Ash Phillips own goal.

https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/efl-tried-stop-norwich-boss-29079002 According to this report the EFL are aware of the situation with Wagner and his shenanigans in 2017. The integrity of the competition is once again at stake but I personally think it's just lip service from the EFL.

Cheston has retired as announced a few weeks ago but Silvester had no plans to is what I was told.

I was told yesterday that Ian Silvester has gone, in fact he went around two weeks ago. It was put down as 'early retirement' so read into that what you will. My educated guess is that he has been made the scapegoat and paid off. Perhaps there might be a snippet of information comes out officially from the club but I'm pretty sure there hasn't been an investigation. The assistant secretary has assumed his duties.

Having studied the fixtures and current from for Saturday my conclusion is that I haven't got a bloody clue if we will stay up. There will be far too many variables across the four matches like mistakes, incorrect refereeing decisions and injuries. Who can hold their nerve will be another important factor. The only thing I'm certain of is that it will be a nervous day for the fans of the four clubs involved and during play there will be emotional ebbs and flows. I just hope the Wi-Fi at Leicester is better than Ewood so at least the Rovers fans in attendance can keep informed of developments.

Our under 21's got smashed 4-0 by Sunderland. The performance was poor, lacking in energy and intensity from what is normally an industrious group of players. Sunderland could have indeed won by more and only Leo Duru comes out with any credit although he fell below his recent standards. The next few days will be interesting for some of these players as contracts expire.

I really don't believe that the owners have any idea on player valuations. Of course the deal for Adam was done with their approval but putting a price on him? Similar with Brereton as again they wouldn't have and idea of his worth. The unqualified idiots at Rovers are the ones who put the prices on players I believe. The fools in Pune are just going along with them and in the case of Adam get some money into the club to save face after their court appearances.

This is funny. Watch Chansiri's reaction and the security guard too. It reminds me of the Rovers can who asked Kean for a picture and when Kean stood next to him the lad shouted 'Kean out'.

No one likes us they proudly sing. Do they ever wonder why? This f****** can expect a knock on his door soon.

And what qualifies the likes of Broughton and Waggott to put a valuation on him? They are both under qualified and took the first offer that came along. But the sensible Rovers fans know they sold the family silver to keep the lights on due to the owners nefarious business dealings.

I think we had as many shots today than we have had in any other game this season and not scoring from one is the real disappointment for me but I wasn't unhappy with our play in general. There was an immeasurable amount more effort and intensity that last Sunday and some decent play. In fact today reminded me of a few games early on this season under Tomasson when we battered teams but couldn't score. You'd have put your mortgage on Szmodics scoring in the first half as most of his goals have come from more difficult chances. In the first half we looked a threat from corners but that threat waned in the second half as they were poor. I really thought we could have got one from a set piece today. Is the point enough? Who knows as next Saturday will see lots of fans nervously looking at their phones and watching how the table changes with every goal. I still think Eustace left us light in midfield again today as Rankin-Costello and Tronstad worked manfully but the effort required when the opposition have an extra man in there took its toll on JRC and Tronstad looked weary after an hour. I think everybody knows we need wholesale changes in the playing person next season if we stay up. The real fear for many is that it just won't happen.

I've just seen a fleeting glimpse on Twitter of the players arriving for today and it looked like one of them was Leo Duru.

I'm quite worried today about the system and tactics Eustace will use. I think he will go with a back five and set up not to lose as he did on Sunday. That went well 😁. We really can't afford to be overrun and need to play with a higher intensity level and match Coventry. As ever the first goal will be important and it should be us on the front foot trying to get it. We need something to defend if that is the mindset of Eustace. Szmodics will be receiving his POTY awards before the match from Colin Hendry. Hopefully there are plenty of people in their seats to give him the accolade he richly deserves. As for the lap of appreciation I'll more than likely be sat on the bus ready to go home when the players come out.

In the Supporter Consultation meetings (whatever happened to them) there was quite often some direct questioning of Rovers officials so Waggott came up with a diversionary tactic. He brought Mowbray along to at least two and he pretty much tried to take the floor whilst regaling us with stories of Middlesbrough past. It didn't really work but gives you an insight into how Waggott works. He doesn't like confrontation and likes to have a human shield which, by the way insults our intelligence. He certainly wasn't comfortable with Tomasson having digs at him and was fearful he would go full blown anarchist when he was stopped from speaking to the press. It's how Waggott works. Big wage, little responsibility.

And out of the six we signed there probably isn't 20 starts between them. And the likelihood is that only one will be here next season. It was an awful January window which followed an equally bad Summer window.

https://www.rovers.co.uk/news/2024/april/26/we-want-to-prove-the-doubters-wrong--says-sammie/ Szmodics trying to create a siege mentality for tomorrow. If more of the squad had his mentality and attitude then I wouldn't be as fearful of going down but sadly there are too many surrender monkeys for my liking. Hopefully by tomorrow evening I am eating my words.

https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/sport/football/football-news/coventry-city-predicted-team-blackburn-29064082 An article which contains Coventry's predicated team. Having seen some headlines about them having to play Academy players Eustace and his players should not fall into the complacency trap. That predicted team is a good one with the likes of O'Hare, Ellis and Wright included. Tomorrow is going to be extremely tough and if we don't match their intensity and desire we won't get anything from the game. Anything resembling the lacklustre second half last Sunday and relegation beckons. And Eustace has to earn his corn by picking the right team and tactics.

And the Broughton/Venky model will become increasingly more difficult I believe. The likes of Wharton and Phillips were given a platform by Tomasson and the big clubs began to take notice. But I honestly can't see any young home grown players being given the same opportunity under Eustace who certainly seems to trust the senior players rather than youngsters. A big thing was made of Broughton getting lots of deals done with quite a few youngsters but in reality how many of these would be deemed good enough to break through to the first team. The likes of Gamble, Batty, Vale and others will possibly be released soon.

Good analysis and the numbers really do tell their own story. Out of a possible 66 points thus far we have garnered only 24 points. And to think Ewood used to hold some fear for visiting teams.

The intensity has gone out of our game under Eustace so I don't think that the amount of games Coventry have played will be any advantage to us. We aren't a pacy team by any stretch of the imagination but under Tomasson the intensity made up for some of this. We really look like plodders and as such easy to play against.

I didn't see him. Benson was though.

He did well. He still got forward on the left side when he could but was disciplined in his defending. Cirino though was predominantly forwards in a proper conventional wing back role so most of the time Batty was in a defensive three rather than the rigid five Eustace plays.

A really entertaining match tonight at Ewood as the under 21's came back from two goals to draw and for long periods in the second half looked like we were going to win. Sheron played three centre backs with in Whitehall, Gamble and Batty but it was the wing backs who really excelled. Cirino and Duru were great examples of how to play that position and the forward runs they consistently made were a real strong point for us tonight. I have said for a few months now that Duru has been excellent for six months and in my view he should at the very least be in the first team match day squad. These games are free for season ticket holders and in the past I have just scanned my season card and gone in as I would for a first team match. Tonight everyone had to go to the ticket office, show your season card and get given a paper ticket. In light of the reasons for the farcical Digital Day and the EFL Environmental Award how does that make any sense. Another day in the crazy world of Blackburn Rovers.

I don't remember Ian.