It's time people stopped jumping on players backs if they have a poor start to a career. Matteo came, started slowly and adopted the 'slug' tag. Last night I thought he had his best game yet, in fact he was excellent. Fans should learn to give players time before jumping in with two feet to slag them off. I also thought Emerton had a good game, if Reid's wasn't shaped like a ten bob piece, that cross would have been one of the assists of the season. Stead has done more than enough to cement his place in the club's future for me. Looked a class act last night.

I've printed that one out to show my mates in the pub. Never read a more hilarious post. Souness inherited a shambles of a squad in danger of dropping out of the Nationwide league div 1, on long contracts and huge wages. He somehow got rid of the rubber-dinghy men, transformed certain careers - Jansen springs to mind - and dragged us back up the league, a job as difficult as turning the Queen Mary and rebuilt a club that was in danger of disintergrating. Jack Walker's last appointment was inspired, and nobody should forget that.

David Dunn said a similar thing.

Then take your green and white glasses off and admit when a player has a good game. Or do you know more than all the sports journalists, the managers etc etc ? BTW, I know Todd is the better option, my son is being brought up playing centre half studying every move Todd makes. I have told him Todd is the ultimate centre half to learn the game by. He was after all another great Souness signing.

Must go down as the most blinkered post this board has ever witnessed. It's the sort of rubbish people come out with who refuse to admit one of their own players has played well. Look back at the match reports , Amoruso and Short were outstanding at the end of the season. I'm one of the first to admit Amoruso is not good enough for Rovers, especially as we play under Hughes, but credit should be given where it is due and at the end of last season Amoruso was excellent.

Don't disagree with any of that just don't like the bandwagon jumping idiots for where there is no halfway house. Amoruso also had an excellent goalscoring record, not in fairness his job but did anybody complain when he notched ? Seem to recall Souness stating that we would never had been in the trouble we were in had Short and Amoruso been fit all season

Roughly 12 months ago, Amoruso's return to the starting line up was the inspiration behind Rovers end of season run that saw us pull away from the bottom three. But let's all jump on the bandwagon and slag him off shall we ? How short some memories are ?

My tuppeneth about Amoruso is that he played a major part in ensuring our survival last season when he inspired our good end of season run. Like Bellamy, I believe he is under-rated on this messageboard but probably over-rated by himself. Mind you, my opinion of him rose last week whilst watching him play for the sererves against Newcastle, not just the fact that his passing was like Hoddle on a good day more his attitude in helping a very young back four and goalkeeper.

Difficult to play a good pass when Thommo in front is playing too narrow and Dickov marked by 2 6ft+ centre halves is the only outlet. I've no doubt that choosing to play his way out of trouble by playing intricate one - two's with Todd and Flitty is probably on Sparky's 'most banned' list! My vote for post of the year. I've been trying to get this point over for years with Lucas. It was the man himself who first pointed it out to me. He said the centre halves usually give him the ball, if Thompson is playing he is very rarely an outlet so he usually has to either find a forward's feet or play the ball into the corners for someone to chase. No Alan Shearer Mike Newell or Chris Sutton to win a header for our full backs. You've got a crush on him because you cleaned his fish tank He gave it back to us actually. Didn't go with the decor in his new house !

Difficult to play a good pass when Thommo in front is playing too narrow and Dickov marked by 2 6ft+ centre halves is the only outlet. I've no doubt that choosing to play his way out of trouble by playing intricate one - two's with Todd and Flitty is probably on Sparky's 'most banned' list! My vote for post of the year. I've been trying to get this point over for years with Lucas. It was the man himself who first pointed it out to me. He said the centre halves usually give him the ball, if Thompson is playing he is very rarely an outlet so he usually has to either find a forward's feet or play the ball into the corners for someone to chase. No Alan Shearer Mike Newell or Chris Sutton to win a header for our full backs.

Got 8 in a row the exact tickets we wanted. Top tier behind the goals - row 1. Nothing to possibly obstruct the view, just hope I don't fall off when Savage scores a 93rd minute winner !

Thompson hasn't had a half-decent game since he came back. Emerton is much the better option at the moment. Can't wait for next season so we can slag a different centre forward off !

Personally, my patience ran out with Dickov yesterday. He's done a stirling job and has been worth every penny. He was picking up points for us single-handedly earlier in the season. But every club in the Premiership has a striker you would swap him for and as our number 1 striker, he has no pace, no quality and cannot shoot. I'm sure he will play the season out but next season if we are to progress we need two frontline strikers. A target man and a quick one to play alongside. I hope Bellamy comes and a Sutton-type to play the lone strikers role.

How anyone can complain about that level of peformance is beyond me. Matt Dickens would have kept a clean sheet tonight ! Nelsen and Todd have quickly become arguably the best central defensive partnership in the Prem, Mokoena had his best game yet for me. Savage for Flitcroft and we'll be sorted. Onwards and upwards.

Plus we have the best midfielder in the country playing for us ! Best midfielder in the UK? Q. Who's the best midfielder plying his trade in this country? Frank Lampard 6.67% Patrick Vieira 8.09% Roy Keane 2.65% Steven Gerrard 32.17% Michael Carrick 2.57% Jermaine Jenas 10.14% Robbie Savage 36.32% Other 1.35%

Surprising stat about last night Oddly Rovers fielded a starting line-up without a single Englishman, but the action was still raw old-fashioned FA Cup fare

Anyone here considering putting a deposit down on a room ? It worked for me and my mates last time, but it's asking for trouble.

With today's game being on a sunday, I bet he misses the replay. Could suit us down to the ground that, though Mokoena and Nelsen doesn't fill me with confidence. I'd play Nelsen and Johansson and bring Matteo back at LB.

The pitch WAS the same for both teams but there is little doubt the superior surface at Ewood will favour ourselves. Thought we were below par today, but still comfortably enough a better side than Burnley, to coast to a draw. Another below par home performance would be enough to see us through. If we play anything like, we'll murder 'em.

Blackburn is Burnley's slightly less poverty-stricken, slightly less dishevelled big Brother. Jack Walker's steel millions gave the town's football club Premiership pizzazz, and a superiority complex over their neighbours. Other teams exploit this scenario at Turf Moor. Leeds fans visiting Burnley two weeks ago chanted "You're just a small town in Blackburn," at the Claret faithful. It is the ultimate insult. Leeds have just risen in my estimation !

Blackburn England Celtic Blackpool Ireland In that order.

Football's a Mans game. End of debate.

Have to say my views differ from various posters up above. Tugay was excellent in my view, but needs Savage alongside him. With Sav in the side , we can use creative midfielders, wingers, whatever - the way he screens the defence is brilliant. Defensively we were shambolic in the 1st half, we could have easily conceded 2 or 3. Mokoena and Neill were obviously a touch jaded from international duties but when Neill was brought on at half time, the defence was instantly sorted. Neill is a far better right back than Nelsen who in turn is a far better centre half than Mokoena. Also have to mention Pederson, the boy is a walking 'goal threat' Another great Souness signing.

Who is this 'experienced' referee ?

Could be premature !