I'm worried about him messing about with the formation 'before' we lose. He wants to start Gally, and maybe even Edun. I prefer Butterworth and Johnson, who have shown an ability to slot neatly into our current line-up, from the bench. I worry Rankin-Costello will be straight back in, although he may fit into the system better than Gally or Edun. Suppose it all depends on whether the increasingly strong rumours about the Diaz, Khadra, van Hecke swap deal rumours are correct. I heard this week that it's a done deal. I really hope not, as I don't think we'll replace Ben's goals this season, whoever we buy.

Apologies if this has been discussed, but where was Butterworth tonight? We really missed his control and energy from the bench. Our amazing run has been enhanced by the regular contributions of DB & BJ from the bench. I think Edun n Gally were much less of a controlling presence and offensive threat, which invited late Barnsley pressure. I agree Gally contributed defensively, and should have had his goal with that stinging shot. Barnsley played well apart from their desperation to gift us the ball. It should have been 4 - 1, we were feeding off the defensive mistakes they were making, which Buckley is perfect for, rather than creating good chances through controlled midfield passing. If we return to the clinical finishing, and cool, calm possession against Huddersfield, we'll be fine. Decent crowd tonight, and as has been mentioned, it would have been 16,000 without the Covid effect on both sets of fans.

This is all fair, and considered, but purely going on form, home and away, the predictions of a win by 2 or 3 clear goals are understandable. I think these predictions are based on the fact that nearly every player has scored an 8 , 9 or 10 during the last few games, so 6 or 7 of the team would have to go from an 8 to a 5 or 6 for us not to win. Possible, but unlikely. I am of course aware of what has happened at this point of a winning sequence over the last few seasons, but performances haven't been this consistently good for maybe 15 years, or longer? If we don't win, it will be some game, and we need to enjoy it, I suppose. See you there, can't wait.

If we win by 3 goals tonight, I predict we will reach those figures. Quite a few have decided to have a look at this phenomenon for themselves...

Yes, it's a shame all games can't be £20 til the end of the season. They were never going to drop the price of the Huddersfield game, as it was the last carrot/stick to encourage the sale of half-season-tickets. A really low crowd was predicted for the £32 Preston game, but we still sold around 14,000 home end tickets. It will be a good crowd, around 17/18000. Especially if we have a good win tonight. If we get 15,000 tonight, I'll be happy. Nerves building, I pray he starts the same 11.....

I've laboured this point since 1pm on Sunday, but if the Hull chairman says they had 14 covid cases on Friday, and they asked the EFL for a ruling on their kife-edge predicament, then why could this not be communicated to the Rovers board, or office??? His words: "We spoke to the league on Friday and said, 'look, we're at fourteen cases this week already with Saturday and Sunday testing still to go, the game is at risk and obviously we'll still comply with all of the rules and we'll try to put the game on but we're just giving you a head's up that we may not be able to comply with the 14 senior players being available for a game." And why weren't the EFL obliged to immediately tell Rovers about this, to allow our officials to decide if they wanted to share this with the fans? As stated earlier, it wouldn't surprise me if Rovers board knew about the position on Friday, and both clubs, and the EFL made a decision to shield the clubs from the loss of revenue that would have resulted in an honest communication to the fans of both teams. We genuinely have a case to be heard here. Important information vital to the welfare of the fans of both clubs was purposefully withheld by at least Hull and the EFL. There MUST be an investigation. Surely.

The point about this postponement is, as many have pointed out, the timing of the announcement. There should be a rule that there cannot be a postponement less than 4 hours before a match, and it is up to individual clubs how they manage this. They would obviously have to take precautions to, in some way, isolate or protect players for the 24/48 hours before a game, but if that was the rule, less innocent fans would literally pay for the mistakes or lack of communication from any individual club. As I said as soon as I heard the news, I posted that each club should be forced to communicate their covid position to fans from 24/48 hours before a game. If Hull had done this, it would have impacted the attendance today, but many fans would have taken the decision, on hearing that (for example)10 players had Covid and another 7 had symptoms, not to travel, and the ones that did travel would be more prepared for a late postponement. It's the deceit that all was relatively well in the Hull camp that encouraged 2,500+ people to travel, many leaving it as late as poss in case of breaking news. It's really unforgivable, and I hope we join together and many of us decide to attend the rearranged game, on a wet, dark, inhospitable Tuesday night, or that the club offer to pay for coaches or something, to give us the chance to have 3000+ fans there to ensure we have the same support we would have had today. Thoughts now turn to Wednesday night....

