Can see why the ref didn't give them the penalty shout. The direction of the ball suggested Hedges got a touch on it. The angle from behind the goal shows he didn't though and we got lucky. What a strike by Diaz though. Absolute quality. It's been quite an even half. Feel like Wharton has seen way too much of the ball. All our midfield 3 seem to favour being central or slightly to the right and its leaving him with only one outball in Brittain. Garrett has been decent but I'd like to see Adam Wharton on at half time. He'd drop into that space more naturally and give more balance. Touching on our summer recruitment. The two defensive players in Brittain and Hyam are fantastic.

It was good to see what Gallagher can do when played central. I also think he benefited from being central with a strike partner in Diaz. His lack of technical quality does mean that he can struggle even when played centrally if he's on his own. He needs other players close to him. The formation yesterday needs to be persisted with. Gally and Diaz up top and personally I can even see Dack slotting in there too as part of a 2 with the instructions to stick close to his strike partner. Not that we'll ever see that mind since he's seemingly being frozen out.

He's been poor this season but step forward John Buckley. Could it be that Buckley is suffering from not having a midfield partner who is better on the ball now that Rothwell has left? I'd be very keen to see a midfield 3 of Buckley, Morton and Wharton. Our 3 most comfortable ball players all of whom are capable of incisive forward passes. Those 3 in the middle I could really see us dominating games and creating chances. Gally and Diaz up top. Brittain on the right Pickering on the left. One other thing that has stood out for me. What a signing Dom Hyam has been. He's an outstanding defender, so reliable and holds our back 3 together.

After Szmodics performance last night and judging by the comments on here and social media you're vastly outnumbered in your support of JDT not playing Dack. I don't live locally so can't attend many games but I'm certain fans in the ground are asking the same questions.

The main things I remember from JDTs first press conferences were he wanted to incorporate 2 things into our style of play. 1. Moving the ball quickly from back to front. He said possession was important, but it had to be of the useful kind and not possession for possessions sake. 2. He wanted his teams to press from the front and be high energy off the ball. Winning it back quickly. This style is very Klopp at Dortmund. Gegenpressing I think the Germans called it. I'm not expecting us to be a Klopp like team but those 2 basic principles he outlined from the off. I am seeing neither. The style I'm witnessing him try to incorporate is the exact opposite of those principles. It's right that questions are being asked.

Unprofessional and arrogant from Morton. That wasn't having the ball knicked off of you. He had about 4 touches. It was an arrogance of feeling he's all the time in the world. Owes an apology.

Szmodics has been the worst player on the pitch. With him central, nothing is sticking. I don't know what has happened to the so called JDT press. Every time Wigan have had it we've dropped off. Even from a short goal kick from their keeper. We aren't pressing at all!

Again I'm talking about what I would like to see, which I stated in my initial reply so I'm not sure why you referred back to Dack not being favoured by JDT. That's very clear. My personal opinion, one that I believe is shared by many, is that Dack hasn't been given a fair crack since JDT came in. I'm certain he still has plenty to offer. And as I stated in my first message, if limited to 60 minutes per game, yes I do think he could do a sufficient job pressing. It's not his biggest strength, but he offers so much in the rest of his game that it makes no sense to freeze him out.

I'm not talking about where JDT sees Dack. I'm talking about what I would like to see and what I think would be best for Rovers.

Agree that it gives the potential for us to be swamped in midfield. Only hesitation is when playing 4 at the back we seem more vulnerable to the press as our centre backs aren't good enough on the ball and have one less option. I'd be tempted to stick with 5 at the back. One option is Hedgea at Rwb instead of Brittain. As he gives flexibility of a tactical switch to a back 4 if we're really struggling after 20 minutes.

I'd like to see Dack starting in the 10 position and come off around the 60 minute mark for Szmodics. Give Dacky a decent run in the side and he will be a threat and score goals. Manage his game time in that way and he knows he only has to bust a gut for an hour rather than the full 90. Szmodics against tiring legs in the second half would be a thorn in the sides of defenders. Szmodics and Dack have something to offer together. My main frustration is when we've not seen Szmodics it's not been Dack replacing him but a combination of Hedges/Dolan/Formation switches.

