwich 20. Crystal Palace

What an end... I thought England had it in the bag, game well won.. That's a turnaround you don't see every game. I bet Beckham, Gerrard and Heskey are kicking themselves!