arbitro

I really don't believe in these team bonding/building exercises but that one was particularly brutal. The players faces said it all and psychologically would have a negative effect if I were in the shoes of the players.

Of course it is player availability and it was always going to be the case once we started to get some back. The first 70 minutes or so gave me some hope that with the right system and players we can dig out some results. Scoring goals is certainly a real weakness as many have said and something that a new manager is going to have to address quickly.

Another disappointing result on the road again but I wasn't entirely disenchanted with the performance as I was at Ipswich and Swansea. The game had 0-0 written all over it and I really felt comfortable and the draw was certainly achievable. The turning point was taking Carter off for me. The 66th minute was far too early given how he was playing and he didn't look tired in any way. He was pretty much the rock at the back so we were really surprised that he was taken off so early. I also struggled with taking Miller off and putting Alebiosu back to right back. Neither were needed in my opinion. I do wonder how much the medical and sports science staff played Carter going off. In the ground we were really surprised. I was told on the train home from other Rovers supporters that Carter looked really dispirited to be taken off. Along with Carter I thought Miller, Cashin and Tronstad were outstanding but once again Cantwell was largely a passenger. He was better today than he has been recently but still isn't doing anywhere near enough in my view. We don't have much pace in the team but when Cantwell is on the ball it really slows down to his pace. Clearly scoring goals is a problem going forward and it will be a real conundrum going forward for the new manager. He will have to somehow get the right formula of players to get these otherwise we will go down. For me that's the stark reality.

He has shown terrific humility in that interview, a welcome change from the previous incumbent. He comes across as a really decent person and the type of coach players would want to play for. If he doesn't get the job I think it's imperative he is kept on. His understanding of the local area and people is an absolute asset.

Sky strike again in their quest to annoy as many supporters as possible. The Portsmouth game at home on March 7th has been changed to a 12.30 kick off which means a possible 5 am start for Pompey fans.

I feel for Damien Johnson primarily because he has essentially been thrown to the wolves by the gruesome twosome. Aside from goalkeeping coach Ben Benson he is on his own with, on the face of it no coaching support. He will be responsible for team selection, set up and tactics which I think is grossly unfair when you consider how many assistants and coaches recent managers have had. At a normally run club there would have been some help from the under 21's coach or similar but on Tuesday I wasn't aware of Vignal's (or anybody else's) presence on the touchline.

I hope all goes well DeeCee. 🙏

He is unavailable for some time. The only possibility is once the post up swelling had gone he could train and maybe play with a carbon fibre mask. I was at the game when he got injured and as he hit the ground he shouted 'I've broken my jaw' and he was in real pain. These were Tuesday's subs: Substitutes: Michalski, Alebiosu, Pickering, Gardner-Hickman, Gudjohnsen, Afolayan, Ohashi, O’Riordan, Montgomery

More interesting for me is who is making the decision.

I could well have misheard but I thought Wednesday fans were actually singing 'we want Venky's out' last night.

A completely underwhelming performance but the most important thing was the result. The early goal should have settled us down but we just didn't dominate the ball like we should have done and instead of going for the second goal we became anxious in possession and misplaced too many passes or just gave the ball away. If they were to get back into the game I felt it was going to be from a set piece as we looked really weak defending them. We did create some half chances in the second half but nothing really clear cut. For me far too many players were below per and against the majority of Championship teams we would have been beaten in my view. The worst of these was our captain who I thought had a shocker. His one paced, lackadaisical approach is infuriating and he is more of a hindrance to us right now. Although I wouldn't have picked the team Johnson did I thought his substitutions were better and actually made us stronger when we needed to be. To be hyper critical I thought he could have done a couple of them several minutes earlier. Hopefully the hour that Carter got will enable him to build up his fitness as we are surely going to need him over the next few weeks. It was nice to walk back to the car and see some smiling faces for a change. One swallow and all that but heres hoping that the win and clean sheet can bring a touch of confidence back into a beleaguered club.

He has certainly sprung a few surprises. I can only imagine Forshaw is injured as he's not even on the bench.

That is a good question but somebody has to step up. It looks like Jorgensen is playing down the middle which I think he is far better suited to. Hopefully Baradji is playing more advanced too. Do you not think we will win?

Really, really surprised that De Neve gets a start and probably as surprised that it's Johnson who has picked him. It could be a rocky start for Johnson if we don't win. I also surprised that Carter starts after two 45 and 60 minute appearances for the under 21and part with his injury record. That said we still should have enough to win I believe.

From the original allocation (I don't what that was) Rovers have acceded to a request from Norwich to return a full block. Our sales were slow and Norwich can sell them apparently. We have now in the region of 450 tickets which have all gone. This indicates to me that on arrival anybody going will be told to sit anywhere which kind of defeats the object of picking decent seats soon after they go on sale. The same thing happened at Ipswich and there were lots of issues as some fans wanted to sit in their chosen seats.

This probably sounds daft to some but our biggest enemy tonight might be complacency against a struggling Wednesday who have been further depleted by injury. The game over there in December was an example of what I mean as we looked like turning up would be enough, particularly after a really good result at Middlesbrough a few days before. In pretty much every home game this season we have started really slowly with very little intensity and generally let the opposition grow into the game at their own pace, a bit like playing with the handbrake on. I get playing like that away but for me it was a real failing by Ismael and directly contributed to our abysmal home record. The exception was Millwall when a quick start and early goal gave us a foothold in the game and something to work with. Damien Johnson needs to be bold with both selection and tactics and get at them from the kick off. An early goal will settle everyone down.

I don't know the actual number but when I looked at the seating plan to buy ours there were only the two end blocks available and one of them has rows with only a few seats in each.

Presumably there has been a press conference then. If so was there any indication who took it?

He was sacked in the last few days and Jim Bentley has gone back.

A quick search shows very little time between Tomasson going and Eustace being announced.

In the terse statement it doesn't mention anyone taking over in a caretaker capacity which is strange given we have a game tomorrow. My guess is that Ismael was actually relieved of his duties on Saturday and in the interim a new manager has agreed terms and will be announced soon.

It seems that since Ventre came in we are mixing things up on set plays (as we should too) and a variety of signals are used by the various corner takers. I My thinking on Saturday was that as Millwall posed a real threat from corners it was all hands to the pump.

I recall Beck marking Frey at QPR last season on corners and their very first one he scored. Interestingly it was the first time I had seen Morishita doing that. In some recent matches he has stayed further up the pitch from corners but I'm guessing that Ventre has autonomy on set pieces and is looking for variety which I'm all for.

Did anyone else notice that Morishita was picking up one of the big Millwall centre halves from set pieces. It was in a crowded penalty area and there was quite a bit of blocking but Morishita did his best to stay with him and to a degree succeeded because they didn't really hurt us. I'm guessing this is done to allow our bigger player to attack the ball.

Merry Christmas to all the people behind the scenes and thanks for your sterling work. It's sometimes taken for granted that the board will always be here without the realisation that there is some heavy lifting going on in the background.