Fair enough, but we don't know what has been communicated between the clubs.

It is criminal that both clubs haven't kept the long suffering fans abreast of how near they were to calling the game off. The only negative impact of doing this would've been a lower attendance. So what? It shows a total disregard for the fans of both clubs. There hasn't been a single rumour on here over the last 2 days about possible cases, in either camp, never mind any announcements that Hull were close to the threshold. There must have been numerous cases and a number of PCR tests following positive LFD tests yesterday and Friday. It was both club's professional and moral duty to keep fans informed of this. People have travelled from over 200 miles away for this game. Simple communication. So sad.

Just after a really positive Rovers chat in 5 Live. How very, very sad.

Sh*t!!!!!!! Game is off. COVID!!!!

Strange combination of nerves and anxiety today, I've been supremely confident before the last 4 games, but maybe the likelihood of being equal top in a few hours has spooked me, with the added fear that it could still be called off at 2pm. I know we will be fine if TM is able and willing to play the same team, but it is a good shout by Sky as Hull will be pressured by the crowd to have a go at us after their recent decent run, so should be an end to end game. Surely, if we are 'top' on Boxing Day, the owners or decision makers will be encouraged to do all it takes to keep this squad together til May. This is what I'm really nervous about. COYMB, you've restored our faith and hope in the last few weeks, and we are all grateful.

I think the slight swell on here towards playing Gally would be TMs 1st move back to the formation and tactics which preceded the Fulham game. I think, to continue this run, we need to be brave enough to play the lads that have taken us to the brink of the automatic places. This for me means Khadra starting, Dolan replacing him, and now either Johnson or Gally as next subs. We may well win with Gally, but he is just not as consistent as our 1st 13 have been for the last 2 months. Khadra, and 3 - 1 for me. We forget how full-on confident we've been from 1 - 11 for so many games now. COYMB !

I agree with this, but it's not possible when it has such a direct impact on the team. Some teams, potentially including Rovers, WILL have to play a team of reserves and youth players, now the EFL rules have been revealed: '...clubs will be expected to play where it has 14 players including a goalkeeper available from the club’s registered squad list, Under-21 players not on the squad list but have played one league match or any other contracted player not on the squad list but otherwise would have been eligible to play'. Tomorrow's test results will be pivotal in terms of whether we have a chance of winning, or not. Let's hope the lack of further rumours from our camp are good news....and that Barnsley do us a favour tonight! Really looking 4ward to tomorra, despite the risks.

Your last 2 posts are extremely clear. The point is that 96% of players, and public, do not have any scientific reason to refuse the vaccine, although of course they have the right to refuse. Your point that unvaccinated players pass on the virus to many, many more people than vaccinated players is the important one. The only answer at the moment is to keep trying to encourage players to base their decisions on facts, and not social media influencers, and to do daily tests until everyone is jabbed. I'm only typing to distract from my nerves about whether the game will be postponed. I understand why this would be better for society, but part of me is desperate for our run and momentum to continue, as it is soooo good for the town..... A difficult one, god knows how the attendance will be affected, there will be plenty of spare tickets being offered.....

I know this is prob immaterial now, as good chance of all footy being paused for a few weeks, but pre-omicron, I really thought there would be 13 or 14000+ on for this game, despite the pre-xmas impact etc., purely based on the buzz heading out of Ewood last time, and the further boost to this from the Dean Court result. Such a shame we'll never know how this momentum could've built, and shaped our season.... I'm going if it's on....

