Again why isn't the shadow man being called out ? Who is blocking these signings ? He's surely the guy who advises the ownership from this side and are these signing requests even getting that far ?

Dire today but just highlighted everything that's missing and stuff we already know. All the fancy neat football in the world gets you nowhere in this league unless you put away and are solid at the back. It doesn't develop players who can't come to terms with it. Pointless piling in on Pears as well we know his limitations but it was shit defending, powder puff stuff and the game was done anyway. He isn't the reason we lost although you'd think so reading some stuff on social media, don't deflect from the fact they all got it mostly wrong today. Hopefully just one of those days but disappointed with the attitude of a few who seemed to have their minds on their upcoming days off. Still we tend to sign off for international breaks under this manager with stinkers so hopefully he beasts them when they are back. On a lighter note, 63 mins apparently outside the best supported club in world football - they constantly tell everyone.

And he knew how to rile the Geordies up which was always entertaining. Went to a game at Brum with a Toon supporting pal a while after Speedie was at Rovers and had ended up at St Andrews. The stick the barcodes gave him was relentless but he responded well by knocking out their keeper right in front of the seething horde. And helping Brum to a 2-1 win !

Not sure how you define weak though when we are knocking out much changed also Prem sides and reaching quarter finals. A league 2 side resting the majority of its first team even against a Championship second string is always asking for trouble. Fielding your strongest side against a Championship very young second string gives you the best chance you'll have of progress and a money spinner next. I'm not complaining but it's very naive management by them.

Happy to take anything we can get here and i think we might have success on the break if we set up to counter but as always with us first goal is massive. Pilgrims 1 Rovers 1

Mowbray was just one of any number of managers who just treat the early cup games as an opportunity to rest a few regulars and give a few bench players a run out whilst maybe blooding the odd kid. Nothing unusual in what he did it's just old school stuff and how they tend to view these games. Similar to the the fans you only get the real hardcore turning out even though it's cheap and it's just a bit of a distraction from the pressure cooker of the league. JDT has a whole new modern continental approach to it though but it wouldn't be possible without having an amazing and not cheap academy. Something that many clubs similar to us don't have and at the moment it seems it is peaking from hard work started years ago in terms of lads ready to have a go. It's the one thing, almost the only thing the ownership has got right here but i can't wait for these cup games to come around now.

Crap draw but at home and another good opportunity for the development squad to test themselves against similar.

How sad is that it's a minor cup game a couple of hours away on a Weds night against a team in Rovers with no hoolie rep.

They'll probably settle down and get a few wins but i did warn their slavering WUMs on twitter that Kompany's style would struggle in the Prem. He isn't Dyche who was a master of survival football for years but big Vinny thinks he's doing a Pep. It's a beautiful sight so far.

Away to a small lower former non league team tiny packed ground completely different experience for the kids to strolling about on Ewood. We should be fine but like i said these games have banana skin written all over them.

Banana skin if wholesale changes ? Need to be organised and switched on for this one.

Same with Travis who also has regular spells of poor form but like the beginning of last season is turning in captains performances again. So so important clubs like us get off to decent starts and get some points under the belt before lack of depth starts biting us mid winter. He's a massive part of that and over a season Dolan has always been a big contributor but at the moment he's in another indifferent spell. Key to it for me is how they are managed.

There can be no conceivable reason why they wouldn't. Other than not having a hole to chuck 10-20 million a year into...... A reasonable explanation is they just aren't that bothered and those in the middle are sold on the idea this club should sit in the middle of the championship. On a low budget/spend/wage model producing players to sell, trying to wash its face whilst they earn 100s of thousands per year running the show.

Trying to make out it's Blackburn related when a rival team coach gets bricked about to re-enter the M65 at jc 10 in BURNLEY is about as desperate as it gets. Classic dingles their now £150 million quid team can't buy wins so they resort back to 70/80's style behaviour. Won't be long before the next club statement i'd wager.

He gave the ball away and we nearly conceded on the counter with another so he should be careful with some of it. Great player in the making but needs to avoid the Dunn route of thinking it's all about him, hopefully the coaching staff are onto it.

His best role was coming on and closing down from the front seeing games out he busted a gut a few times doing that. Up top on his own like Leonard yesterday he was like a lost boy although to be fair to Leonard he still makes some good movement in the box. Back to goal though is a waste of time though against the centre backs in this league you need physical presence.

Throwing lads in too soon too often at a high level whilst helping them get used to the rough and tumble it can often stunt their actual development. I think that might end up being an issue with Leonard and i think to a certain extent we saw it last season with Vale. Such a difficult position to learn the ropes in as often starved of any touches and opposition most experienced players are often centre defenders. Far better to be eased in and out and brought on as impact subs and so on.

Great win and much needed. Didn't tell us anything we didn't already know we have a good bunch of players many are learning the ropes. Senior pros - Pears included - really stepped up today and Hedges finally got the quaility one he's been threatening since arriving. Dolan should NOT start i'm sick of saying it.

Didn't know him but he really was the voice of Ewood and the best at it. RIP

There's various pics floating around showing Usyks belt below his navel and Daniels belt was also high. My first thought was it was a good shot and no doubt it hurt Usyks nuts because a crack on the belt like that will lift the jockstrap and trap your balls. He did homwever play the game like the wily pro he is if ref counts he has to stagger up or he's out. End of the day Dubois should have gone after life or death then it was his one chance but Usyk just carried on where he left off. Dubois i think must have some issue maybe his eye or vision the way he just crumbled again. Otherwise he is a complete bottle job he was virtually done in his last fight against a doorman before his knee gave way. He just managed to connect with something and turn it around but iv'e never been convinced in him since he struggled so much with Kevin Johnson way back. He was doing ok last night to be fair but Usyk has to be technically the best HW iv'e seen, helped by the fact he's a southpaw. Still think that big dolloper who's ducking him is too big and awkward for him though but nobody else beats him. An absolute master of his craft (and the theatrics)

Ref called it early when DD caught his waistband with a slightly higher shot and got a warning. Some refs say pre fight anything on or below the belt is considered a low blow. Unfortunate for Dubois but that's the way it goes and Usyk def played the game there the shot on belt lifted his cup and crunched his nuts. If ref starts counting he's up at 8 though. COYB i hope Rovers suffer no low blows today.

He didn't he got schooled, hit a borderline low shot below the tip of the waist band, ref called those low before fight began, then quit when he started getting peppered.

Staying up is the only aim we've heard that from the horses mouth so it won't matter to anybody at Ewood outside of the coaching staff.

Keep 11 on the pitch and we can grind out a point but we simply mustn't be caught out early faffing around at the back and give one away. Hornets 2 Rovers 1