Two games in and my main gripe is these bloody short corners which are so unproductive, in fact sometimes handing the initiative to the opponents. As we approached the end of stoppage time in the second half we won a corner. All around me fans were shouting to Hedges to get it in the mixer and a chance to win the game. No, we went short and two of three passes later it was full time. Come on JDT, at the very least mix them up a bit.

Today could have been a snapshot of last season as for an hour we had very little intensity in our play, the passing was careless, far too many individual mistakes and too passive. The last half hour was what I remember from many games in the second half of the season when we were the polar opposite. Credit to Tomasson for his bold changes (there might be a valid point that he had no choice) and suddenly we were on top and the feeling amongst many Rovers fans was that if we could score we would get something. It's strange really because the shape didn't really change after the three substitutes came on but suddenly our side players were getting in behind and looking dangerous. And that's a criticism of Dolan and Markanday who I thought were poor with them both making too many wrong decisions and just didn't look threatening. Of course the sending off helped us too. I said yesterday that Rotherham are almost one dimensional and Hugill won nearly every header today against Carter and Hyam who I thought were both below par. Szmodics had a nightmare first hour. He simply couldn't do anything right but he didn't let it affect him and got his reward with a brace. His attitude is first class and why he has endeared himself to us. Ennis and Gallagher could both have scored as we created chance after chance. Pleasingly Adam Wharton looked more like himself in the second half as he started to thread his passes through. All in all it was another performance that put us Rovers fans through the wringer and after being two down I'm certain the vast majority of us would have taken a draw but at the final whistle I personally felt a little disappointed not to have won.

As a traditionalist I fully understand that mate but in this commercially driven world we live in money talks. My granddaughter had her home kit ready for today as I really thought (perhaps naively) that we would be in it today. She is now wearing yellow but isn't happy because it's the only one she has without a name or number on it 😂😂.

Looking at this tweet I think we might be in yellow today. Ironically this is one of the games in which could have with any of our three kits.

Hopefully mate things take a turn for the better for you and your dad. A Rovers win will bring you some comfort in this tough time.

How on earth have I said they are an incredible team by simply highlighting their strengths? A touch of misguided hyperbole there. Last season our whole team weren't capable of competing with them essentially because, as I mentioned we didn't do the basics and at the very least equal their strengths. We have played one game so far this season which was promising so I'm not sure how you can use that as a yardsick. I also said I think we will win by matching their strengths.

I can see it being 1875, season ticket and a number of away games from last season. Although it doesn't happen too often now where there is a scarcity of away tickets it would be better if the club had a scheme like loyalty points whereby points are obtained from having a season ticket and attendance at away games.

This is Rotherham we are playing. They play with intensity, aggression and get the ball into the penalty area as quickly as possible. Last season they knocked spots off us in nearly every aspect of the game so if we match their assets they simply don't have the wherewithal to match ours. Starting the game well normally sets the tone and last season we tanked from about thirty seconds in. I don't often do predictions given the variables involved but tomorrow I'm going for a win.

I think the word uncompromising in a football context was created for the likes of John Coddington. He would likely struggle in today's game but in the era he played in he did what centre halves were paid to do namely whack the centre forward and boot the ball as far upfield as you can. RIP John.

We did the same with Dan Butterworth. Gave him a year then loaned him out for pretty much all of it.

I remember the loony Holloway saying on the aborted Quest programme that we should build a statue to Mowbray for what he achieved here.

https://www.rovers.co.uk/news/2023/august/09/jared-joins-tns-on-loan/ Jared Harlock leaves on a season long loan to TNS. Effectively his Rovers career is over but I don't understand why we exercised the extra year on his contract. With TNS being full time I assume he'll be training with them every day.

We are ball number one in tonight's draw. This round is still regionalised and takes place around 10.15 on Sky following the Burtonv Leicester match. The games will be played w/c August 28th. https://www.rovers.co.uk/news/2023/august/09/carabao-cup-draw-to-take-place-tonight-/

It looks like somebody has spewed up all over it 😂

A decent watch with credit to Walsall for making a game of it. Gilsenan was by far the outstanding player for us in my opinion although Ennis looks like he will offer us something different with his clever movement in the penalty area. The players I was expecting to stand out and push for selection in the first team didn't really impress with Adam Wharton in particular proving he is a while off starting yet. Still it's good to win any game so well done.

It's a real gamble by Levy as Kane is out of contract next summer and he is 30. The latest report says Bayern have offered £94.6m. If he doesn't let him go I can see Kane joining the Saudi gravy train.

I thought Leonard was really good on Saturday up against two huge centre halves. I can't recall either of them having a clean header. Although he didn't win too many headers he challenged them both and didn't allow too many headed passes. His work rate was prodigious as he pressed high and occasionally dropped a bit deeper to put challenges in. In the interviews he has done he seems such a mature young man and willing to listen and learn.

I agree. With their transfer business so far it's almost like they are planning for relegation.

He is out of contract in the summer and there is a report of no extra year option.

The pass from Adam Wharton is sublime. Look how tantalisingly close it is to the West Brom centre half which enables Leonard to stay onside. Perfection.

If England win the WWC then Rovers are offering to refund 50% of the price of a ladies season ticket. It's a shame they weren't so magnanimous when people asked for refunds for games played behind closed doors during Covid. https://www.rovers.co.uk/news/2023/august/07/Rovers-Women-2023-24-Season-Tickets---Deadline-Extended-/

Absolutely we have done it in the past probably in the knowledge that all of the time wasted wouldn't get added on. There have been many edicts down the years which have fizzled out but this feels different.

In that Huddersfield match four minutes were shown (that is the minimum btw), their keeper was cautioned for delaying the restart and some other Warnock traits were shown but bang on four minutes were played. Luton and Burnley were similar. As I said this delaying the restart had become a cancer in our game essentially through referees not applying law. Howard Webb has threatened to discipline referees who don't comply. The moving the ball forward for dissent was only a trial and never actually written into law. I remember using this in a game at Bristol City when Noel Blake screamed at me. He was more upset at the ball being moved forwards than the yellow card. I always felt that this trial should have been implemented into law as I remember being at a meeting and the group of referees all gave positive feedback.

I can clearly recall three matches towards the end of the season when the stoppage time was woefully inadequate. We were so much on top in these matches I was sure in my own mind that had the correct time been added we would have won or drawn (the games were Huddersfield, that lot and Luton). There will be times when we lose out by conceding in stoppage time but I can tell you for a fact that Tomasson is an advocate and is giving it his full support.