Any news on Ayala's injury?

I am not counting any of our dropped points directly down to Mowbray and am hoping that zero stays throughout the season because if it does, play-offs are pretty certain at a minimum. Mowbray misjudgements undoubtedly cost us a play-off slot last season and arguably might have done the season before.

Rothwell still quarantining. One of the reasons we need this outsized squad is we have already lost two players to 14 day quarantines and inevitably will lose more no matter how careful everybody is.

Stanley deep in the doodoo there. In these circumstances emergency loans can be made- wonder if it is a chance for Rovers to get League 1 experience for some youngsters? Stanley have three more games before they come out of 14 day quarantine and that is assuming none of them develop more severe symptoms.

We play with 26? We had 13 players unavailable v Forest.

Coventry have beaten QPR, drawn with Barnsley and Swansea and lost to Brentford, Bournemouth and Bristol City. So based on that, if we are contenders we have to beat them. Williams almost certainly in for Ayala. I would like to see Douglas for Bell and Trybull for Evans. Brereton's and Elliott's performances v Watford should retain their places and Arma is undroppable but when Dolan strengthens up (not that he is a wallflower now) I wonder if he could challenge for leading the line? He'd win a few penalties at the very least with those quick feet of his.

Rovers away at West Ham under 23s this afternoon.. Not getting iFollow coverage and West Ham don't have a TV station so I guess there will be no live coverage. West Ham are bottom of the table and Rovers could go top with a win.

Gallagher had a knock to a knee in training so was omitted. I don't see how he even gets on the bench when we have something like a full squad fit and available.

Nyambe furthest out on the right picks up the Watford player furthest out on their left even if its the GK up for a 95th minute corner. For that goal, Cleverley was the player Nyambe should have seen and not allowed an unchallenged header. I am a fan of Ryan's. That goal went horribly wrong for Rovers by what was not happening on the left side of our defence but Nyambe could and should have been more alert to Cleverley stealing in.

Harrison Reed and who else? None of the others have left Ewood and shone if you're being honest.

Lost in all the pain of losing a game we should have won, Harvey Elliott had an unremarked but impressive League game debut. This Kid is one class footballer. Midfield needs to adjust its eyelines to spot the runs he makes because apart from Holtby they were missing them last night. I know that Dack is a player you build a side around but I think Harvey will come into that category before too long. Certainly Watford were treating him with the greatest respect if you looked at the lack of space he was given to work in. Even so, look at this:

But we will lose more entertainingly

Elliott looked class yesterday. Too often he was making runs which were beyond the ken of Evans and Johnson to pick up. You could see Watford were scared of him in the way he was never left alone.

How close to his current reality...

I will take the positives. We have more than competed with Bournemouth and Watford away despite the results. Forest and Cardiff were two very poor performances. I know people are trying to say we were poor again last night but really.. In previous seasons we would see our best side play and lose like that occasionally and hope for a better window This season, when fit, we have Dack, Travis, Rothwell, Trybull and Douglas already on the books who are an improvement on what we saw last night and Williams and JRC at least as good. The (probably forlorn) hope is Mowbray can pick the best team and knit them together. Sorry but Johnson gives the ball away too much and failed to spot Elliott runs, Evans excellent performances are too rare and all the goals against came down Bell's side. A word for Dolan. He didn't go past anybody because all opponents know to keep a pace back from him but he kept us in possession every touch. His passing is rock solid and I am now more confident of his development than I am in Buckley's who didn't even make the bench. Our players are not moving into positions to take advantage of the short passing opportunities opponents standing off Dolan are creating. Equally Mowbray asking Dolan to hug the touchline is missing the strength of Dolan to be able to go either way. Wycombe won't be challenging, I don't think the much fancied Derby will be but would anybody be surprised if Bournemouth, Cardiff, Forest and Watford take 4 of the top 6 places this season? That said our record of D 1 L 3 against them is abysmal for a club with designs on promotion this season. Coventry and Reading games now looking ridiculously important

Man of the match without any argument Ben Foster. Ref was woeful. Evans, Johnson and Bell simply don't have the raw ability needed at this level. Fortunately, Trybull, Rothwell, Travis and Douglas do so we have the necessary quality in the squad if Tony picks them. Lenihan and Williams will be the central defenders for the next four or five games as Ayala's glass ankle extends to his groin. Possession 66-34 Shots 19-10 on target 7-4 corners 8-1 fouls 13-22 Yes, we totally thrashed Watford 1-3!

Not working yet is it?

Elliott clearly looks a class act. Holtby is a class act. Rovers totally dominant from the stats. This one is ending 3-3

Cannot write that about miserable Rovers supporters- you will get blitzed for it!

Anyone getting a video signal? All I am getting is a circling semi circle Update- picture just come on at Goodison Park

This is going to be interesting tactically. 3-5-2 meets 4-3-3 Joaoa Pedro and Ismail Sarr are both very dangerous forwards.

Subs bench looks really strong

Laugh at the hard fact then

Feeling a bit better about this one. 7 players available who weren't on Saturday. Holtby Williams JRC Trybull Elliott Douglas Pears Mowbray pretty well saying we will see Elliott at some point and that Elliott's skills are amazing.

Going to be a crazy season judging by some of last night's results. I keep repeating myself but I think Reading are going to stay in contention all season.