Much, much better. 

That's why we drew the red card. And why we deserve thus pen!!!!

We are playing really well. We are dominating. We are creating.

But whatever we do, we can't test the keeper. 

It's soooo bloody frustrating.

It must change. It must....

COYB!!!

It's surely down to JR, being encouraged/forced to drive forward at every opportunity, knowing he has 5 defenders behind him. 

Unfortunately, Tony won't allow this tonight, as he will be truly desperate for a point, and the same on Saturday.

That leaves us in fifth....

3 minutes ago, BigBar said:

When you look back we have had some big chances and created chances in most games. Swansea with had 4 or 5 and missed 2 pretty much open goals. 

Forest we should have been one up with Buckley 8 yards out failing to slot it either side of the keep. 

West Brom we had a big chance from a corner with Wharton and Khadras solo effort was another decent effort.

That's off the top of my head.

That's what I needed, cheers.

Looking forward to it more now. 

Two pivotal games, that will shape our run-in...

COYB

8 minutes ago, Sparks Rover said:

No new signings in the team even without BBD.. Poor window Mogga

I think this is a good sign, as we said that if we could continue to play the team that got us to 2nd, that would be the ideal plan. 

We just need 2 or 3 of them to rediscover some form!

For me, 50% of that task is down to the manager. That's my worry.....

Genuine question:

Can anyone point to anything they have seen in the last 8 weeks that gives them any confidence that we might score tonight? 

I'm unable to be my usual blind-optimistic self that I have been before most games in the last 40 years. 

Bizarre, when we are sitting 3rd and the envy of most of the division. 

Honest answers, please. 

C O Y B ! !

In my younger days, I'd have been considering heading to Deepdale this evening. Helping to cheer PNE to victory. Though a draw would also be ok. 

We could be 5th tomorrow, if we don't win, which will feel very different than our slightly insulated 3rd place. 

On form, we will struggle to score another goal or win another game. That's why TM needs to show he is a good manager, and turn this poor run around.

15 minutes ago, USABlue said:

Seems to me some are just looking for sticks to beat the club with.  This was a refs decision so unless we briwn bagged him to make that decision it is sweet FA to do with Rovers.

I agree with this, but I'm still waiting for the club to explain why they officially announced, at 12.30, that the game would go ahead, with no mention of further inspections. I expect them to announce that the ref did not mention the need for further inspections, and then independently changed his mind. 

Or that there was always going to be a further inspection, but for some reason the club didn't announce this til 1.40.

This is the important issue, and I expect an explanation.

The debate about river Darwen-affected drainage, which I cannot believe is still an issue 40 years later.....( 🥱😕), is related, but we can't do anything about the ref's decision. 

As ever, clear communication to 15000 people is pivotal. 

Kaminski, Lenihan (c), van Hecke, Wharton, Nyambe, Travis, Rothwell, Buckley, Pickering, Khadra, Gallagher

Subs: Pears, Johnson, Davenport, Dolan, Rankin-Costello, Hedges, Giles

We didn't get the chance to discuss the team, most people didn't know it had been released. 

I thought the Pickering decision was interesting, and I expected the other changes. 

We would have exploded from the traps, and assuming Darra didn't get a 5th min yellow, I was optimistic we could overpower them.

Aaahhhh.....what might have been.🙂

15 minutes ago, 1864roverite said:

Yesterday saw an enormous amount of rain sleet and snow hence why the pitch didn’t drain much like Wimbledon a few years ago. 

This is interesting, and the 1st official comment on what actually happened. And even stranger that the ref thought it was unplayable, as there was no rain or snow after the 1st inspection. 

Where and when was this announced? 

For me, the main issue around the postponement was the communication from the referee and/or the club about whether, at any point, the ref had said to anyone that there was even the slightest possibility of a 2nd inspection.

If there was even a thought about a 2nd inspection, this HAD to be communicated publicly. 

This would have had a direct health and safety impact, as fans would have factored this into the decision about whether to travel, based on road conditions etc.

I was following all sources, including social media, and didn't hear even a sniff about any ongoing doubts the ref had from 12.30.

Whoever is responsible for this should be formally investigated, and personally held to account. 

This was the shambles....

Whatever the facts, it is a desperate shambles, and we will use this forum to let off steam, and vent our frustration. 

