Gutting the women's team another Swag masterstroke.

This could be anything. Two clubs for whom the result doesn't matter with some stinking bad recent results. I thought our draw in the home game against Sunderland was one of our best performances of the season. Sunderland were very serious automatic promotion contenders when they came to Ewood and played like it. Here's hoping we continue building momentum from recent performances and results but suspect it will be a let down.

Three games to go and 49 points with goal difference is not an unreasonable realistic requirement to finish 21st. On this basis Preston are already safe... just. Luton and Plymouth have the run ins from hell playing teams at the top still in play off or automatic promotion fights (and not Sunderland who are already safely in the play offs). The others all have eminently winnable games on paper so it comes down to ability, grit and momentum. On yesterday's showing, Derby don't have any of those qualities so they will join Luton and Plymouth preparing for a trip to Burton next season. Up top, the dingles and Leeds have the automatic places sewn up barring losing two of the last three games. Similarly, Bristol City and Coventry have to implode not to get 5th and 6th between them. Boro have to go to Coventry on the last day of the season with Coventry visiting Plymouth and Luton before then so even a slip up against those two relegation haunted sides means Coventry still have 6th place in their control.

Credibility. Lost when they fired Allardyce

Great win, but Millwall had 10 first teamers out How did we miss those three chances in the first 7 minutes? Toth not at fault for the goal- come on. A Millwall player got to it at the front of the 6 yard box and flicked it back to the guy who scored but could just as easily flicked it goalwards- Toth going for the ball across the 6 yard line would have been beaten at his near post.. As it was, the hard strike went back across the keeper and Toth was within a whisker of stopping. Pears would have stood and watched. Overall Toth was solid and his distribution excellent. Really chuffed for Tronstad, Hyam and Brittain all scoring.

Playing with no players this afternoon?

Two ridiculously rubbish sides Derby V Luton

Big test for Ismael. Nothing game for us against opponents who simply have to go for the win.

Batty looked all at sea in that Tranmere come back. Didn't know when to press or avoid getting rolled.

Blackburn Rovers - where 3 managers have sacked the club in the last decade.

The most underwhelming look forward to Easter football I can recall. Millwall will be coming to Ewood for the win to project themselves into the play-offs which will give the game an edge. They are on quite a run at the moment so the team and supporters will believe. All the noise from the sparse crowd will be from the Darwen End. Likelihood of us getting to half time at least 2 down has to be high. Montgomery will be unavailable. Travis and Hyam will play. Beyond that we need a random number generator for the starting eleven. This sort of a nothing game will be a measure of Ismael's abilities.

I too thought we were down to 9 until I realised Trav was still on the park.

Credit where credit is due but Luton deserve to be where they are if they can't win 12 V 10. Good to see us playing some passing football and defending effectively. Montgomery looks a proper footballer and that ref a brainless bully. Good that we finally have a double (at the last opportunity) and 1965/6 remains the last season when we didn't get one. Here's hoping Ismael has turned a corner in a positive direction.

What an abysmal ref that was.

We owe it to John Eustace to win this one.

Back to football. Having seen the "highlights" of their home defeat to Hull yesterday, if Ismael can't set up Rovers to give Wednesday a thrashing we are well and truly in the mire.

In the spirit of apathy around here it is appropriate that someone not going to this match starts the thread for the crisis derby. The club going for 6 defeats on the trot taking on the unpaid. Someone posted on BRFCS they wished they had the Sheffield Wednesday owner at Ewood... He might turn up which is more than Venkys ever will. It will be 0-0 unless Ainsley drops the ball in his own net. Makhter Gueye to knock a Wednesday player out cold in a fit of total frustration.

Oh dear. Got a dud.

With 7 first team regulars out, Pompey were there to be beaten. All Ismael had to do was pick the regular stand in right back and regular centre forward. Instead Carter and Woodrow gave season worst performances. Huge shame for Beck. Before he went off it had looked like he and Ribeiro were going to prosper on the left flank. Somehow we are still only 5 points of 6th with a current form which is by far the worst in the Championship. With the bottom clubs winning regularly it is a good job we have got to 52 points.

If I were deliberately trying to lose today, I would pick a team with Woodrow up front and no right side.

Watched Sweden 5 Northern Ireland 1. After apparently a horrendously bad performance against Luxembourg, Sweden played some really sweet stuff and of course have an excellent keeper as we know all too well and a world class striker in Isak. Certainly could see JDT hallmark style in the way they play. I was left wondering how we managed to have Ayari on loan and not have him play every possible second he was with us. Kid has potential to be one of the best.

England are so boring. Pass backwards more often than Forshaw.

My profound thanks to Mr Ismael for delivering the coup de grace today and avoiding any prolonged agony.

OK, I can forget about football for two weeks

Phillips og