The long journey home last night gave plenty of time to reflect on the game and where we are as a club. JDT has worked miracles to produce the type of football we are playing with what he has available to him. The need for an experienced centre-back to replace Hyam when he came off, the need for an experienced striker who knows were the net is and the need for a John Buckley type to replace Adam, who had a poor game, were clear for all to see. Sadly, as JDT said after the game he didn't get them. He got more development projects and had to lose two of his first team squad to get them. So no additional numbers to an already thin squad. It seems clear, from JDT's comments, that he and the club are on divergent paths. We have a bright, youngish coach who wants to win, who wants to try to get promotion, who has the highest of standards. On the other hand we have a cash-strapped club for whom survival in the Championship and the development of young players to sell for profit is now the main goal. The fact JDT feels able to come out in public and state that he didn't want to lose Buckley speaks volumes as the where we are as club. Yesterday we saw the same problems that ought to have been addressed in the window. Defensive lapses and the inability to put the ball in the net when in total control of the game. From his comments, I fear JDT does not see the two new arrivals as solving those problems. I suspect it is going to be a long, hard season. I just hope that JDT is prepared to see it out with us.

It was the actual Central League Championship that we won in those years under the guidance of Eric Bell. The Central League Cup is a more recent competition to give Central League clubs some extra games. When we won the League, twice in the sixties, it was a 42 game League with all matches played at Ewood Park - alternate Saturdays with the first team and a few midweek fixtures thrown in. It was a proper competition in those days with international players of some repute taking part if they weren't in the first team. Youngsters came up against experienced pros week in and week out. Totally different from the present system.

When did you last see a player wearing what we would regard as a boot rather than a pair of slippers!

I remember when he signed in the summer of 1967 along with 'keeper Adam Blacklaw from Burnley. They were regarded as 'big' signings at that time. John was coming towards the end of his career and was brought to add some height to the defence. He'd enjoyed a long career with Huddersfield Town and was a proper old-fashioned centre-half. Good in the air, a tough tackler, and a man who cleared the ball without messing about. The missed penalty was on a mudheap of a pitch at Ewood. The first time he took it off a long run the ball barely made it to the goalkeeper, such was the state of the pitch. The ref ordered a retake for some infringement and 'Big John' took an even longer run up to the ball but ended with the same result. John gave good service to the Rovers during his time with the club before embarking on a coaching career. RIP John.

Rovers taken apart by Clitheroe tonight. 4-0 to the home side who looked a very tidy outfit. Young side but second best in every department. Really bad luck for Baker who seemed to get a bad injury within the first couple of minutes - eased into the wall by an opponent which seemed unnecessary in friendly. Powell too was on the receiving end of a bad challenge and we ended up with ten men. Interesting that a number of the Under-21's who haven't gone to Austria but still didn't turn out tonight.

The back page of the Mirror has an exclusive this morning that Slot's agent is in talks with Spurs and Slot is keen on the move. If that move happens JDT will obviously be a favourite for the Feyenoord job. A bit like with Shearer left here to go to Newcastle - Feyenoord is JDT's club.

Totally agree. Mowbray did a decent job but the time was right for a change for both Mowbray and the club. I have no problems with the guy who I thought was genuine. Good luck to him at Sunderland although I suspect they will struggle to beat Luton over two legs - as would we if we had got through to the play-offs. Personally, more concerned with who might be in charge of us next season. I'm not convinced that Tomasson will stick around if offers come in from clubs with better resources.

Despite missing out on the play-offs today was all you could ask from a game of football in terms of emotion. At half-time we looked completely down and out. Two substitutions later - the key being moving JRC to midfield - and we looked a different team. The football in that second-half was some of the best we've played in a long while. Diaz - after months on the missing list - returned to his best in terms of finishing. In midfield JRC drove the team forward and young Wharton looked the class act that he is. If only we had played like this on any one of the recent games that we've let slip away - but what's gone is gone and we can only look to next season. Everything will depend on the right recruitment - whoever the manager/head coach may be - and that, as we've seen this season, is difficult on a shoestring budget. If we couldn't get into the play-offs then I had hoped Sunderland would so am pleased for Tony Mowbray that they got there. However, I think Middlesbrough will be the team to beat as they look a more than decent all round side.

He appeared in a few games on trial and didn't look any better than what we already have. I assumed we'd just allowed him to return to Spurs. Strange that Sam Burns, who looks a far better player is being released while we sign Bloxham. Hopefully he comes good.

To be honest not very well. In fairness, he is coming back from injury and was playing a deeper role today but looked a little off the pace at times. He needs more games to fully get back to full fitness. I suspect it will be next season before we see him knocking on the door of the first team.

Awful performance from the Under-21's. Totally outplayed by a far superior side.

Blackburn Old Cemetery on Whalley New Road.

I thought a draw was probably a fair result in the end. However, coming away from the Hawthorns I couldn't help but feel neither of these sides will be involved in the play-offs. West Brom didn't strike me as anything special although they had pace down the wings and some of their approach play was good but, rather like us, lacked any end product. I thought we did OK, although not as well as at Watford, but once again, the manager continues to makes substitutions that seem to undermine us. On Saturday I thought we could have gone on and won the game until his tinkering meant we lost our shape and all momentum and last night he did the same. Once Thomas and Dack were removed we had no threat from open play. Thomas gives us much needed pace and some old fashioned wing play and Dack is the one player who can create or poach a chance in the six-yard box. The fans certainly let JDT know what they thought of him when Dack was taken off. I've been really impressed with Pears since he came in and the same with Rankin-Costello and Carter. However, I felt last night, particularly in the second half that we reverted to far too much backwards and sideways passing. I'm hard pressed to remember Pickering actually playing a forward pass. Nonetheless, for all the faults, these last two away performances have been far better than so many this season.

