Admiral Nelsen

His biggest flaw for me. He's definitely worth persevering with in my view, despite being a bit up or down so far, but if he doesn't get tighter in defending against his man, he'll never make a full back at this level.

Wonder if this could backfire for Norwich. Would be surprised if they get a deduction and the last they need is to give Leeds a siege mentality.

They are. Leyland at 7pm https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/rovers/news/17372067.rovers-u23s-face-must-win-game-against-sheffield-united/

Agree, but then again he's also looked better than Rodwell other than the last 2 games, and Lenihan has been top drawer since the new year. Genuinely have no idea how to best accommodate this without a change of system, could finally be the opportunity for Mowbray to go back to three at the back?

That really was a fabulous bit of skill. Unlucky that he didn't get a goal or assist to mark his contribution, but his introduction definitely gave the whole team a lift. Not really a dig at Palmer at all, as they have totally different styles, but it's made me even more certain that it's no great loss if it means more opportunities for Rothwell.

Reports from the North East that Boro aren't playing Downing as if gets one more appearance, it triggers an improvement in his contract and Boro are looking to reduce the wage bill. Looking at the current top 6, I'd say Boro are looking the one with the most potential to drop out of the pack for us to target.

Great post. Agree with pretty much al of it, only caveat would be BB's being the youngest, as well the most expensive but don't want to turn this into another BB thread when the other is over 100 pages! On Nutall, I'm delighted that he's forced his way into the team, and has got hi goals. Having said that I'm still sceptical about his chances of becoming a long term fixture for a side who wants to get promoted, even as an impact sub, but even if that turns out to be true, I'd say we've already got our money's worth from a very low risk signing. Rothwell's second half yesterday has shown that, when on form, he really does have absolutely everything to be a devestating player. Going to be some challenge to turn his cameo appearences into something a bit more consistent, but when it happens for him, I think it could happen all at once. Potential Dack replacement if he leaves over the next 18 months.

Great to see the progression in recent weeks.Hopefully banishing any suggestion that league one is his level. Scoring goals, setting up goals, but increasingly making the right decisions in general play. He's been pretty unlucky with some finishes at Ewood this season too. Just over a million quid is looking like a great bit of business in today's market.

Partial co-incidence, in my view. Quality of the teams we played in December probably had more to do with it. That said, I rate Bennett a lot. The tricky part is getting him in a position where we can make the most of his strengths. The best performance I remember from him this season was I think Brentford at home, where he played at number 10 and his engergy and drive rubbed off on the whole team. Clearly, he isn't going to replace Dack, so he's probably going to be somewhere on the right. Personally, I'd have him on the wing with Nyambe at the back when everyone's fit. Given that Nyambe's had hamstring issues and played big minutes midweek, think the lineup yesterday was right, but going forward I'd rather have Bennett on the wing.

Not enormously different from the better days under Bowyer. Main ones being that I think there's more evidence that Mowbray can be the man to take us further. More importantly, he's clearly taken the time to sort out the structures at the club, in terms of recruitment etc. Would echo others, you can never be sure what's round the corner with Venkys, but we feel like a normal football club, and we have a team and manager to be proud of.

Seeing him breaking out into sprints deep into extra time was an absolute joy. Some engine on him, that boy.

Don't forget this boy

Looked like Dack and Reed were struggling at times during extra time. Small mercy that it was on a Tuesday not a Wednesday. Not as confident as I would've been a few weeks ago, but still expect three points. Mulgrew returning should make a big difference.

Fair. My point is just that if we're saying return of Smallwood = Rovers have lost again, we should at least be losing when he was on the pitch. I thought he did well, but in any case, I think tonight has summed up where we are quite nicely. This team isn't ready yet, but there are signs that several of them could compete given time and a few of the right additions.

True enough, although in his defence the 2 winning goals went in after he was brought off! Richie was a candidate for MoM today, and whilst Travis has easily done enough to keep his jersey, Smallwood has shown that reports of his uselessness have been exaggerated!

Not disputing that we've had too much of a soft underbelly. Newcastle are a poor side at the top level, but we're not at that level. Matt Ritchie is an attacking player which would easily get into any Championship team. Murphy would walk into the vast majority of Championship first XIs. Joselu will be earning comfortably more than any of our team. Also, talking about tonight, we conceded 2 goals in 90 minutes. One of those was enormously unlucky. Pathetic is a massive exaggeration.

We conceded 2 in 90 minutes. One of those was an enormous deflection. There were a couple of times when the defending was not good enough, especially for their second, but there's no need to exaggerate. If we're talking about reserves, how about the fact that we only had one first team central defender available?

Quite right. Just realised that after viewing the page for the fourth time! But it's a disgrace that there's no Flowers option!

In a better team, certainly. Time plays tricks on you, but I genuinely remember thinking towards the end of his time at Rovers that you could make a case that Brad was the best in the prem era after Schmeichel. I don't remember Lehmann having a too much of a stellar time at Arsenal, even though he was in a great team.

Rovers twitter say he's ill. No idea whether to believe that or not.

Partial update: Dack, Rodwell & Downing all ill, apparently. As far as one believes that, explains Nyambe at centre back. Got everything crossed for Brereton tonight. Happy to play the long game with him, but he could obviously do with showing some of what he's got in his locker tonight.

I can only see Nyambe at centre half, played there before a few times. Also, a back three would involve Bell playing there, which while I think he's had a bit of unfair press of late, doesn't bare thinking about.

Not having that Lehmann should be an option instead of Brad either.

Even sat in the dressing room with his cheek faced away from the coach so he didn't clock how bad the injury was and bring him off. Hard as nails. Back to the football, this could come back to bite me, but I really think that we'll do them tonight. Without Shelvey, I'm not convinced they have that much more than us on paper, and everything coming out of St James' suggests that they're simply not that bothered. We score first and how much are they going to want to get back in it, with potential extra time? 3-0 Rovers