I feared the two late goals by Watford were worse than a gut punch and so it proved. Self-belief has evaporated. Around the second minute we had prolonged possession on the edge of the Huddersfield box- had no idea what to do with it, looked toothless, lost the ball and the pattern was set. Except we forgot how to keep possession. Moran had another stinker, Sigurdsson was peripheral and Brittain turned backwards far too often. Wahstedt really cost us with that horror show for the first goal. Everyone else except Pickering, Transtad and Wharton were pretty anonymous and those three were too few to lift the malaise. JDT has a massive job to do before Friday night and negligible resources to work with.

JDT to earn his Christmas Day mince pie by lifting the squad after that gut punch defeat by Watford. Huddersfield physical but can be played around and through. They have pace to run through the middle of defences if you let them so the trademark sloppy Rovers pass in the final third could be fatal.

Happy Christmas to all!

https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/24010182.tomasson-rues-refereeing-decison-cost-blackburn-rovers/ In real time on Rovers TV the incident was obscured from the camera but the decision to award a Watford free kick seemed unfortunate but ok. Having seen it played back from other angles, the keeper simply spills it and a perfectly legitimate Rovers goal has been ruled out.

The Wahlstedt punch was inadequate but very harsh to criticise him otherwise. Again, we had chances to seal the deal and we didn't take them. It was also a crazy game for practically every loose or miscontrolled ball falling kindly for Watford. Yes we were beyond stretched today but if Watford had 9 unavailable like we had- ie take any 6 away from their subs bench, they don't recover to score those two late goals. Alternatively, Rovers having any 6 of our missing players available we wouldn't have lost. I really hope we get two classy PL loanees in January but if we have as good a second half of the season for injuries as we have had a bad first half, our subs bench will become as ridiculous for the amount of high quality talent on it as it was ridiculous for total lack of game time today.

Makes more sense than the Beeb's 4-2-3-1 with Hyam left back and Garrett number 10. Beyond Hill, looking at Markanday and Leonard as the seasoned old heads available off the bench. 🙃 Going to have to be clinical in front of goal.

City brushed aside Fluminese in the World Club Cup Final easier than they defeated Burnley and in Haaland, De Bruyne and Doku were arguably without their three most effective and dangerous players. Makes me wonder what standard the European "Super" League would be if it ever happened.

Really feel for you. Gutting

https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/24008666.arnor-sigurdsson-hails-impact-genius-jon-dahl-tomasson/ Not surprised to see a player hailing JDT like this. That it is Sigurdsson who has played under a national coach and Champions League management speaks volumes. Here's hoping the glimpses we see of Sigurdsson class become the norm from his performances.

Hyam starts.

Keeper at fault for being blocked off but not for being central in his goal. Fault for the first was entirely the first man allowing a dropping low ball past him. He should have stepped forward to put it out for a second corner rather than be where he was with a choice between og and hoping people behind him could clear.

Shoulder surgery. Wishing Bucko a complete and quick recovery although some reports say his season is over.

Mowbray screwed up with that 2-0 Barnsley home defeat but after the shocker of a season Coyle had visited upon us, Mowbray did well with a team completely new to him and that Barnsley game stands out as a sole aberration at that tail end.

Modern balls are lighter and move around in the air more. No longer a sodden leather lump going straight through the air.

Answering the last question, Teams are not shooting from distance like they used to. Means far fewer spectacular goals but also keepers now get far fewer camera ready saves to make. Multiple camera angles and nano second analysis means the percentages favour the build up and moving opponents out of position. Given the fitness and strength levels of modern players and improved ball technology, I refuse to believe that nobody in the current crop can strike a ball like Peter Lorimer repeatedly did or Steven Reid achieved at Wigan or have the volleying ability of Tugay. Simply the coaching technique of getting bodies between player with ball 30 yards out and the goal have improved dramatically. Teams are defending narrower than they used to and relying on full back sprint speed to get to wide players on the opposite flank in the time it takes for the ball to travel and be brought under control.

Yes Goalkeepers were always brilliant. A forest gift for Rovers in there... That Ronnie Rosenthal effort onto the crossbar I think remains the all time greatest howler.

Gascoigne destroyed any pretence Colin Hendry had to that level of regard. Anyway glad we are discussing Leo in the same breath as the World's best.

Watford scored two 30 yarders into the far corners and PNE turned Father Christmas for at least one of the others. One goal was slick passing and movement but PNE played statues. So yes a fantastic result for Watford and there is a risk we will lose as badly if we turn in our worst performance of the season. Hopefully the Fans Takeover motivates the players to turn it on. I really hope the Blackburn public are responding appropriately to this initiative. If they don't, any hope of the club risking lower prices to boost attendance goes out of the window.

71st minute sub appearance in the 4-1 defeat at the Bernabeu last night

Triallist in the PL2 side this evening. Looks to be a midfielder.

I didn't see the first and fourth that way. Will have to watch the replays but I am sure the first was the fault of whoever should have been covering the front post. The ball reached the player in front of Wahlstedt at knee height.

Players usually return to the home club for treatment and rehab if they pick up a bad injury on loan.

Not Callum's best day. We had a gilt chance to take the lead after Bazoulis spilled Szmodic's free kick and sadly for all concerned it was Brittain onto it on the 6 yard box with the keeper rapidly closing him down. He didn't see Sigurdsson free as a bird inside him and onside so poked it unconvincingly at the keeper. The rest was unneccessary yellow, idiot yellow... One weird positive, Harry Leonard looking good at right back late on. Sadly another Moran off day and Szmodics running into cul-de-sacs. If we had just 5 injuries instead of 8, Andy Moran wouldn't have started and it is worrying that Markanday isn't convincing enough to get a chance in current circumstances even off the bench. And after defending 8 corners well, how does the 9th reach a Southampton player stood in front of Leo in the 6 yard box at knee height on the stroke of half time?? Generally Leo had a good game. Southampton were ruthless as the clock ticked to 100 - i was expecting 3 or 4 minutes added on after only one at the end of the first half. Which brings us to the ref. Not Sheffield Wednesday bad but VAR would have given Southampton the first half penalty for the shirt pull. The benefit given Southampton in the second half was pathetic.

Depressing defeat