I bow to your superior knowledge Clare..... looks like there will be no England tickets on sale during the second phase

Clare, I thought it was just saying that the tst's available during the first ballot had sold out, I'm sure they allocate more for the second round of ticketing.

Welcome to the MB Steve. In the past we have had a very succesful relationship with fans from Genclerbirligi from Turkey, who we played in a UEFA cup tie. We arranged to play a friendly game at Brockhall (Blackburns training ground) and had a fantastic evening with them. I'm sure the people who arranged that would be more than happy to arrange something similar, especially if it results in a return visit to Belgium. I'm sure they will post on here in time, but to start with there is a starlodge opposite ewood park called the fernhurst which is about £45 a night for a twin/double room.

Next ticketing session starts on 2nd May on a first come first served basis.

Waggy, neither me or my brother were succesful. Have to wait for the next round of ticketing.

I have good memories of Martin Dahlin after we thumped Villa away (again). I was hanging about after the game waiting to get a few autographs on my Programme and he came past, I give him a quick shout and he came and signed my Programme. Most of the players had already got on the coach to leave and I said to him that I had missed most of the players, he grabbed my pen and programme, went onto the bus and got the rest of the team to sign it. Always thought he was a good bloke after that.

Rovers gained a valuable 3 points which put them 11 points off the drop zone and lifted them to 12th in the league (above Newcastle and Birmingham). The following match report was written by Scotty, a messageboard member. After the hysterical media outbursts following our semi last Saturday it was always going to be interesting to see how the team reacted tonight - they'd either be fired up by the criticism or they'd be bogged down by it. But this is the new Rovers under Hughes and we really shouldn't have doubted them. Their character shone through and we thoroughly deserved the win. Stead came in for Dickov as expected but Savage in for Flitty was a surprise, and not a nice one as it turned out. Other than that though we lined up the same as we did at Cardiff. The scare stories about Andy Johnson not being fit for Palace proved to be untrue. We started the game well and created chances right from the off. We were quicker to every ball, passed the ball better than Palace, pressed them into mistakes all over the pitch and really should have scored. MGP swung in a series of dangerous looking corners, one of which Stead got his head to and brought a smart save out the pyjama-wearing Palace keeper. Nelsen was also left free from a free-kick but hit the outside of the post when he really should have done better. Those were the two most gilt-edged chances but there were other half-chances in an opening 25 minutes that we totally dominated. However, slowly but surely Palace started to come back into it, we started to lose possession too often as Palace increased their work-rate, and the half was petering out towards a stalemate. Right on the stroke of half-time though we won a free-kick wide on our left, Savage swung a superb ball in towards the edge of the 6 yard box, and Pedersen just about got enough on it to send the ball in off the underside of the crossbar. A goal we deserved for our earlier efforts, but it hadn't looked like coming. Savage was replaced by Tugay at half-time. Whether that was down to injury or the fact that Savage was one foul away from a red card is anyone's guess. I thought we played really well in the second half. Palace had to come out and attack us and we took advantage of the extra space available, only poor finishing let us down. I lost count of the number of good chances we spurned - not half-chances but really good clear-cut opportunities to score - but in the end it didn't matter. Of the one's I can remember, Matteo hit the side-netting when it looked easier to score, Reid missed a sitter of a header from a glorious Emerton cross, Emerton brought a good save out of their keeper with a low shot to the far post, Stead failed to control a great through ball that would have put him clean through, Reid ran clear through on goal for half the length of the field only to be let down by a heavy final touch, and Stead hit the keeper with a poor finish when one-on-one at the death. There were probably more and if we'd scored six Palace couldn't have complained. At the other end Palace hardly offered a threat. Our defence coped easily with Johnson's pace and driving runs, and only Routledge looked capable of creating anything for the visitors. I think Friedel had to make two saves all match and they were both fairly comfortable ones. All in all it was as convincing a 1-0 win as you're likely to see. We looked a decent team and Palace looked like a team going down. Our defence was superb yet again. Friedel didn't have much to do but did what he had to well. Nelsen was as strong and composed as we've come to expect, Todd was excellent in everything he did and received a huge ovation from the crowd before, during and after the match. Matteo struggled at times with Routledge but did well in the main, and Neill had another good game. In fact, Neill's had a few good games recently (Cardiff excepted) and is starting to look more like it. Savage was fairly awful today. He didn't look fully-fit to me and he mis-timed challenge after challenge. He deservedly got booked for one of the "tackles" and then could easily have been sent off minutes later. He also wasted possession on a number of occasions. In fact, about the only thing he did right was put in an excellent cross for the goal. Reid carried on his recent good form but really should have scored a couple. Pedersen was dangerous on set-pieces but, yet again, didn't do too much in general play. But, yet again, he scored the winner so how can you be critical? I'd say he's got to be doubtful for Saturday though judging by the way he was limping around at the end. I thought Emerton had a really good game and tore Palace's left back apart at times. His runs actually had an end product most of the time tonight. Mokoena did his job as well as ever, and Thompson got a run out towards the end but didn't have much chance to make an impact. Up front I thought Stead was superb, my man of the match. He worked his socks off, his running off the ball was always intelligent and dangerous, his control and touch were excellent as he held the ball up when we needed him to, he won a lot in the air and showed a strength I wasn't sure he had, and his passing was spot on. The only thing lacking was a finish and you could tell he wasn't happy as he left the field at the end. If he keeps playing like that though the goals will come. Blackburn: Friedel, Neill, Todd, Nelsen, Matteo, Mokoena, Emerton, Savage (Tugay 45), Reid, Pederson (Thompson 75), Stead. Subs not used: Flitcroft, Enckelman, Gallagher Palace: Kiraly, Butterfield (Popovic 76), Hall, Sorondo, Borrowdale, Routledge, Leigertwood, Hughes, Kolkka (Soares 45), Johnson, Freedman (Torghelle 60) Subs not used: Speroni, Shipperley