A big part of me knows I shouldn't keep this going, but..... There was one comment saying that if this run of form, consistency, and potential euphoria doesn't tempt fans back, then nothing will. I know that this obviously feels like an attack to those amongst us that see the increase in home attendances as another nail in the coffin of our hopes of seeing off the Venky's, but most of us can see that if the Venky's sell up or pull out, we are likely to end up like Bury, Bolton, Wigan, and some bigger clubs who now languish in the lower leagues or even further down the pyramid, and so find it difficult or impossible to remain at home when they can see what a boost to our promotion hopes a large, passionate, loud, supportive crowd is. My position is that I respect the decision of a small number of true Rovers fans to vote with their feet and refuse to attend until we have a change of ownership, but I also respect the rights of other true Rovers fans to suggest that it would be better if all fans returned. I don't see that as a direct attack, and don't think the defensive reaction, directly, personally criticising the poster was constructive, and I don't agree that the original comment was an example of 'trolling', again a direct, personal criticism. Forgive me if this is part of a long-running personal battle between board members, but I think we need be better at ignoring non-abusive posts, and posters, and not biting at the 1st opportunity. It is this that dampened the joy and celebration for most of us, not the original post.

This is a really good debate, and I appreciate both sides. However, I can see for the 1st time that extra support can propel us to greater heights on the pitch, whilst not necessarily benefiting the clueless owners (yes, I can see the counter-arguement). I can't see why we would risk the outside chance if a promotion, and the opportunity for the muppets to finally invest in the way they always promised, albeit with more realistic advice and ambition. We will then know whether a total, semi-permanent boycott is the way to go. I know this is a divisive argument, but we won't get this chance again in the foreseeable future, and the Preston game showed how the players benefit from vocal support. A dilemma, but I'm gonna continue to support this group of telanted youngsters. COYB.

We absolutely won't do ok in PL with this squad, but if we recruit as well as we hav done over last few seasons, we may survive. The fact that we are having this conversation means something is going right, and we just need to enjoy it , whilst understanding that TMs defensive instincts will lead to a bad run at some point. Please, please, please buy a ticket for the Birmingham game, we can all genuinely make a difference now. Its a difficult time financially but see it as an Xmas present to yourself. We CAN be the 12th man. COYB

Rothwell put more of a shift in last night, especially in the 2nd half. I'd like to see that level of effort when we are losing or going for a winner, tho. I'd still prefer him to drive thro the opposition midfield much much more, esp when he has Trav, and 5 defenders to cover him. He just glides past players, so rather than 3 mazy runs in a game, he could do 7 or 8. Think he needs to be 10% fitter to achieve this, tho. Really enjoyed watching him last night.

I don't agree that we have no cover for Nyambe, J R-C is a decent replacement full-back. My worry is that TM will replace RN with R-C, as he has previously tried to do. Nyambe is strong, and will only benefit from a run til the end of the season, which will also improve his crossing and shooting. We have cover everywhere, but Poveda is a big loss. Edun will benefit from a season as replacement full-back or wide midfielder, he needs to mature whilst watching and learning from his fellow 3rd Division recruit, HP. If we beat Stoke, there'll be around 20,000 against PNE, would've been more but for the increased prices. We'll hover between 6th and 10th til Easter, so can we then be brave enough to risk dropping to 15th, by deciding to go for the top 4? Don't all shout, I know the probable answer, I've watched every minute of the last 10 years, but it's nice to dream. A good, solid, quality performance, meaning no dogs or wives kicked, and we wake up happy in the morning....

This game made for Dolan. Just pray that we can convert 2 of the 3 chances he creates. Someone made a good point that this is v similar to the QPR away game. TM will bring Rothwell on, and all he needs to do is add a bit of workrate to his talent, and he'll be a match-winner.....

This is their equivalent of our Sheff Utd game Unexpectedly overwhelming a poor away side.

I suppose if this more disappointing performance continues for 90 minutes, we will be more prepared to accept changing the team to match the opposition in future. We just can't keep the ball, and are inviting pressure. This is why we are mid-table mediocrity. Edun is not good enough at the moment. Pickering back soon.

Simple. Rothwell's white flag performance against Fulham. Davenport's 90 minute performance against Sheff. Utd. Rothwell is our most creative player when he can be bothered, but Mowbray challenged him to play a more hard-working, committed, senior squad member role in the 2nd half against Fulham, and Rothwell was unable or unwilling to even try to contribute a single run or tackle in the whole 50 minutes. Talent on its own is not enough.