Agree that it's amazing Mowbray didn't want to use him. For me utility players can 'do a job' in a number of positions. Hedges however is one of our top 3 players on the pitch, every game, no matter the position. He's such an intelligent and consistent player.

Dack may not be able to press like Dolan. And obviously that doesn't fit into the JDT philosophy. But he's the most intelligent player in our squad. Every time he's on the pitch he gets himself into dangerous positions. I agree he's not been given a fair crack of the whip.

I had no faith in Hirst scoring the penalty. But everyone saying he was awful is a little harsh. I felt he showed a couple of nice touches towards the end.

We've been awful. But make no mistake, the referee cost us that game. He should be demoted after that.

Sorry but that's an absolute stone wall penalty on Gallagher. He's taken him out

Travis will have to be careful second half after that yellow. Thought the ref handled things quite well until the harsh yellow on their striker and then feeling the need to even it up.

Everybody is scarred by the words project and journey after Mowbray. But that's only because he'd get grumpy, stamp on his compass half way and change direction. I've never known somebody shift the goalposts as much as he did. The reality is though we are on a journey and I'm not sure what else anybody can expect. JDT summed it up perfectly by saying he wants immediate success but he has to be realistic. I'm happy with the signals coming out the club. And the hope is that, should JDT not last 3 years, then we have continuity in Broughton who can bring in another manager of a similar style, rather than tearing up the script and starting from scratch.

The idea that we have essentially paid a £10m loan fee for Brereton completely ignores the January transfer window. I could still easily see a Premier League club panicking and offering £10m even though he's only got 6 months left on his contract. The difference between relegation and survival means the lines get blurred between the potential fee and length of contract. We could easily still recoup a decent fee. The big risk however is he has attracted overseas interest and sign a pre-contract.

Also if Tuchel wasn't seen as a long term solution and this was planned. Why loan Lukaku, you're most expensive all time signing out to Inter Milan when he's in the prime of his career. Admittedly Lukaku was crap last year and he could have done more. But he also didn't fit into the system Tuchel was trying to play.

Or he'll do a good job, and at the first blip of form end up sacked. Everyone scratches their head as to why Chelsea have dispensed of a good manager and he'll be primed as Southgates replacement.

It could be JDT trying a different form of man management. I don't doubt that he meant what he said, but the need for it to be said so conclusively in the press, to me suggests it's designed to really highlight just how far away JRC is, to try and illicit a response. I think he's an intelligent player, his technique isn't bad either. What he does do is read the game very well in an attacking sense. The thing which let's him down is his complete lack of physicality. Injuries haven't helped, however there's nothing to stop him from bulking up a bit when recovering from a hamstring injury. But he's never done it. Reading between the lines now, but I do think there's a bit of arrogance in his own ability. I remember him putting off signing a contract for a long time. So I think publicly telling him how far away he is, firmly puts the ball in his court. Its now or never. Put in the graft fitness wise and he could eventually have a future.

Diaz still has a clumsy element to his game. I'm sure things like this are what make some clubs doubt his ability and whether he was worth the investment this summer just gone. What I think they have missed is the mentality of the guy. Its why I have faith he'll be a success at a higher level. We've all seen his rise, he's overcome his own self doubts and consistently he doesn't hide. His exploits with Chile showed that. Even if he moves to a Premier League club and struggles, he strikes me as a person who will always find a way, whether that were in football or elsewhere. And I'm sure we'd see, 6 or 12 months down the line, a very good Premier League player. My opinion is he's a top player and a top bloke, both likable but with a gritty determination not often seen in todays game.

That was a disgusting challenge on Gallagher. Resulting in us playing with Ayala up front. Amazingly Lockyer was actually given a yellow card for it. Ref just made it up on the spot after not seeing the incident. It was either not seen or a straight red.

He's a good lad. Enjoy him while he's here. Might as well offer the contract. Probs won't sign it. But I've good faith he'll give his all for us whilst in a rovers shirt.