When we saw that Dack was starting ahead of Gally, none of us could believe it. 6 home wins in a row, since September. JDT was the only person on earth that thought changing the personnel and formation was the way to keep that run going. These changes were the reason that there wasn't a single Rovers player that was comfortable with the new formation, and we deservedly didn't have a sniff in the 1st half. Then when we scored and developed a tiny bit of momentum, he decided to arrest that momentum by making the substitutions (taking off our only goalscorer), and sure enough, although Gally played well, that was our miniscule chance gone. I've said before that it is not JDTs objective and priority to get the ball to Brereton, or to score, or to win. The priority is to play the ball out from the back, pass it slowly through the phases, and eventually involve our front players. It is of no concern to him whether we win or lose, regardless of the opponent, as long as we perpetuate the experiment, and stick to the project plan. I'm not saying JDT out, or anything of the sort, but to change the players and system that has produced 6 consecutive victories, over 3 months, shows where his priorities lie. I do not agree that the players were to blame today, any more than they were to blame for our disastrous run of midweek away performances. The players do not buy in to these experimental tactics, and they sent a subconscious but clear message to JDT today. Pathetic doesn't even touch the surface. Defend away, project fans.

Just called the club about picking up tickets, and they confirmed the pitch has been checked and the game is on!

Yep, the exact thoughts of many of us. The Burnley performance hit me harder, and longer, than I expected. Still not ready for tomorrow, another week would have helped, but by the time we beat Forest, all will be back on track 🥳

Yep, £30+ for an early ko sky game, on an expensive world cup drinking day was always gonna limit the attendance, at both ends. 16,500 is more like it, and could be lower. There will be 1000+ late arrivals, so will take a while for the atmosphere to crank up, 1st Diaz goal will ignite the sleepy fans, and 2nd half will be fun. Lotsa rushing around in morn, so will be arriving at Ewood around 11.58... COYB!

I don't agree with this. If Burnley residents (not fans) have the slightest suspicion you are from Blackburn, I believe there is a reasonable chance you will be violently attacked, verbally or physically, especially if they lose. I would take no risks and try to follow the police. It's really sad that physical violence is still the answer for some. I'm quite worried that someone innocent will get hurt.

Strangely, Buckley's was the best of the lot.

Ha-ha. Crazy how nervous I still was, watching those pens....

EVERY. OUTFIELD. PLAYER. TOOK. AND. SCORED. A. PENALTY. 🎤

Ewood will be rocking on Sunday, should be a few hundred knocking about to see the coaches off before heading into the Premier Suite and Blues Bar for brekkie and to watch the game. Buzzin!

Wow, talk about mixed feelings for Hammer Sammy! 🤣

Aaarrrghhhhh.....poor Jason Wilcox.....don't remind me 🤣

I am soooooo proud of every one of those young lions! This group are going places! What a perfect set up for our game of the season!!!!! Bring on the Burnley!!!!

Good response to the equaliser, Markanday needs 1st team match sharpness. Really good 1st half against a team of internationals. If we start the 2nd like we started the 1st, we may have a chance. All to play for, I'm relieved...

It's on R Lancs FM, not sure bout DAB.

Just need to hear Dack's name a bit more. If we can continue to sneak into their half, BD will potentially create something out of nothing. Good to see Vale having 2 good chances, and the goal will really help his confidence. Great performance so far, taking the game to them early on, and now showing resilience. Great to clearly hear the 2000 fans. COYMB.

Whichever side of the JDT fence we sit on, we need to stay calm, there's a hell of a long way to go and West Ham are likely to win, but we now have hope. I'm so happy that whatever happens, those brilliant fans are having the night of their lives, they deserve it.

That deafening rendition of 'No Nay Never....' sent tingles down my spine... Could hear it from Lancashire. Brilliant support!

In terms of the game, I genuinely think it will negatively impact on the build up to Sunday, and the confidence of one or 2 of the players, if we lose by 4 or more goals tomorrow. Scott W probably needs game time ahead of the weekend, but I agree we need both Wharton's involved on Sunday. It's a difficult decision to decide which 3 first-teamers to play tomorrow. Brittain, Hedges, and Kaminski? It's a lottery, but still think its important to be competitive, to build some momentum that midweek away games usually sabotage. Brilliant effort by anyone travelling down from the North. Good luck and enjoy. COYB!!!!

Not sure I get the joke, but please could you pin it back. Can't see how the members, mods, or visitors benefit from it being unpinned. I'm too nervous about Sunday to see the funny side of anything, but I'm looking forward to following the match comments on here on Wed night.

Unfortunately, I missed this brilliant offer. I've been looking for this exact shirt since my last one finally bit the dust around 10 years ago. Please order another run, and I will order a long sleeve and a short sleeved one, or 2 long sleeved ones. Can't believe I missed this threads thread. Would've loved it for Xmas. Anyone selling them on, I'll pay £40 for a large! Again, brilliant idea, guys.

Did it look like 2nd place playing 23rd place? Our midweek away performances are consistently poor, do you think JDT needs to accept a different approach is needed in these games?

That would be working on the assumption that winning the game or even scoring was important to the manager. He is more concerned with the experiment than the win.

Please don't let the red card deflect from the fact that the manager has gone with an experimental midweek hunch again. I now genuinely believe that the result is of secondary importance to his misguided insistence in playing a certain formation and personnel regardless of whether the players are suited to it. And then repeating this as often as is necessary, until we scrape the odd midweek away win. The sad thing is that every one of those brilliant fans that were there tonight, and endured the other midweek away capitulations, know it as well. This is hard to admit and accept, but this means he will do the same at Turf Moor. The result really doesn't matter to JDT, and tonight was the ultimate proof: Vale? Hirst? Travis? Pickering? The squad has consciously or otherwise, decided not to buy into this clueless, head-in-sand, logic-free stubbornness, and it is showing more in every midweek away game. Blackpool was the exception that proves the rule. He learned nothing from the drubbings at Sheff Utd and Reading, and will refuse to accept that he needs to do anything differently between now and May. The poor sods paying good money to travel to West Ham midweek also know this. I salute them and sympathise with them. As crazy as last season, who would have thought it....

Total admission of total failure to understand what is needed away from home in the Championship. Yet JDT will express surprise and disappointment that we didn't play well. Again. He must have decided that he needed Pickering for Saturday, but if he wasn't going to bring him on, why have him on the bench? Just bizarre....

I agree we need a decent back-up striker, but that isn't the reason we play so badly away. JDT has repeatedly made unfathomable decisions during our pitiful midweek away run, and that has been our downfall. The players just don't buy into the experiment when they are away from Ewood. Pickering instead of Vale tonight would have provided some solidity which we would have built from, and at least prevented wave after wave of penetrative attacks from a team that lost at home on Saturday. There is no way that JDT would ever look at how lowly Blackpool came away from Coventry with 3 points, only 3 days ago. We may win this, against all odds, but that doesn't change the fact that our starting selection was bloody clueless!!!!!!! I'm devastated.