It was eventful if nothing else. A game of two halves if you will, goals disallowed, penalties not awarded, and in the middle of it, a referee many would argue more amateur than Premier League standard. This was a vital game for both teams, fighting for two different causes, but with a different, more competent game official, this would have been more of a contest. We've been done over by refs more than a few occasions this season and at the time we felt hate and dismay for any wrongful decisions but you have to remember it just about applies to all and any teams wherever you find them. Referees are not infallible, they make errors and poor judgements. Unfortunately every now and again you get a game or instance where such incompetence or mistake made occurs more often by the one individual over the course of the game. Enough about referees, fact is we won the game and by the end of it were fortunate to take three points back. We played well in parts, lost focus after the break and were clearly second-best for a while. Some Town fans or neutrals - Norwich included - will always argue we're hitting above our weight this season and to a point they're right. No one at Portman Road back in August would have expected this club name to be top of the league by end of March and on the verge of successive promotions but we've done it by way of having efficient players in most areas of the pitch, consistency, and Yes of course, some good fortune along the way. I think after 22 years away from the top league of English Football the fans deserve this opportunity / were given something back. You won't get relegated, teams like Blackburn Rovers don't belong in the third tier of the leagues, and there's real strugglers below you that just don't possess the ability or players to save themselves so you'll be safe for another season. Maybe by August we'll both still be Championship club names. By that I mean although we had some very positive scores earlier with Leeds and Leicester dropping points and we're Number 1 position right now the season still has a course to run and we could still very easily finish outside the automatic places. But don't quote me on that.

Ten Pole Tudor - Swords of a Thousand Men

Things are going well for us right now, we're aiming successive promotions and a return to the Premier League for first time since Blackburn won the League Cup. It's been a mess for the most part, some 15 years of doing next to nothing watching Marcus Evans single handily attempting to sink a once proud club name without trace and a succession of absolute dire managerial appointments, one after the other, attempt and fail while we had to watch the parade go by. But things are different now. I could never place McKenna on a plateau with Robson and Ramsey but he's the best without question since George Burley and made us competitive and scoring goals almost freely. Mark Ashton has made a big difference too but many fans were sceptical since he was hated at Bristol City but in all fairness, he's been part of a revolution that has really taken off and a vital piece of the jigsaw as to where we now find ourselves. The new ownership was always a risk but right now people are just trying to focus on the positives. Trips to Blackburn in the past were usually eventful. The final day draw 30 years ago that saved our season, winning in the F.A. Cup when you were League Champions etc and tomorrow should prove another exciting chapter. We'll know what is required at kick off time as our nearest rivals will have already played their fixtures. Some of our players like Broadhead and Moore may have minds elsewhere after the unfortunate Wales failure to qualify a couple of days ago but we have a lot of strength in depth and can call on names from the bench if needed if the game doesn't flow our way. Seems unfair to call out on a rival fans message board over who's going to win or lose but all you can ask for is an entertaining game with both teams going for it and the referee doesn't need to get involved much. I know you have some standout players who can cause us and other opponents problems and remember this season we've already been beaten by both Cambridge and Stevenage not to mention Maidstone in a home game. Were a goal ahead at Cardiff just recently some 8 minutes into additional time and still somehow managed to lose. The thing with us, we sometimes can't see out games from winning positions or lose focus at critical times. If Blackburn are to win this you need to take advantage of such vulnerabilities. We can be got at and exposed, particularly as some key names like Burns won't be featured. I hope it's a good game, may the best team win really.

Yeah but you conceded four 😐 You want a promotion, here's some advice on how to go about it : #1 Get rid of any owners that are running the club name into the ground. The poisonous elements at the hierarchy of any club that do nothing but have an adverse effect on the current and future prosperity of all that exists within your team name. #2 Get a fresh young manager (hitherto largely unrecognised or unknown) to come in and try their hand. Find and work with an ownership / chairman that allows and oversees regular activity in the transfer window. #3 Play a 4-2-3-1 formation more often than not and don't change players during a winning run. #4 Make your home stadia a tough place to all opposing teams to visit. Forget any friendly image when on the pitch and give opposition teams a tough time, send notice to others they'll have to work hard to take anything away. Fill your ground to near capacity as often as able and produce a vociferous atmosphere that will encourage your own players and deter opposition teams. #5 Use and deal in the transfer window as often as able. Bring in a number of loans or no-thrills players from elsewhere and mould them into a cohesive efficient unit. #6 Remain consistent in winning and work on and improve areas of play where difficulties may arise. Have a large squad to choose from particularly in attacking areas. After all, goals are the key to victory and eventual promotion. All the above, it worked for us.

