Without question there are extenuating circumstances, but the theme of recent seasons has continued - when there is a bit more riding on a game, we lose.

Unfortunately, it obviously felt more like a cup final for our players, which is why we lost. Let’s see if we can cope any better in a similar atmosphere against Leeds.

After two low key, middle of the table games, we go into this game with the expectation of a win. That brings about it’s own pressure.

Nathan Lyon a great signing for Lancs next season.

I think all the coach related digs were a clue as to what JDT thinks of Waggott. He kept that going for weeks.

If, as you say, you “don’t give a **** about PNE”, you don’t need to mention it. The “all young lads” line is wearing a bit thin, but a couple of decent experienced players coming in would certainly have helped. I work with quite a few PNE fans, and they absolutely were not building it up like it was the game of the decade. As I’ve got older I find the tribal stuff tiresome and predictable, whether it’s coming from our fans or those of another team. I badly want to win games against our local rivals, but am not going to pretend that all their fans are idiots and all ours are paragons of virtue.

Not interested in the tribal crap, but we certainly should not be losing to a team who otherwise look to be In free fall. It’s all in the mind with this Rovers team, and we need to develop the mental strength to win key games. Perhaps we should hire former Rover, Lee Richardson, who is now a sports psychologist.

The next two games provide low hanging fruit, ie low key, low pressure games. These are the games we generally do well in. The real test comes when we play someone above us in the league. We still haven’t broken through in terms of winning pressure games.

Well at least we wouldn’t have to listen to them chanting on and on about another club, rather than their own team.

Let's be objective - we have won eight and lost eight of seventeen matches, so God knows what's going to happen, (other than it probably not being a draw). We generally do well in this type of low key game, but Swansea was a notable exception, when we were awful. Let's hope we pretend it's an away game.

Can we play all our remaining fixtures away, please? 😉 Some amazing results and finishes to games all over the country today, (one or two being particularly amusing 🙂).

Let's get out there and add value to the squad.

A journalist should really put those stats to Mr La Dee Dah Gunner Broughton. A ridiculous signing.

“Roll up, roll up, get your half season tickets to watch us add value to the squad, (and lose quite a lot)”.

Excellent. That will have upset Venkys far more than any Rovers defeat. As I'm no longer a partisan England fan, I don't harbour the same grudge against Australia as many do. That was a brilliant performance and I'm very pleased for Glenn Maxwell who, as I've recently stated on here, was great for Lancs and had a fantastic attitude.

Agree to disagree. You are entitled to your opinion, but the plain fact is we have been incapable of winning games such as this over a sustained period of time. There will always be excuses. They mean nothing. Results are the facts.

Every time we lose a pressure game like this we hear the same excuses, (injuries, luck etc.). We’re not strong enough, either mentally or physically. Until that changes we will continue to lose big games.

The “on another day” point doesn’t carry weight when, as I explained, our recent record in matches carrying any sort of extra pressure is very poor. Friday night wasn’t just down to a bit of luck. It’s a pattern. We will have to see what the context of the return fixture is and how that game plays out.

PNE won, the rest is academic. Agreed, we are doing quite well all things considered, but three decent players isn’t a case of “just” for us. I’d be pleasantly amazed if Broughton / JDT are given more than ten bob to spend in January. I can’t blame PNE fans for celebrating. It’s high time we were given that pleasure after a derby match. I will have to face a few at work this week 😢

What he thinks / says shortly after the heat of battle will be different to a more considered appraisal when the dust has settled. Although he is a straight talking person, he also has to filter what he says in the public domain. JDT has stated that we need more depth and experience. Friday night was a good example of why.

If we had a reasonable track record in these types of games, then your point would be valid. "Another day" never comes and we generally lose, or fail to win, any game with a bit more pressure riding on it, eg a local derby or against a potential promotion rival, or against any side if we are in control of our own destiny at the business end of the season, (see the stats of our recent second half of the season collapses). Friday's game ticked two of the above boxes. We can be easy on the eye, but lack mental and physical toughness. The head coach was denied the opportunity to try and address that last Summer.

Which is exactly the reason there is no cause for optimism. I would speculate that the plan is to generate money by selling young players. If aligned to an ambition to progress and eventually win promotion, that would be fine. I'm afraid that in our case that ambition simply doesn't exist and we are essentially being run as a player farm.

We are capable of winning a few low key games on the bounce, but as sure as eggs is eggs, once we come to a game with a bit more pressure on it, (like last night), or any game at the business end of the season, (if we are in control of our own destiny), we all know what happens.

Seems that Gregg fancied him but JDT doesn't. Maybe Ennis will get more of a look in when a plodder / "yes" man takes over as head coach.

That's Mr La Dee Dah Gunner Broughton's job, and I suspect he's just grateful for his cushy job.