I missed it too and didn't want to slaughter him for something I hadn't seen. His general play provides more than enough ammunition for that.

Disagree with you about Mahon. He flatters to deceive and is somewhat lightweight. You're spot on about Todd and Greer though. I can't decide exactly what Todd's natural level would be and cannot understand what Souness ever saw in him. Thankfully, Souness doesn't make many mistakes. Todd is most certainly one of them. I still feel Stig has something to offer the first team. Namely that he is a natural left-back who can actually defend, even if his distribution leaves something to be desired.

Cheers Glenn.

Blackburn Reserves recorded only their third win of the season against a young and inexperienced Birmingham at Christie Park. Rovers took an early lead inside ten minutes from the boot of the impressive Jon Douglas, playing at right-back. Alan Mahon made it two on the half hour mark with a sweetly struck left-footed shot. Rovers dominated the first half, but Birmingham came back into the game in the second and scored a deserved consolation goal to make the final score 2:1. Ciccio Grabbi looked disinterested and it was no surprise to see him substituted in the second half. Sadly, Matt Jansen still looks a shadow of his former self and failed to sparkle. Stig Bjornebye's performance will have undoubtedly pleased the management. He looked very sharp and must be pushing for a first team appearance. Keith Gillespie worked hard and clearly had a point to prove following his well-publicised spat with Alan Murray. Neil Danns again caught the eye with his industry and skill in midfield.

Most of their players looked under 17 too! Don't spoil it though, a win's a win;-}

Against a very inexperienced Bradford team, Rovers strolled through to an easy 3-0 victory. Wearing Morecambe's kit (apparently theirs had been sent up to Glasgow by mistake) Rovers dominated proceedings throughout. Craig Hignett looked the best player on show by some distance. Pelzer and Curtis looked good out wide going forward but had little to do defensively. Andy Todd must have been pleased to find himself with so little to do. I think Marc Richards scored 2 of the goals with Jimmy Corbett scoring the third. I was put off by the Morecambe shirts and names on the backs! Memo to reserve coach Alan Murray: Can we wear Morecambe's kit again?

So we are being told porkies then?

The BBC Sport Online chief football writer Phill McNulty picks his combined 'best of' team today. I'm sure his team will provide a bit of debate on here: GOALKEEPER BRAD FRIEDEL No contest - thanks mainly to the outstanding form of Blackburn's American keeper, who was brilliant again at Arsenal. Celtic's Rab Douglas is not in his class, and his image south of the border was not helped by his blundering in the recent Old Firm draw with Rangers. DEFENDERS LUCAS NEILL Under-stated Australian who is regarded by boss Graeme Souness as one of his brightest young players. Tipped to emerge as a central defender, but can play at right-back. JOOS VALGAEREN Powerful Belgian defender, who is an important part of Celtic's game plan under Martin O'Neill. He missed the World Cup because of an ankle injury, but will prove a tough opponent for Blackburn's potent attack. HENNING BERG Hugely experienced Norwegian who has fought his way back into Blackburn's team. Sampled Premiership success in England with both Blackburn and Manchester United. Will be vital in the hot-house Parkhead atmosphere. ULRIK LAURSEN The Dane would fill what might be regarded as a problem left-back position in this united team. Shrewd signing by Martin O'Neill. MIDFIELD NEIL LENNON Lennon can fill the right side of midfield, although Blackburn's David Thompson is more than a match currently. He was a prized signing by O'Neill when he lured him from Leicester and will be highly-regarded by Blackburn. STILIAN PETROV Hugely gifted Bulgarian who will pose a massive threat to Blackburn and has been making a powerful case for inclusion in this line-up. DAVID DUNN Celtic fans may clamour for Paul Lambert's inclusion, but Dunn is a hard-running and skilful modern midfielder who is performing to the highest level in the Premiership. He is regarded as a future England regular. DAMIEN DUFF Brilliant young winger who will hope to overcome injury to play. Celtic's Alan Thompson has claims, but in reality Duff is the better bet. STRIKERS HENRIK LARSSON Automatic choice. A Parkhead legend and rightly so. The English cynics question whether he would be as prolific in the Premiership. Maybe not as prolific - but certainly a success. ANDY COLE Tough call with Dwight Yorke and Chris Sutton to choose from, but he is a man for the big occasion - and he has sampled enough of them. MANAGER GRAEME SOUNESS Bound to be a controversial choice, but Souness enjoyed the sort of massive success in Scotland that has had Martin O'Neil hailed as a miracle worker at Celtic - and more besides. Souness also won the Worthington Cup last season at Blackburn, repeating another O'Neill feat. He has won trophies at Liverpool and Galatasaray, and has proved his maturity as a manager with his team-building at Blackburn, where he won promotion and got them into the Uefa Cup.

Marvellous, Rovers pass up a worthwhile allocation just so Celtic can put the tickets on open sale. (And yes, the Club) have usually got it right in recent times) On a more general theme the fact a "major" Club like Celtic has to put tickets on open sale just to try and ensure a sell out speaks volumes. We're not selling out at Ewood yet it's easier for the occasional fan to get into Fort Knox than it is to get into a category A game. We have to start taking a slightly more relaxed view towards ticket sales if we're going to fill Ewood. We can't keep going on about Man City for ever. And, whilst I'm not entirely in favour of the idea, I can't understand how it can be acceptable for a club like Celtic to put tickets on open sale but not apparently Blackburn Rovers. (Talking in general not for the second leg) I'm sure many people share your frustration Revidge and after my terrible miscalculation on ticket sales for Parkhead may I now join you in thinking we have somehow been shafted. But we've been shafted by Celtic and not Blackburn Rovers As for the home game surely you understand Celtic are one of the best supported clubs in the world and infiltration would be on a massive scale if tickets went on open sale for the game at Ewood. The club are certainly not hiding behind the City fiasco alone. Man Utd, Liverpool and Bolton have all had a good numbers of supporters in our home areas and the club and police want to ensure this doesn't happen in the future. Far to many games in the past have been spoilt for home supporters because groups of away supporters are situated in their areas. Sad but true. Spot on, GAV.

Spot on, Uddersfelt. Some of our most loyal fans are arguably the exiles who are unable to get to any games but make all sorts of sacrifices to make sure they see and hear as much as they possibly can. Too many people for my liking seem obsessed with the vain attempt to identify themselves as better/more worthy fans than their neighbour.