M_B

Massive game to set the tone for the rest of the season. Being the early game, a win would not only give us a 6 point gap over the next 3 teams, it would also close the gap to Sheff Utd to 6 points, then sit back and see what happens. Have to win this one.

The squad balance is looking perfect for what Tomasson was brought in for. The cull of last season has enabled him to give our own youngsters game time in the cup games, rather than having to give older squad players the game time. There's no doubt this has resulted in better Cup performances, I'm struggling to think of even 1 older player who has been left out of either league squad or cup squad,yet the Cup teams have been largely made up of academy players. Far from leaving us light on numbers, that cull has been the perfect situation for Tomasson, leaving him a young, hungry squad whilst still leaving him room to add his own signings( with very mixed results). If JDT and GB can pull out a couple of rabbits, we'll be in a great position to continue a play off push during the second half of the season.

The performances over the last three games have definitely improved, helped by playing the better players and a consistent line up. As for results, the main difference between earlier in the season and now is the finishing, or lack of it. Morton has to score at Sunderland, if he does, we're probably 3 points better off. Off the pitch we need a rallying call, not a white flag

No, I know, that's why I replied how I did to the original comment. You've replied to the follow up. I'm absolutely sick of reading how every decision Tomasson makes is compared to what Mowbray did or what he might have done, it's completely irrelevant and what's more, it's pathetic. On tonight, it's about time the club woke up to the fact that this might be the best chance in ages to reach the play offs. They need to wake up and smell it. One poster has already said he can't be arsed going tonight because of what's being served up. When the management are coming out with defeatist interviews like the ones yesterday, is it any wonder Waggott struggles selling tickets?

I'm not bothered whether it was Mowbray or not, just pointing out that the Burnley line up this season was a lot worse than the two decisions mentioned. It's Tomasson's team, that line up was nothing to do with Mowbray, let him manage Sunderland.

Those playing decisions pale into insignificance compared to the disaster that was the Burnley line up.

Doesn't matter which team plays, it's gonna take 3 windows before we've any chance of doing anything. Even though we're 3rd and have as much chance of a play off place as at least 10 more teams, the white flag has been hoisted for this season.

I'm not keen on all this 3 transfer window talk. For a start, it isn't Tomasson's remit to buy success, even if there was any money to spend, supposedly he's here to maximise the academy and improve the players we have. Obviously, there will be transfers in, but to say any future success hinges on it contradicts the picture painted by himself and Broughton. We're in a great league position, the management should not be writing off this season already, they should be gearing up for a big push, not laying out the excuses.

Quite looking forward to it. It's always the same at these matches, if it's close you forget how many/few are on and just concentrate on the game. Their fans won't know the ins and outs at Ewood, they'll just see that we're 3rd and they're low down in the Prem. From the outside, it's a potential upset.

Welcome back Harry Pickering, we attack and defend with much more balance when he plays. I don't think last night's massively improved performance with him back in the side was a coincidence. Let's hope he stays fit.

All he had to do was play the settled 10/11 at Burnley. It imploded from the point that he made that ridiculous selection. It was all bobbing along nicely until Tomasson experimented in the one game you don't experiment. Football suicide. Get back to a settled defence with players in their proper position, rather than this vanity, and we may get some consistency going.

Wanting the manager out yet wanting your team to win aren't conducive, you don't get both at once. That's the situation a lot of fans who wanted Mowbray out found themselves in, getting satisfaction from a Rovers defeat. Perversely, as you say, there seems to be a similar situation growing against Tomasson. I don't quite get the"told you so" brigade on either side of the argument. I'd happily be wrong every day of the week if it meant we'd won.

Or at least start with a proper defence, I ask you, who experiments at Burnley????

The back 5 should have picked itself today. Playing Brittain on the left was never going to work. It blunts his own attacking threat and Brereton's who always plays better with Pickering behind him. Throw into the mix giving Mola a start, and you've got an unbalanced, experimental defence on the one day you DON'T experiment. Can't believe he did that today.

That's because you've still got your Premier league plastics who don't even know who Kevin Ball is. You'll shake em off eventually.

Great win, 11 changes with 5 academy players in the starting line up and 3 on the bench. Pleased for Vale to notch, and Hirst to put his penalty away, but how must Szmodics have felt taking his?

Don't think they can broadcast dab commentary on the phone

I'd be amazed if it isn't a back 3/5. It gives us another centre half at attacking set pieces as well. There may well be a "who has the longest throw" competition in training this week.

I'll bet Pickering is glad it's Travis' turn this week.

I watched the back end of West Ham's game in Europe in midweek. They ended up with quite a few young uns on the pitch and the commentator said they might expect to play against Rovers. If it turns out to be a glorified under 21's match, it might give us a sniff.

Exactly right, and only possible because of the signing of Hyam alongside Ayala.

If we're defending that cricket field end goal and Ayala gets any deeper, he might end up at fine leg.

Don't really care how we won today, it just needed winning. Bring em on

I know we all have our own opinion, but I don't really know how anyone could watch the match last night and not think that Gallagher might have helped the team. Brereton plays better with Pickering behind him.

Poor decision the second yellow, as confirmed by the Burnley commentator,to go with the Ince debacle on Saturday. They're finding a way to win, but they're definitely vulnerable to the break. Should be intriguing.