The answer to that is Holtby, and the surprisingly unpopular Trybull, who I actually think provides the balance and cover that allowed the rest to play with freedom. The main reason we are doing better is the confidence that Kaminski gives our back four. It's a bloody revelation. What a TOTAL performance agsinst our nearest rivals. Peace.

That goal says everything about how we're trying to play. Any one of 3 or 4 players could have played it long from the back to relieve the pressure, but we didn't and (was it?) Arma's perfect, thoughtful, precision ball to release us into the perfect counter attack. So, Armstrong effectively started and finished the move. Absolute perfection, and you can't say that too often. Btw, Trybull is quietly providing the balance for everyone to play around him. We have no other defensive, central midfielder available. Best half of football we've produced all season. Yes, I'm aware if how big a statement that is. I'm happy.

I agree.

This

You've gotta watch every game now!!!!?

Apart from poor Gally, and poss Ayala, it's the line-up TM was looking for when he made those signings. He has decided to try to overpower Preston with a more direct game. I think Elliott is unlucky, but he needs to be creating and scoring more goals in TMs eyes, and has allowed himself to be dragged down to our level a bit, recently. Unless he's poorly or carrying a slight knock, Elliott would have worked really well in this line-up, he plays better when alongside Holtby. We need to find some way of being clinical when Armstrong doesn't score, and I really can't see where that will come from, although our collective strength will occasionally blow away a poor team, as we have seen. We all know that we usually don't win when Gally starts, but here's to a change of luck, it may be his last chance in 2020. COYMB!!!!!

The window or season that we buy two decent defenders will be the season we get in the play-offs. With the exception of the peerless but temporary Aderabaiyo, we haven't strengthened our defence since we were relegated, or even a couple of seasons before that. We bob around mid-table like a plastic bottle in the North Sea, until someone associated with the club suddenly realises. As Tony likes to remind us, you can't rush these things...

Gave us all a laugh last night, cheers!

This is fair comment, and a good end to the 'debate'.

Speeeeeeeeeeeeeeeedaaaaayyyy. Forever an Ewood cult hero....

Here we go... Aguerro and Kane miss as many as Armstrong. He is the best striker outside of the Premier League. There are other targets for nit-picking, before AA.

Agreed. Criticise AA, then defend Gally...

There are very few world events that deserve celebrating on here, but most of us agree, this is absolutely one. Get in, sleepy Joe!!!! Get in, Rovers. Here's to a happy Saturday night, brothers and sisters! Woo...

Johnson has made all the difference, but Armstrong been brilliant. Just waiting to be reminded he is a League One trier....

Wow. He affects everything, whether you realise or not! Cone on you blues (Democrats, that is)!

We really need to show we can be professional & solid for 6 or 7 min., just show we can control the ball and pass effectively and sensibly, but most of all, make good decisions under pressure. Everything crossed....

Playin central now, thank god....

Elliott has played on merit for arguably the best team in the world. Not fair to compare him with our young players. He will only get better this season.

Really good recivery. 2 1

Regained control. Cone on, boys!!!

I think the reason for a lot of the anger and resentment on here is the fact that we often make emotional, extreme claims, such as certain players 'should never play again'. Or vice versa. I think if we play particularly poorly, members of this board should be respected for saying this, just as our more optimistic members should be allowed to claim that we will still make the play-offs. It is difficult to accept claims, though, that our performance was anything but disappointing and poor, which TM accepted. He didn't resort to attempts to deflect the disappointment by pointing out the few positives, which was more refreshing than usual post-defeat comments. I pray that he learns from tonight, and sets us up more solidly on Saturday, but I really can't see where the goals will come from. Can anyone? We cannot rely on Armstrong to score a single goal in November, so who will score? The answer to this sums up our current predicament. We have spent literally millions on players who cannot score goals. I only state facts.

We all agree that there was some committed, brave defending from us tonight. Also, we ALL agree that our absentees, on and off the pitch, have negatively impacted our prospects and performances, BUT what a lot of us are frustrated about is TM's inability to organise what we had left to ensure we didn't allow an essentially defensive, robust team, to pour forward almost unchallenged for 80 minutes, to the point where we couldn't even briefly regain the ball to allow us to launch the odd pass up to our £12m, 6ft plus strikers to chase. I give credit for the Evans substitution (tho we should have been at least 2 down by then), as that did stem the tide somewhat, but a better strikeforce wouldn't have allowed us make as many blocks and clearances. Descriptions such as 'fantastic' are both fantastic and incredible in the true meaning of both words. Our play, and decision-making was poor. The point gained was more due to luck than good defending. We gave the ball away at will, and made repeated, suicidal rash challenges throughout our half. With better organisation and planning (starting with the team that finished tonight?), we can grind out 3 points on Saturday.

He said the same thing before the game, how we just needed to get to the break, not that it was a chance to pick up valuable points. I think this desperate approach was reflected on the pitch.

That's harsh. Many of us are struggling to to remember a game where we showed poorer control and distribution over 95 minutes. Even when under little or no pressure. Millionaire players have to take responsibility for individual performances like that, but yes, I know, it is also down to Mowbray's lack of organisational capability. The only reason we didn't get spanked is Boro's woeful finishing, and some decent last ditch defending. Again, I've rarely seen us give the ball away, and then fail to win it back, as regularly as tonight. That's indisputable, sorry.

I'm really beginning to think that Brereton doesn't want to score. A psychological block. That miss isn't just down to a lack of talent, so what else can it be. He really has no more idea how to play the game, when it matters, than I do.