That’s the guy. He was seriously rapid.

I can see the logic behind Mowbray’s thinking, it was like having a fourth centre half in front of the normal three.

I remember watching that Bournemouth team. They were really good at that level. They had two flying wingers, Harry Redknapp ( yes, that Harry, he could play ) and a lad called Alan Groves who was amazing. He had it all but he could be a bit naughty. Should have played at top level. He later moved to Blackpool after a spell at Oldham. He died very young of a heart attack just after signing for Blackpool, during a bout of horizontal jogging allegedly.

Yes, one aspect of club policy that as actually improved.

Don’t forget Torquay.

I’ve seen them several times at Rochdale in the old Div 4.

Last night was Gallagher’s best game for quite a while.

And Fred scored a hat trick on his debut for Everton. Next game up - Rovers at Ewood, Everton won 2-1.

I think they took Khadra off because he’d got a slight injury. He’d gone on a long sprint almost immediately after the restart.

Yes that’s what makes the system work.

Tell him he was playing for us last night. ‘Boro weren’t quite at the races after the re start.

He’s not a Premier League player unless we’re talking Norwich. He’s not consistent enough. Great one game, very quiet the next.

No rational management would sell a key player in the position we find ourselves in but the Chokers aren’t rational.

I thought Connolly was lucky to stay on after the elbow. I’ve seen plenty get the early go at the bath water for incidents like that. Van Hecke heads it more than he kicks it. I could see him doing a Colin Hendrey diving onto the ground for a headed pass. Khadra is all pace and no brains I’m afraid, his decision making is terrible.

I think they might accept that offer.

Wells, Leach and Ratcliffe all ended up playing for my adopted town team of Rochdale. They did a Fred Pickering with Wells and moved him to centre forward from fullback. He started scoring goals for fun in the reserves and he was on the verge of getting picked to play there in the first team when he broke his leg. He never played again after that.

Roy Boy in at Watford apparently.

That’s a bit naughty. They beat us and Bournemouth in the last two games.

Zeefuik came on for Buckley.

I thought they’d seen us get bullied at Hull and thought they’d try it themselves. Tonight we stood up to it and fought fire with fire. Nobody took a backward step.

That was excellent. We played most of our football in the first half and defended for our lives in the second half. That was the most committed Rovers performances I’ve seen for a while. Some of it wasn’t pretty but it was a performance full of guts. Win, lose or draw that’s all I ever ask. We rode our luck at times but last week we got none. I didn’t see this coming but what do I know about football !

We’ll see how we’re fixed for team spirit tonight. It’s games like this that shows what’s beating under the badge. Win, lose or draw I expect us to give it our best shot.

Pears can.

Me too. What does he have to do to get a game ?

Maybe he’s got Covid ?