You didn't miss much. Dreadful game with Rovers slightly better than a poor Birmingham side. Neither side looked capable of scoring, although Dack did manage to hit the post in the second half. An own goal was probably the only way a goal would come. Pears, who was my 'man of the match' made a brilliant reflex save to keep out an effort from Ayala in the first half while Brum did the decent thing in scoring for us in extra-time. This game highlighted the desperate need to bring in an experienced striker who knows how to handle themselves against defenders. Once again Vale looked far too lightweight whilst Brereton is a shadow the player from last season. I'd happily take a striker like Jutkiewicz who causes problems and knows how to unsettle defenders with little nudges to knock them off balance. When he came on he won everything in the air and caused us problems.

I believe there are at least ten clubs in the EFL who are not producing programmes. I understand that Bradford City, who have fantastic gates for a League Two club, have called a halt to them. A number of clubs are also moving to a digital programme - the Rovers have the matchday supplement which is basically photos and adverts. As a traditionalist I find it hugely disappointing that another of the matchday experiences is disappearing. Returning from Swansea on Saturday without a programme to read just didn't seem right somehow. I've no interest in twitter or facebook or the social media side so the only Rovers info I get is on the website. On the plus side, apart from the season ticket, I'm not spending any money at Ewood Park on matchdays. I believe the club have stopped the monthly magazine which is not surprising. Sadly, it's a sign of the times but I suspect it won't be long before programmes are phased out at every club. Just like the Saturday night sports papers, programmes seemed destined to become nothing more than a piece of history - although an expensive one as serious collectors will pay hundreds, sometimes thousands, for a certain programme.

Very little opportunity now to watch the Under-21's in action. Almost going back to the old days when we played at Ewood every week - one week reserves and one week first team - all of which was included in the season ticket. Today's season ticket still covers both first team and Under-21's but a bit difficult to be in two places at the same time. Pity, I shall miss watching the Under-21's.

The number 16 was Jacob Towns - Forest Green and ex-Stoke

Steve Waggott cannot do anything without the owners permission. The training ground will only be built on it that's what the owners want.

Couldn't agree more. We needed the owners to step up in January and go all out to provide the cash and wages to bring in two or three experienced pros. Instead we got kids and loans plus a guy from Scotland who seems to be a permanent bench warmer. I have no doubt that in the Summer Mowbray will bid farewell to the club but the problems will remain unchanged with just a different face at the helm trying make sense of the way in the which the owners run the club.

I believe what I hear from a number of people who actually know rather than those who just guess.

Unfortunately, our wonderful owners wouldn't sanction the cash for the upgrade to the pitch. The playing surface is not something they seem to think is all that important. Not the first time that money hasn't been forthcoming for the pitch. Fair enough, it's their money and if they don't want to spend it on the pitch it's their choice but let's not blame Waggot for something that is not his fault.

A difficult journey - left at 9am and arrived at the ground at 5.15pm - to witness a pretty dire performance. Still, when compared to the experiences of those involved in the horrific motorway crash, football really doesn't stand much comparison. I think our lack of cash for spending in January will come back to bite us before the end of the season. I thought Mowbray did the best he could in January with the cash available but the need for two or three experienced old pros was plain to see yesterday. We didn't seem to have a clue how to break Swansea down and teams seemed to have cottoned on to the fact that if you deny us space behind the defence to exploit, we struggle to create goalscoring opportunities. As a result we return to the backwards and sideways passing that gets us nowhere. When we did manage to create something we looked inept in front of goal. Whilst Giles was great from dead ball situations, I worry who we have up front to exploit his crosses from open play. I hope we can hang onto a top six place but I suspect it's going to be a near run thing. This was the sort of game that you need to win if you are serious about promotion. Watched Dack on Friday and I thought that he looked still some way off peak fitness but in a week or two they have to have him on the bench if he only plays 15 or 20 minutes. Jack Vale will hopefully get a chance on the bench in the near future as we need some attacking options in this team.

Totally agree. I don't believe for a minute that there was money to spend - hence why Mowbray suggested using the proceeds from a Rothwell sale to strengthen the team. The fact that players went out on loan before we could bring our own loan signing in suggests that finances are extremely tight. Apart from the Jack Walker/Walker Trust period, running a tight ship has been the story of the overwhelming majority of my 60 plus years of supporting Rovers. On paper Fulham and Bournemouth should now storm away in the top two places but, as we know from our own experiences in 1991-92, trying to buy your way out of this league is not always that straightforward.

I think if there's six or seven hundred of us who make the trip it will be a good turnout. Under-23's home on Friday night and then trek down to Swansea on Saturday - a proper footballing weekend.

I honestly don't believe there was any money to spend without Rothwell leaving. If we get the lad from Wolves and having retained the players who are out of contract in the Summer then I think it hasn't been a bad window. We simply can't compete with the money that Bournemouth had available and their spending today suggests that this season is make or break for them. With the players they've signed I would expect them to challenge Fulham for the top two spots. At the end of the day our squad is just too thin to cover injuries and suspensions in the final run-in unless we get a lot of luck.