arbitro

A very good, rational post.

I honestly don't know what some fans expect. I'm sure I saw we are the lowest spending Championship club over the summer which in itself is credit to how much Tomasson is getting from his players.

The squad would have been strengthened massively had those injured players been available. How many first team appearances did the bench have in total between them? I'd hazard a guess at less than thirty.

I think the majority on here understand why we have regressed under these owners and are extremely unlikely to progress. Which is one of the reasons I appreciate what Tomasson is trying to do here with meagre resources. Missing the playoffs in goal difference was a terrific achievement last season. Supporters angst should be directed at those horrible Indians, not a manager who is, if anything over achieving.

For last night's match we were missing Pears, JRC, Hyam, Carter, Pickering, Hedges and Gallagher. That's seven players who would all potentially have started last night. If you take seven key players out of any squad it will have a massive effect.

If you are referring to the corner routine I agree. I'm not really sure on the 'trying stuff' you refer to where you say we have a record of failure. We have just won four of our last five league games before last night and competed physically at Millwall to come from behind and win. We are playing some of the best football we have played since the Souness and Hughes days and Tomasson is the guy who is behind it and doing it with one arm tied behind his back. Of course he gets things wrong but some of the things said last night were ridiculous and a couple I saw were hinting that he should be sacked.

I thought he was poor and missed at least four more yellow cards (one to Dolan) but more worrying was his lack of empathy and understanding of the game. Preston are renowned for the way they play on the margins but he allowed them too. How many times was Adam Wharton fouled? Invariably it was a different player doing it but it was a deliberate tactic to stop our most creative player. Their left back committed at least six fouls and should have been cautioned for persistent infringement. There were also quite a few tactical fouls that went unpunished.

He is and that's great but he isn't an out and out striker. If we had someone who could match his tally by finishing some of our approach play off we would be pushing right at the top end of the table. Missing good chances cost us dearly last season and I'll wager now it will this season.

It's more of a question of Tomasson is prepared to be patient in all honesty. I can see what he is trying to do and I am fully on board and supportive. The stumbling block lies several thousand miles away.

What a strange reply.

I'm beginning to think that some posters get a kick out of us losing then they can come on here and slaughter our own players and manager. I can accept criticism when it's justified. I really do wonder what some people see sometimes. It's really weird.

I actually thought we shot at goal more tonight than we have for a while. Not too accurate though but shooting nonetheless. I agree with the corners though but he isn't going to change now I don't believe.

Football is cruel sometimes. Some of our approach play was excellent with crisp passing mostly off one touch and a real intensity to our play as we got on the front foot. The problem once again was the lack of an out and out striker who is clinical and could finish some of the chances we created. Lots of really good performances with Adam Wharton excelling for me until he tired late on. Hill and Tronstadt carried on from where they left off at Norwich with top notch performances. Preston were a cynical bunch and epitomise their manager. Woodman was wasting time after five minutes and how on earth they didn't gave another three booked is beyond me. Tomasson is getting a great return from his players right now and one look at the bench tells you how difficult it is for him. If he had some backing I believe he could get us comfortably in the playoffs but he has been let down twice now. I hate losing but I honestly can see that Tomasson is doing his absolute best here right now so I am prepared to be patient.

I've seen Birdy in that suit and if I remember correctly he told me he had it made and insisted on an embroidered Rovers badge on the breast pocket. His love of Rovers really knew no bounds.

It's rare I disagree with Tomasson but there are aspects of this interview in which I do. They travelled to Norwich on the day before and stayed overnight. There was plenty of time for the players to recover from the journey down and relax in the hotel. Similarly they travelled to Chelsea by train the day before. They have access to masseurs in the hotel and pre match and opportunities to rest. In recent seasons Rovers have chartered planes to South Wales but the cost of this was £30k I was told. I do accept the tired line after the trip home by coach after the game. Perhaps staying down south after the Chelsea game would have been beneficial.

Some nice tributes to Alan on Lancs Live. https://www.lancs.live/news/lancashire-news/blackburn-rovers-superfan-alan-birdy-28065735

There's a paradox here in that we have a decent replacement in Brittain but moving him to right back weakens the right midfield position. As you say we need to strengthen in January in a few areas.

I've been told the early prognosis on Joe's hamstring injury is twelve weeks out and potential surgery. That's a huge blow to both Joe and Rovers.

Barry Bannon had a red card overturned today also and Sheffield Wednesday lost.

In truth Bruce I've never seen the words obvious mistake in the grounds for appeal. My understanding was that the appellant had to believe it was an error of judgement or wrong in law. I noticed today that Barry Bannon also had his red card rescinded. He too was sent off for DOGSO which I thought was incorrect.

I saw it in real time and wasn't in any doubt that Scotts first contact was on the ball. I was directly behind the linesman who had the same view but didn't seem to inform the referee. I don't blame the referee by the way. From his position I don't think he could see Scott getting the ball. Anyhow all's well that ends well I suppose.

That is his house.