I wish.

Agnew was going to be a top player but he got injured almost as soon as he arrived. Same with Jimmy Kerr back in the early 1970’s. We were going to build a team around both of them and they got career ending injuries almost as soon as they pulled on the shirt. Youri Djorkaeff- I remember him scoring a brilliant volley for us in one game that was ruled out because another player was off side. Retired from the game at about 21. What about Martin Britt ? Brilliant as a youth player at West Ham. He marmalised Liverpool’s “ hard man “ Tommy Smith in the youth cup final scoring a hat trick. Came to Rovers with a knee problem, he could only jump off one leg ! We were desperate for strikers so we signed him. Played a dozen games without a goal. Just one in the very long line of Fred Pickering replacements that weren’t. We could have bought Fred twice over with what we spent on replacements. At the same time we let his natural replacement, John Byrom, go to Bolton for a song. Bobby Moore reckoned Byrom was the second most difficult opponent he ever played against. I think Pele must have been No 1.

They missed out the 1 before the 6. That’s got to be the starting point.

As usual I’ll wait and see who goes where today before making my mind up. All I know is games in this division are only easy once you’ve done the hard work that makes them easy. The first goal seems to be more important to us than any other team. Score first and we’re a force to be reckoned with, go behind and it’s another story altogether.

Going off past performances we won’t be seeing Ayala again this year never mind this Saturday.

You can only double up, or treble up as we saw last night, on players at teams were there isn’t another major threat. We knew Bowler was their principal danger man and we had plans to nullify him. When you come up against the better teams with several attacking threats then it’s not so easy and your defenders have to be able to win the head to head contests on an individual basis.

I’d have wondered what our guy was doing trying to wrestle the opposing centre half to the ground. I don’t have blue and white eyes but I honestly didn’t see that as a pen.

Wasn’t it Gary Tallon ?

Not sure about the penalty mate, what was our guy supposed to do with a Sumo Wrestler ? Six of one, half a dozen of the other to me. The derbies should be good - our home boys versus your foreign legion.

Replacing BBD with a like for like player won’t be easy unless there’s a player in Europe they have their eye on. Not many strikers can run with the ball from deep like he does. Lots can run after the ball, not many can run with it. If he does go we may have to come up with a more direct way of playing.

That was my concern at kick off time. The game was going to be won by whoever got a grip of the middle of the park. Our young lads didn’t let us down. I’d like us to start games like we’re already a goal up in future.

I’d feel better about it if we had more than 24 hours to find a replacement.

Trying it on.

Great result. I feared the worst when I saw the line up. Having to chop and change all the time makes life difficult. When everybody's fit again JDT will have a headache.

I worry about the two kids in centre midfield. It’ll be won or lost there.

I wish he was playing tonight.

Exactly. I know it’s not his best position but when we need some presence up the front he needs to put his hand up.

He’s not the best player at the club when he’s on the treatment table.

Where are they though ? One’s a sick note, another one is a teenager, Wharton has had his share of injuries and Carter has just come back from one. So tonight we have a young lad back from injury and a new starter with a kid on the bench. Matt Woods played centre half for us for about 6 seasons and the only time he went missing was when he got suspended.

You can guarantee he’ll go missing. Especially when he’s needed the most.

It’s hard to paint a different picture.

If that line up doesn’t get changed again at half time I’ll be surprised.

We can’t keep chopping and changing like this and expect results. I mean Dolan up front, really ? I’d take a draw now.

I’ll wait whilst I see the team but I’m expecting a weakened side turning out tonight. We’ve been beyond unlucky with injuries. I’m wondering when we’ll be able to field our best 11.

I’ve heard of centre halves who’s knees were that bad they couldn’t train indoors. They still turned out every game though. It’s not like Ayala misses the odd game. He gets injuries out of nowhere and then he goes missing for months.