I think the key to this game will be Andy Johnson. If he is out injured (dead leg) I think we will win, if he plays I can see him nicking a goal and giving Palace a draw.

Henry has scored 25 premiership goals this season, Blackburn Rovers have scored 28... I'm sure he will be missed if he doesnt play but lets remember that they do have quality throughout the squad as they demonstrated at Ewood with their second string.

BBC website has it as their latest news on teh little ticker thing that runs across the screen.

I have a sneaky feeling we might just get a result with our very own Dead Parrot scoring the winner...

extra time then pens

If anyone fancies a bit of a Cardiff MB meet up on Saturday morning I'll be up for it. I guess Wetherspoons will be open from about 10 am, not sure about the other pubs

I'm heading down first thing Saturday morning. going to get into Cardiff for about 10.00 am for brekkie and then maybe a quick pint before the game.

I'm optimistic about it, think we are tight at the back and could nick a goal. I certainly don't expect a drubbing, possibly 1-0 either way. They are poor at set pieces so as long as we can get the ball into the box (something MGP failed to do at Anfield) then we have a chance.

I think it's quite clear Waggy. We would need to sell 20,000 tickets before we can start selling the other stand... we aren't going to sell 20,000 so therefore there will be no more cheap seats.

sorry Stu, they offered me £45 or £55.... I went for the cheaper option

Just tried that Waggy, I just had a call from the ticket office and was told that the only tickets they have left are the £45 ones. Just bought 5 of them.

I got 6-1 on Betfair for the draw, pretty happy with that so I chucked a few quid on it. In hindsight I should have gone for a 0-0 as the odds would have been pretty impressive. Just need Everton to win now to make it a good weekend all round.

Looks like the BBC know more than us, they quote that Arsenal V Rovers tickets are like 'Golddust'....... Ha Ha Ha

Phil, I think the PDF below quite clearly shows how few cheap tickets are available. Don't think the club can be accused of hiding the facts when they have produced a leaflet showing how the tickets are divided. Ticket Leaflet

It's not always one of the friendliest places Glenn. If there is going to be trouble in Cardiff it's usually at the Prince of Wales

not if we get to the final it's not Hughesy

So as the problems are between bristol and cardiff you could stay in a few places. Newport is obviously one option, Cymbran, Pontypool, Abergavenny and Hereford are all on the same line so wouldnt have to go through Bristol.

1 hour from Cardiff, on the train route and not via Bristol so I think the trains are ok. Group discount on the train means that it is only about £7 return from here if there are 4 or more of you. Here