This 4-4-1-1 is working a treat. What a performance. Smallwood sitting deep and Evans now allowed to pressure higher up, protected by Reed and Benno the flanks. Strolled this so far. DG rolling back the years here.

Reed must be playing wide right. Bench looks strong. Feel we are in for a hiding here

This the ol AC Milan formation. I think Nyambe and Bell are up to the job. I sometimes have to use this FM, when I have a classy AMC. I have to play in his favourite position. This is a formation that Armstrong could excel in. He needs to be in a 2 up top, and a Dack in behind, playing through balls. The midfield three will support full backs going forward more.Bennetts best poition, and Reed `and Rothwell need a turn.

Honestly he’s in with a shout for player of the season so far. Hasn’t had a bad game yet.

Kudos to the person that created the MOM poll, that Harrison is some player.

Both Left and Right Midfielders would be deeper and can cover easier for a centre mid or full backs to get forward. You would use Bennett deeper on the right flank and since he can’t beat anyone anyway, he is completely useless at right wing. He is closer to the middle of the pitch where he can do the dirty work that he excels at. Nyambe would be able to overlap easier, and Bennett would also be able to cover inside allowing Reed or Evans to get forward. David Beckham was never a right winger but a world class Right Midfielder, there is a big difference. Dack can switch flanks easier without getting in the way. He is really a false nine here, with a free role. Anyone of the midfield can break forward. In the current 4-2-3-1, you know Smallwood and Evans ain’t leaving the centre circle.

I hope Brereton can improve, and we can use Graham from the bench. He better for that money.

First game I’ve missed this season. Elliot Bennett never shirks a tackle either and has all the defensive attributes that Ritchie has. He has been marvelous when played in Central midfield. Reed looks like a quality all round midfielder. The problem with Mowbrays 4-2-3-1 is he is using two defensive midfielders with two defensive Full backs, Bell more so wants to get forward but he has been instructed to stay disciplined. Nyambe might be the player of the season so far, and has been excellent defensively, hardly ever gets gubbed and wins the ball back for us constantly. Cafu he is not though. We have a serious problem of getting players into the oppositions final 1/3, in this system. That equates to less chances. It’s fine if Dacky takes his chance and we nick games, but it’s not sustainable though. You will have plenty of games where we get mauled in the possession stats like tonight. Really think the 4-4-1-1 which we saw periodically last year would work. Raya Nyambe Lenihan Mulgrew Bell Bennett Evans Reed Rothwell Dack Brereton

We don't need to wait until January, there are players in the squad who are simply better right now.

I thought he was just the clock watcher, cant believe he is starting a game in the championship. Struggled all last year down a division. Poor lad.

Think Ill give this game a miss.

Freshen things up a bit: Raya Nyambe Lenihan Mulgrew Williams Reed Rothwell Palmer Dack Bell Armstrong

Man of the Match for me.

Never a freekick

Worst Yellow Card I’ve ever seen there on Corey Evans.

Amazing.

All logged into Espn+, and ready to go. Free trial is nice.

Very disappointed to see Smallwood in the team still. Must have dodgy pictures of Mowbray.

Don’t blame Travis for being pissy. I would too if my gaffer was signed 4 Centre Midfielders this summer and was playing Smallwood in front of me.

The boy is obviously a good player, but if he is going out there every week and getting gubbed by fat strikers then Rodwell better get his shinguards on.

Bennett should have been in midfield with Evans, and Rothwell should have started.

I said earlier on in this thread that we shouldnt be afraid of anyone, well I am afraid now. Harry and Marv are peaking in the windows with gleaming crowbars. Heads went down today big time. So much for this togetherness. We looked beaten earlier than we actually were, and it wasn't helped with Tonys subs today. The goals were very poor, particularly the header and the one were Lenihan got mugged by a big fat striker. Bristol City played the high press to perfection today, similar to what we did to Brentford last week. We didnt look like we could be bothered with it for much of today. Is it the mark of a good team in this division, how well you can press high? Unfortunatly Bristol City look a class above us. Tactics Really disappointed to hear Mowbrays talking about putting too many attackers on the pitch, thats why we lost. Sorry Tony I dont agree. We lost this game because we came out in the second half an absolute mess, silly mistakes and a lack of effort at times. Devoid of attacking threat. I always feel like Tony wants to play 3-5-2 with wing backs, but everytime he has tried it we have been poor, thus he has reverted to this ultra defensive 4-2-3-1. He wants defensive players to turn into counter attacking players in this 4-2-3-1, I prefer the opposite of putting in attacking players and teaching them to be disciplined defensively. Nyambe and Bell have been told to be repsonsible and disciplined going forward, but with Evans and the shocking Smallwood in midfield, we really do struggle to get numbers forward, we are struggling to create chances from open play. Look at Bristol City today who were fluid and smooth. I tell you there isnt a lonelier job than the 4-2-3-1, where your the striker and your battling with two quality centre halfs. Raya 6 - Very poor for the goals. Couple of worldies as usual. Thought he was having a nap at times in the second half. Distribution poor. Nyambe 6 - Not his best game. Pace gets him out of trouble alot. Lenihan 5 - Yikes. How many goals is that this season he has been responsible for? Immense against Brentford, but looked a league 1 player today im afriad. Mulgrew 6 - Poor today, starting to look tired against a better quality player. Bell 6 - Tough assignment today against a very good winger. Wouldn't drop him yet. Evans 6 - Not at the races for much of today, got overan at times, playing with Smallwood doesn't help. Done just okay. Smallwood 4 - Tony how many times are you look away in disgust with his passing until you drop him, 50 times, 100 times? If he starts vs Villa then you have to wonder if he has dodgy pics of Mowbrays or something. Never a championship player. Palmer 6 - Bit of a show pony, cut inside alot today and didnt really do much. Has to score. Armstrong 6 - I am giving him a 6 because he looked about 50% fit. Again has to score that one on one. Not sure what business he has playing AMC, with Rothwell and Palmer available there. Only player with genuine pace in the team going forward, but it was useless much of today. Bennett 5 - Lost on the right wing. Didn't see the usual effort and hustle.Playing a winger who can't beat a player isnt a good look. Graham 5 - Apart from the nice through ball to Arma, wasnt at the races, think he will be useful off the bench when everyone is fit. Rothwell 8 - Best player on the team when he came on. What on earth was he doing on the bench today Tony? He should have passed the ball when he went on the mazy and dragged his shot wide. The boy has some drive from midfield. We are desperate for that. Brereton 6 - Rough debut for the lad, looks to have a good touch, didnt win much in the air, plenty more to come. Really hope he isnt one of those 6footers than is 5'7 when he jumps. That offside looked close. Nuttall 4 - Seriously Tony. We look a couple of players short of being able to match up with quality championship teams right now. Plenty to work on the next few weeks. I really hope that Rodwell can play centre half cause I have serious questions on Mulgrew and Lenihan this level. Should have signed Bauer. Reed should be getting a look in, and rothwell needs to be given a go with Evans in midfield. Dack back asap and Brereton up to speed. Armstrong fit and we go again. 9 points from 6 games is an okay start. Time to take my mind of Rovers for a week or so.

Never ever a free kick, and from there the ref has to be sure. Very disappointing decision. Arma has to score that.

Not afraid of anyone in this league the way we have started. Need Dack and Armstrong back very badly. Want to see Armstrong Dack Palmer Brereton as the front four, but might be a bit soon for Ben.

Could see a move in the summer, but not now.