I've had the day from he'll, for a number of reasons, and the only bright spot was the game being on.

Really, really disappointing, and it feels more devastating than it is. 

People still travelling, none the wiser.

A shambles. 

Unluckily, again, some will have decided not to risk it. Some roads still treacherous. 

Things have conspired against us in terms of attendances, since xmas. 

With a following, fair wind, we could have expected to be up to 16,000 home fans by now, but covid, weather, bloody Sky Sports etc. have all impacted attendances...

Will be a weird atmosphere, but we just need two of our forward flat-liners to give us a performance, to ignite the crowd. 

COYB!!!

3 minutes ago, Cherry Blue said:

Don't think rules allow that.

What rules are they, I assumed under-pitch heating would be on? Does it need to be colder? 

It's a tricky one, as what was impassable on Livesey BR an hour ago is now melted slush, but will that be obvious at pitch level? I assume the fact that it's not snowing at Ewood must help????

I think it will be off as they can't guarantee that it will be playable in 3 hours.

Sensible thing would be to re-inspect at 1pm.....

Heys Lane is gridlocked, and Livesey Branch Rd is blocked. Only one outcome, I'm afraid.....

4 hours ago, J*B said:

Please Tony, don’t make me sit through another game with Gallagher up front. 

Gally 1st name on team sheet...

Wonder if tonight's results will impact the predictions in the vote above. 

Teams that don't lose may prosper between now and May. 

Sets up Saturday nicely. Millwall will probably now be more adventurous, ideal for us. 

Just now, garnersfags said:

Ha ha. It's the name of the £25 2-game ticket offer.

Hoping both Millwall and us sell more tickets after tonight's results...

...tho GG will explain the wrecker bit....

1 hour ago, rigger said:

Another post that has gone right over my head. Could you explain your post ?

Ha ha. It's the name of the £25 2-game ticket offer.

Hoping both Millwall and us sell more tickets after tonight's results...

Coventry also losing! 

Could be a good night....

4 hours ago, islander200 said:

3rd or 4th.

We are struggling at the minute but the last 10 games on paper looks a decent run in.

The other teams in the play offs and knocking on the door of the playoffs have to play against eachother.

I fancy us to pick up 3 points v Millwall then 3 tough games Sheffield United, QPR and Fulham after that with the exception of Bournemouth we don't play anymore playoff contenders.

 

This is where I was until the last 2 weeks.

I'm still spiritually optimistic, but as I've repeated endlessly since the Hull selection, you just can't see where it will come from. 

Logically, there are too many forward players drastically out of form all at once for us to get back on form anytime soon.

Millwall is absolutely pivotal to our chances of recovery, and I just hope we don't try 'too' hard, which has been our downfall recently. 

Millwall 2 nil up against QPR. Come on!!!

18 hours ago, RevidgeBlue said:

On current form outside play offs.

 

That's not the question, tho, is it?

We will have a patch of better results, just depends how long that patch is....

Come on Cardiff, Millwall n Hull!

Millwall doing the business so far. Means(if they win) they will bring another hundred or so on Saturday, to sit above the Double Deckers... 

I just hope the ticket office are saying to all callers that they may as well have 2 for the same price.

I agree that it needed to be announced a fortnight earlier, but these things need planning 6 weeks in advance, and at that point none of us thought it would be a problem selling tickets by Feb.

They may have to do a last 6 games for £70 ticket. 

That's the only way we'll get to 17000 Rovers fans. 

One way we'll get more in on Saturday is for all ticket-holders to actually attend. 

I've been offered sooo many tickets for every game since Xmas, we really need the fan base to realise that they can make a tangible difference to results. So many season-ticket holders have stayed at home to watch the televised games. 

This isn't a criticism of fans that genuinely can't make it(I don't wanna get embroiled in that discussion), just a personal hope that we all do our bit to get the team back on the rails. I think they deserve it. 

So many factors have impacted what was a steady rise in attendances. Weather, Sky, dodgy form, night matches, etc., all conspired to interrupt our off-field momentum. (Weather on Sat won't help the numbers 😒).

It's the defining game of our season (ok, the 2nd half of our season 🙂).

A delight to have a 3pm Saturday game. Atmosphere will be apprehensive and optimistic!