philipl

In the 4 minutes of injury time- The Ipswich long throw is taken from on the pitch with clear grass between touchline and back of the heel. Ref is stood 30 yards from where we are repeatedly shielding the ball in the corner and gives a goal kick when the ball clearly goes out off a ref sock after Cantwell clipped the ball onto the Ipswich shin. That was par for the entire game.

Again conceded from the hole De Neve left But The goal kick they eventually scored from was clearly another Rovers corner... Abysmal officiating all evening denied Rovers the comfortable win our superiority deserved.

We are playing Ipswich so the weather forecast is a month of rain in the next 24 hours...

So frustrating. Forshaw and Morishita were both excellent and the team played well overall.

Portsmouth and Sheffield United kicking off right now. We could be back in deep trouble before our game starts.

You don't fake Dolan's abilities. You coach him to produce his best consistently. Playing with and against much better players in La Liga is getting far more out of him than we did at Rovers. The experience might also be instilling the footballing brain that was all too often lacking at Ewood.

Random number generator needed to forecast which Rovers show up. We have beaten better than Wrexham and lost home to Norwich and Sheffield United. Don't have the same foreboding as I had pre-QPR and at least the fans will be solidly behind the lads and not as silent as Ewood.

Two Ismael clangers. Yet again the team has no first half energy or purpose. Hedges can play left wing back, De Neve can't.

Two utterly unpredictable clubs facing off. QPR mirrored our run of three wins with a run of three defeats having previously got to the fringes of the play-offs after recovering from starting their away campaign with a 7-1 tonking at Coventry. Expect anything from both sides. Impossible to predict this one except noting that if Ilias Chair is allowed to play well, QPR are a real handful.

Norwich v Oxford and Sheffield United v Portsmouth this midweek so a strong possibility of the cushion being 3 points and being mired in the relegation scrap if we continue our current home when QPR come to Ewood...

That's terrible. No pay on the gate?

Edwards has Wolves and Boro over a barrel. Probably presented his respective January recruitment lists to both and is awaiting answers.

Big job for VI facing a very physical side without the intended backbone of the squad. (Toth, Wharton, Carter, Tronstad, broken foot guy, Cantwell)

Puts Edwards in a strong position to dictate the January transfer window at Boro...

From 13 minutes- they see plans B, C and D from VI which completely bemused Cifuentes.

Bristol City supporter friend has texted me that they have a completely makeshift defense and midfield because of injuries and hoping we have no pace in our team.

Not a legendary player in the Souness mold but looking at his Wiki entry, not too shabby either- A centre-back, Ismaël played for Strasbourg, Crystal Palace, Lens, Werder Bremen, Bayern Munich and Hannover 96. As a player, he won the Coupe de France, the Coupe de la Ligue twice, the Bundesliga twice, as well as the DFB-Pokal on two occasions.

Who leaves? I fear Tyjon. One of the left backs? Any one we receive an offer for whose contract is up next Summer. Tronstad or Cantwell? Last summer left us all bemused so no great clamour for new signings especially as has been mentioned we have returnees and an unseen newbie. Pickering has played right back in the past so might be viewed as cover for RA.

Disagree that the League is very poor this year. Far more clubs are competitive this time around including unfashionable ones which probably colours perception seeing Millwall Preston Charlton and Hull where they are with Boro and Coventry topping the pile. This season's Coventry are probably the most entertaining outfit the Championship has seen since the days of Fulham. What has happened are clubs which self-destruct are being ruthlessly punished whereas there was hiding space in previous seasons. Not entirely surprising Southampton are where they are given they almost got under Derby's record low points haul last season. Last season's Championship relegated sides are hardly setting League 1 alight this time around and the promoted sides recruited well for once.

Don't know what effect he has on professional athletes but I find his interviews very listenable and relatable.

A comfortable win yesterday.

After watching highlights of our win I cast an eye over the Bristol City defeat at Stoke. Bristol certainly like to strike the ball hard from outside the box which was dumb against a keeper of Johansson quality. Their consolation was a nearly undefendable near post back flicked corner. One Stoke goal was a keeper howler but generally Bristol City defended like statues. Pace and pressure up front needed from us on Tuesday to get in amongst those Ashton Gate defenders.

Bristol City got spanked 5-1 at Stoke today. So we are likely to face a reaction. Don't give away free kicks in Scott Twine territory...

Not seen it but sounds rather comfortable. Shots and XG back up that impression.

Coventry are unbeaten this term and we bested them for 45 minutes eventually losing to two volleys which would beat any club in this division. Leicester have a midfield and front line I doubt we can keep out for 90+minutes but their midfield and defence give gifts if pressured. Go for a draw, we will lose, go there with a win as the objective and play like we did at Coventry in the first half, we might come away with a point or three.