Seems silly to let Bennett go when we only have Nyambe available at RB. 

Sounds like Pickering is coming our way. Wonder if he will actually get any starts this season given Douglas has finally woken up and looking like a top LB again.

Just saw the replay of our goal ... no idea what Luton are complaining about? They just switched off.

What is going on with the shooting today?

I am not enjoying this half.

I enjoyed that half.

There goes another defender..

Looking really good so far. Pitch isn't helping us though.

2 good opportunities for Arma already, but he's fluffed both. 

Is Davenport injured?

Don't like seeing Evans and Bennett on the bench. I think the time is up for both of them and they need to move on at the end of the season.

Personally, I can't see anything but disappointment at the end of the season. I might as well call it now and say we will finish 7th. I think we do have it in us to improve our results & performances, especially with a winnable run of games coming up. However, the current top 5 are really breaking away from the rest of the league. I don't really see them imploding any time soon allowing us to catch up.

Our best chance is that Bournemouth continue their downward trend and we're able to sneak into 6th. Boro, Stoke, Bristol and Preston are all average teams that we should be finishing above. 

8 minutes ago, roversfan99 said:

Bell had a one year contract extension triggered this summer which was totally unnecessary. Why re sign someone who has repeatedly shown himself to be incompetent? Didnt W

Fitness wise, Bristol City had 7/8 usual starters out for a spell including when they beat us. Norwich had more than 11 injuries to the point that they had one senior sub. Stoke and Preston as you mentioned, the former at one point had 3 keepers, Fletcher, Mikel, Allen, Clucas and Fox out. At the peak of our absentee list, many were down to not being registered in time. Injuries and covid absentees are common this season. Ultimately Mowbray made 2 defensive signings to try and fix a defence he has repeatedly neglected in the past and neither have been successful.

https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/18518896.fitness-update-contract-clause-rovers-defender-revealed/

3 hours ago, Hoochie Bloochie Mama said:

Have you listened to the podcast? He wasn't asked that question at all. He was asked about Venky's and how they aren't in the headlines any more, he then went on about how great he was and then trotted out a list of excuses as to why we aren't doing well at the moment. . And that article from Sharpe is copied from the podcast. Sharpe wasn't asking the questions. I'd listen to the podcast and then take it from there. 

There's a podcast? 

1 hour ago, roversfan99 said:

The problems are mainly self inflicted. He chose to sign one centre back rather than 2, and the one he chose was one who hadnt played for 9 months who had a reputation as a sick note. The main reason he chose to sign one rather than two was because that he chose to reject the advances from Swansea who wanted to take another sick note in Williams off our hands. Signing Ayala AND keeping Williams was always an incredibly risky move. 

Highlighted in bold because it's untrue. Swansea never put in a bid for him. They were able to get Ryan Bennett in on a free instead and spent their available money on Jamal Lowe. If you're going to make claims like this, back it up. 

Williams has only had the one major injury last season. He's otherwise been almost always available for us every season he's been here, and at Bristol before that. Calling him a sick note is a bit of a stretch. 

It's a pointless argument to have either way because we had 4 good CBs at the start of the season in Lenihan, Williams, Ayala and Wharton. Unless 1 of them was moved on, there was no point signing a 5th. 

1 hour ago, roversfan99 said:

At left back, part of the problem has been down purely to poor performances by both left backs, one of whom we knew was poor yet he re-signed, and one who he didnt sign until the last day of the window who he has been lucky to get as much football from as he has based on his recent injury history.

Highlighted in bold because you're stretching the truth again. He had a 1-year extension clause triggered in his contract on promotion back to the Championship.

I don't think anyone has ever argued that Bell is good enough, or that Douglas hasn't been a disappointment. LB was one of the priorities this season and Douglas was considered a good signing at the time given his reputation as one of the best LBs in the Championship. He's at least shown some improvement in the last 2 games, although I agree he's been awful defensively in too many games he's played so far.

If you're going to say we got lucky with Douglas on the injury front, then you're going to have to say we got unlucky with Ayala, Williams and Wharton all getting injured. You can't have it both ways.

1 hour ago, roversfan99 said:

The defensive issues are far from this season and added to the fact that every team has had injury and covid issues this season, quite a few far worse than ourselves and the excuses dont really wash any more.

Which teams have had worse injury issues than us this season? The only ones that have comparable injury issues to us that are doing well are Watford and Bournemouth (both favourites pre-season with far bigger squads and budgets). The only other ones that come close are Stoke, Forest, Bristol and Preston. Forest is down in 20th, and the rest are unsurprisingly in a mid-table scrap with us.

21 minutes ago, Hoochie Bloochie Mama said:

Boro and QPR - Won 1 Drew 1. Doesn't really fit with Mogga's narrative of reasons why we've struggled. 

Which was the other?

Loss at Swansea. 

Where in that article has he said that having 0 LBs was the reason for our struggles this season? He was asked a question about whether selection was harder due to injuries and COVID this season, and he’s just said yes and given examples.

We’ve fielded a different back four every game for at least the past 5 games. Compare that to Boro who we’re facing tomorrow who have fielded the same back four for the last 5 games. You seriously think that hasn’t impacted our season in any way?

1 hour ago, Ghost7 said:

He now needs to stop talking to the media, we've had two left backs all season.

I must have dreamt those 3 matches when JRC played LB then.

2 hours ago, DanLad said:

Didn't we have an award winning pitch a few years ago? We also had a groundsman who was very highly regarded, but Venky's let him leave (or made him leave?). It was a bizarre decision, presumably made just to cut costs. I remember thinking at the time that we had 99 problems, but the pitch ain't one.

We had an award winning pitch under the current groundsman during our League One season as well. Venkys have invested in the pitch multiple times now - both during the years that Steve Patrick was head groundsman and now Trevor Wilkin as well.

https://www.rovers.co.uk/news/2014/may/pitch-perfect/

https://www.rovers.co.uk/news/2018/may/ewood-pitch-named-one-of-the-best-in-the-efl/

https://www.thisislancashire.co.uk/sport/18331228.break-might-come-good-time-ewood-park/

https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/16244470.work-underway-ewood-pitch-rovers-groundstaff-commended/

2 minutes ago, RevidgeBlue said:

Who said we never get any decisions? That was a very harsh red that far from goal.

Can we capitalise?

It was a clear red.

4 minutes ago, matt83 said:

When that went in all I could think is this clown bought himself another few weeks. 

1 point isn't enough here. Has to be 3 points.

4 minutes ago, yellowsubmarine said:

Our saviour Bucko is on! ahahah

You called it!

8 points away from the playoff spots as it stands. Season well and truly over if we fail to win.

Poor pitch, players carrying knocks, crap officiating, Powell scoring a set piece goal - this just feels really miserable. 

There was so much hope and excitement at the start of the season, but I just feel numb watching us play now.

The players look completely drained of energy.

Shocking offside decision.

Matondo looks like their danger man so far.

Brainthwaite has been excellent on his debut. Looks confident and has stepped in with some key tackles and clearances. 

The pitch is horrendous and is really hampering our ability to play on the ground. Looks like Rothwell has already injured himself due to the pitch.

1 hour ago, philipl said:

My Everton supporting stepson is convinced Branthwaite is coming to us and that we are getting an absolute gem.

Let's see...

Would certainly tick all the boxes. Tall, fast and good on the ball. Sounds like Tosin Mk II. 

Need a 2nd before half time. This ref will even it out for them otherwise before long.

Birmingham are so bad they are making Douglas look good at RB.