Shame somebody had to lose this afternoon. People talk about something being (quote) "A great advert for a particular league" - it's maybe something of a cliche - but this time it did hold a certain truth to it. No-one could have seen that score or result before play but things have proved before that anything can happen in this league. Like, Norwich beaten 6 - 2 at Plymouth. That sort of thing. 😏 That had to be one of our best or most memorable wins over Rovers since the F.A. Cup game when you were League Champions and still had Alan Shearer in your side. Both teams today showed character and resilience in wanting to win, and refusing to be beaten. It was a good advert for the league. We've come on leaps and bounds since McKenna took charge and the hated Marcus Evans ownership broke up and went away, he very nearly took us into League Two or sunk the club name without trace but look at it now, whether you're for us or against us, it's beyond remarkable. 900 Rovers fans made the trip south and while you didn't get the result you wished, I think both supporters will be in agreement it was a wonderful spectacle or exhibition of open play and entertainment. Not many teams will come to Portman Road and score 3 goals this season. Our defence was breached again more times than we would have liked but fortunately we possess enough potential at the other end of the field to get things done or give ourselves every opportunity when facing opponents.

I'm a wrestling fan but don't follow the WWE now. Sometimes catch TNA on ITV or AEW but there's names on there like Billy Gunn and Jericho still being featured. I mean they just seem so out of place in today's industry. It's not as if they need the money. WWE was good, perhaps great around the turn of the millennium and about 5 or 6 years after but lost interest after that. Channel 4 at one time used to put the PPV's on late at night live from America but it didn't seem to last long. If you want to see a truly classic no-thrills match I'd recommend Angle / Chris Benoit at the 2003 Royal Rumble. No fancy stuff, just a classic between two of the greatest technically gifted names ever to appear in the ring. Seriously, check it out if you can, it was immense.

I'd feel more confident if this were played at Ewood as our away record is marginally better than our home going back enough games. Don't think we've been beaten on the road since Oxford back last winter and that was in a different league. Let's not mess around, neutrals and many of our own will be expecting three points for us and you'll go back with little if nothing but the game is more fickle than that. Anything can happen on the day and I take nothing for granted. We have so many attacking options and were highest scorers in League One (around 100 goals) last season. We've brought in one or two attacking names since then in the last window but I think we have too many forwards now competing for places. Walton (goal keeper) is recovering from an injury but Hladky remains a suitable and competent backup. Our defence can be get at though.. You need to do what Leeds did a few weeks back. They weren't given much of a chance but took away a 4 -3 win from Portman Road. It surprised a lot of us but the Yorkshire team did deserve it, they played with pace and determination and took a win back with it. Blackburn need to apply the same approach tomorrow if you stand a chance of winning. It should be a good contest. Any assistance with parking / alehouses / directions to and around Portman Road just need to ask. We had some minor trouble with Sheffield Wednesday fans last week but wasn't there and appears just kids out to make a name for themselves. We pride ourselves on being a family oriented friendly club, a few idiots and tools aren't going to tarnish that image.

You'd forget you have a membership on some forums, we've been away too long. Stuck in a league that should never have occurred in the first place. League One is horrible. All right we won a promotion with something to spare but the seasons spent in it were bloody hard work. If Marcus Evans had never been removed long before time we'd be getting ready for League Two next season. Looking forward to chat and discussion on Rovers Talk next season when the two clubs meet once again. Bring your fans down to PR if you can make it, it's a lot more enjoyable experience than seasons before. We've scored just about 100 goals and obtained just about 100 points, lost 4 out of 45 and not even sure of winning the league. 😕 Forget what Plymouth or Norwich say, we are the best team in League One. Just had a stumble at rare times this season that cost us points / held us back at certain times.

this is a Burnley club thread right ? You have a rivalry / animosity that's something like ours with Norwich and really feel like using some expletives right now what with our Cup defeat an hour or two back but have to refrain on another team's messageboard. Can't stand Burnley right now. All right we took them to two games, we're leagues apart, they're the best in the championship and at the end of it all we can be proud of ourselves but just feel numb at the moment, the time inwhich they scored to beat us is hard to take. People i.e. certain 'pundits' thought we would get hammered in the first game and then the replay but we took them all the way and so very nearly pulled off what you could argubly call an 'upset'. I'm proud of the team for their fight and spirit but it's a defeat all the same. It's not as if we're going to play them next season to try and get one back over them FFS. We haven't made the quarter-finals of the F.A. Cup since 1993 and that were the season Blackburn had a great 3 - 3 draw at Crystal Palace on the opening day - it's that far back - and had we won tonight we would have played Fleetwood at home and great chance of making it again after three decades away. That's a major reason for hurt and anguish tonight. I can see why you don't like them. We HOPE to join Blackburn Rovers in the Championship next August but with us, It's too many disappointments and missed opportunity. IF we go up, tonight will have been forgotten about, but that defeat just now kind of hurts. Got to be proud of the team one last time.

