Good spirit and we were certainly lucky with some of the Watford misses. It was a better performance than I was expecting and an end to end game. My starting XI ratings: Pears 8 - Made some assured saves and couldn't do much about the goal. A few more parries than I would like but he's really come along lately. He probably deserves to keep the gloves for now and I never, ever thought I would say that. JRC 6 - Playing well lately but not his best game. He caused trouble for our goal and tried hard against pace but made some clumsy errors in possession. Carter 9 - Solid as a rock, maybe the best performance I've seen from him. A classy last ditch clearance by him when a Watford player was in on goal. Wharton 6 - I'm just not so convinced with Wharton this season and he's very clumsy with the ball too often for my liking. Pickering 6 - No clangers but not much more. Morton 4 - Anonymous. Travis 8 - Hard working, made some great challenges, ran box to box and led by example. Back to form thankfully as we need some steel in the middle. I want to see him and A Wharton have a run together as soon as possible. Dack 8 - As has been the case for the last couple of months, excellent closing down and he made some classy touches. Great composure for the goal and unlucky to have another chalked off for offside. I wouldn't have taken him off as he is out only goal threat right now. Deserves a new contract. Thomas 7 - looked a threat but no end product today. Well worth a place in the team though, he offers a different outlet and threat. Dolan 8 - Excellent closing down and hassling, some tidy touches and passes. I'm a fan and feel he deserves a place in the team, think he has earned it after today. Brereton 1 - Did less than nowt. Shame.

Full match now on RoversTV for those that have it. Might need to watch it on fast forward based on Parsons account of events!

Short highlights are on YouTube: https://youtu.be/TgBXo2zDN9s Edit - I've been conned, it's some FIFA gameplay instead 🙄

Agreed. I've had to make a real effort to detach myself from them while still being a passionate fan of the club. It's been a strain and I still get the venkys flare-ups more often than I would like...

He covered for big Sam while he underwent a surgical procedure too if I remember correctly and we did well for those few games. Excellent commentary from him, passionate, enthusiastic and knowledgeable.

Travis having a good game according Macdonald "a rat in the middle of the pitch"

O'Brien will be a fantastic signing. I'll hold my hands up I did not see that one happening. Worth noting that he's a leftie and seems decent drifting out wide on occasions. I think he will link up very well with Brereton.

Dack causing the problems but we were almost caught on the counter. Pears playing very well and making some crucial saves.

There we have it, the focus of the club is not on the play offs. Makes me wonder why I bother watching, as my incentive to go is to see us win football matches and that clearly isn't the aim here. Sick of it.

You're spot on here, a minority certainly won't be seen as a single person when that statement is read by those not at the game or even those not nearby to the incident that took place. Yet again it is an example of Waggott not giving a flying fuck about the fanbase that are the very core of this club. It he cared about the fans, valued the fanbase and dare I say even felt a part of it there is no way those words would be used. However, his remit appears to be to slowly breakdown the entire fanbase one straw at a time and if that is the case, he is truly doing a sterling job.

Gasping, dying, but somehow still alive. This is the final stand...

Is Markanday injured?

Same 11 please. Just had a look and I don't think Luton have won at home yet, including in the cup against Newport. 0-2. Brereton and Hedges

What a wasted opportunity for packed stadiums to pay their respects together before kicking off with one of our oldest traditional sports. And yet I've not been given a day off work, just a less enjoyable weekend.

What a joy to watch from the goal onwards. Adam Wharton, if that was a new signing that cost us £10m and was 26 I'd be raving. He's 18! What a debut and what a player. I can't wait to see how far he can go. JDT is a real breath of fresh air. I've not felt this happy, proud and optimistic for Rovers for a while!

Really happy with the Hirst signing. Exactly the type of prospect we should be looking at. He can't be a BBD replacement however if Ben ends up being sold!

That's 2 and 1/2 poor performances in the last 3 league games. Worrying. We look blunt and unimaginative. Something needs to happen to get a reaction. Adam Wharton was a real silver lining though. Wonderful passing and wasn't afraid to get involved. He should be starting the next game based on that performance along with his league Cup efforts.

Thanks Chaddy. Interesting read, apparently nobody had talked to Vale about attacking play until JDT arrived. Thank goodness we now have some proper staff in place, I just hope we keep hold of them by providing the support needed within the transfer market.

Not what I take from that at all. Sounds like JDT would love to keep him if possible, as would I.

GB not JDT. Like everyone here, chuffed to get out first signing and feeling a lot more positive than I had been, looks like it just took a little time to get the plan underway and to knock over the first domino.

I hate the sponsor and for that reason am not ordering the home and away kits but that 3rd kit is brilliant imo.

Rcb could be his position within a back 5.

Only highlights but looks to have good instinct and composure. Almost Dack-esque.

These guys specifically https://eppglobal.com/

To the tune of Sven Sven Sven Goran Eriksen but just shout Jon Jon Jon Dahl Tomasson. Job done! For what it's worth, everything has been said but what a refreshing appointment both he and Broughton appear to be.