Sorry to intrude, hope people are keeping well on your fans forum. Difficult times isn't it, or frustrating would be more suitable for it. Had to look at the Championship league table to see where Rovers are. Bit like us outside chance of a play-off place but in truth you'd have a better chance up there than ourselves of seeing a promotion anytime soon. Hoped to be back in the same league a few months back and posting again / discussing games and that, but feel it's going to be something of a long wait. We have voted to play out our remaining games in the Championship but it's pointless really, there was / is no chance of promotion after falling away from a very promising start. 64,000 dollar question remains when does action get underway again. Being fed a whole lot of misguided information about what to expect and dates pencilled in for a restart but seems a very slow if not confusing process. Not missing it to be honest, after all following Town the last ten years can hardly be described as a pleasure but feels strange without the weekly interaction on our fans pages win lose or draw as would all other club sites you'd imagine. So much uncertainty out there right now best advice just hang in there and follow guidelines, there has to be a resolution sooner or later.

I know it's a bit late in the day for post game reaction but here's my tuppence worth. First of all that was a disappointing number we took up, I expected a few more to make the journey. Lambert went on record as saying he'll pay for 50 of our fans to travel up, for all I know that may just have been all we took today. Didn't see the game and missed highlights (Colin Murray's grating whiny voice sounds like seagulls fighting over breadcrumbs on our shed roof and the game was crap by all accounts so no great loss) but read reaction from our TWTD pages and while people accept we're going down they still provide Lambert with a number of plaudits and something on a level not seen since Sir Bobby Robson. Somehow, I don't think he's all that. Scores and performance haven't really improved since he's come in but everyone lies the blame at Paul Hurst's door or if it isn't him it's Marcus Evans or the tearoom assistants. Never seems to be Paul Lambert's fault despite being solely responsible for team selection and "motivating" the players we possess. Came out recently with a "I'll stick with the club even in League One" : I mean what's he supposed to say "I made a mistake coming here and will leave at the soonest opportunity.. ?" Point I'm trying to get across is he's just another manager trying his hand here, you would have had the same thing when Lambert was with Blackburn. Not one to live in the past but seems ridiculous right now we were a hair away from winning the treble at the start of the '80's. There's - or was - a certain pride in supporting this club, we did something incredible for a short time not to mention supplying the English national team with it's two most successful managers but since around 2005 we've been in near total wilderness and rarely have looked like making it back. Biggest concern with me is how long it could take to regain second league status if we fall out this season. We struggle often against lower league opposition so how the hell it's going to be facing these teams on a regular basis over nine months. All the time Marcus Evans hides up his own arse and won't invest in the club and even when he does bother to make a public appearance only comes out with half-hearted disingenuous claptrap. Yes it's a mess and there's an awful lot to do. People talk about being patient but have been just that for around 17 years attempting to make it back to the Premier League. I mean how much patience do you need. Anyway, seems Rovers could still make the top six by end of season. You have some good players that can make that happen and would be some achievement after coming up from League One last summer. As for ourselves that's just where we're headed but in truth it's been looking that way for a good many months (perhaps years) now.

Any news of starting line ups yet ? Both managers appear to be keeping it late to announce their teams. Nice fixture this, Tony Mowbray is a respected figure with us and Lambert after initial doubt is starting to fit in and supporters are taking to him. Paying for fifty of our fans to travel up which is a nice gesture but is he going a bit too far with all this benevolence ? Next thing you know he'll be offering to wash the team strips and fertilise the pitch. ? We're an hour away now and going to be busy this afternoon with other stuff and not going to keep up with scores. Find out what occurred after the game's over and provide opinion on both clubs forums when the time is right. Stats say no Town squad has won away there since 1991 in the League which caught me out but of course think of the time both clubs have been in separate leagues and not able to play each other. 2002 always come to mind when we play you. Blackburn won their last trophy, made a bit of news in the sport, and we ourselves slipped out of the premier league and never (as yet) made it back. Way things are going it could take even longer as we're on the verge of League One right now and therefore we have to beat you today. No other outcome is really going to be of any use. People thinking you'll win by four of five are going to be disappointed, we're not that bad and as before we have a number of new players in that are going to strengthen the team. You'll need a victory to keep in touch with any chance of a top six finish but in truth don't think you'll make it with the points needed and games remaining - whereas we won't stay up for the same reason. Have a good game OK may the best team win. Let's hope it's entertaining with both teams going for it, you never know we just may surprise ourselves.

Sorry about the FA Cup last night. Wanted you to do it, seriously, hoped you'd have a good run and make the later rounds. It's a shame but going to extra time worked in our favour to a small extent as your players only have a short time to rest and we'll be more fresher for when the time arises. Not sure about what to expect. A trip to Blackburn provides some vivid memories such as the 1994 last game escape and winning in the FA Cup soon after when you were League Champions. We'll field some new players that have come in and many seem excited about Lambert (he has written a letter to the fans thanking them for their support and patience) After the rubbish that came before the only way is onwards. Has a tendency to play one up front and hope that is thrown aside for when we visit. I can see it now, Sears Keane or Jackson up front, with Lankester and Quaner to bring on as further options. I'm worried about Dack and Graham as I see them as good players who can cause opposition sides a number of problems but we'll see how it goes. We have to win given our situation, running out of games and points in the weeks ahead. Not saying it'll be easy but I think we can give you a game regardless of our league placing. Probably bring a good number up too. There's something of a feel good factor about the club right now even if the threat of League One hangs over the team like a massive shadow.

Just the result you needed ahead of the Newcastle game in a few days. Incidentally hope you win that day, good luck in the competition. Seriously, hope you can go a long way - although extra time and penalties would be nice (if you win) in order to tire your players for our trip up next weekend. Every point is crucial here now, you wouldn't have been involved in it of course but we beat the mighty Rotherham by a single goal yesterday. In the end it could have gone either way but the three points were huge for us. We're bringing in a number of players right now. No thrills names that could be seen reliable but doubtful they'll prove the difference between safety and a fall into League One by end of season. Up to recently Sears was the best chance of goals, Yes there were others like Jackson, Harrison and Lankester but they were too ineffective for any real mention. Keane and Quaner have recently come in and Alan Judge is on the verge of a move but nothing decided at time of writing. Gerken in goal has his moments and Bialkowski (goal) features less often than before but Lambert is moulding a team together that can hopefully compete. The only worry is it could be seen in League One by August. Some gave up hope of survival after the Accrington mess, yesterday was encouraging, but it only lifted the hopes a little. I'd estimate it's 50/50 whether we'll go down or not. That's why our trip to your ground next weekend is such another pivotal occasion. I saw Blackburns league position on the BBC website. I think you could still reach the play offs with the games remaining but probably finish just outside. Like ourselves you may just have left things a little late this season or accomplishments may just be out of reach but there's still enough time for things to occur. Incidentally would have liked to see Dack or Graham come in to us during the recent transfer activities but you realise it was unlikely to happen. Just see them as good players that can win teams games and something of a valuable commodity to have on board.

That late goal must have hurt but we've been on the wrong end of them too often in recent years, it was nice to have it for ourselves and deny the opposition for a change. I'm guessing there must have been some random profanities, curses and rolling of eyes when that second goal arrived. I'm not wrong am I ? Never mind, crap happens so they say and once again we've had enough instances of being in that situation. Perhaps a point each was eventually fair regardless of how it eventually arrived. Opening day always seem to be tough, you never know quite what to expect and there's always some players too eager to make an impression (particularly new signings) and errors will arise and focus isn't always maintained, I think we were both guilty of that this afternoon. I'm not hoping for much this season, whether it's Paul Hurst, Jock Stein or Bob Paisley in charge of team affairs from now on, the fact remains our squad is nowhere near good enough to compete with other more prepared clubs of this division, add to that the "minor concern" of an owner who doesn't seem to want to bring any exciting names in / invest properly in the team. Sure we have some new players in, but who are these kids ? Nearly "all" I've never even heard of. I don't think this is a solution to a long-standing problem. So, now today is done with and we look back on what might have been, a draw seems fair. Obviously both would have wanted the three point start but beggars can't be choosers. Hope those who made it down had a safe journey back, took some time to sample the Town during their visit. At the end of the day (in the true literal sense) both clubs came away with something, wasn't the best start for either but honours even, I think we'll take it.