arbitro

The two main reasons we lost this game for me was awful finishing and poor decision making. In their last three matches Sunderland have scored eleven goals and I honestly think we should have done with the good chances we have squandered in the same number of games. At times our decision making is poor and too often we make the wrong one by playing the wrong pass, not playing it early enough, taking too many touches, not shooting when we should and a host of other things. I thought that is where Sunderland were far better than us. They did the simple things far better. How many times did we get caught in possession tonight? I'm struggling to think of one player who didn't and Adam Wharton was the main culprit closely followed by the likes of Szmodics, Travis, Garrett and Dolan. On the subject of Dolan he appears to be a busted flush now and if he thinks he can hold the club to ransom over this new deal his feet wouldn't touch the ground in January. He simply isn't good enough to do that. Tomasson was also culpable tonight as his substitutions really weakened us. Normally he gets most of them right but tonight I think he was wrong. Not one of the changes had an effect on the game and none of those who came on showed anywhere near enough to be in with a chance of starting on Saturday. A bad night all round.

I have too but the fact is we haven't had a match called off for a waterlogged pitch for a long time.

But it wasn't and no subsequent matches were postponed. There are many things to criticise Rovers for but the pitch isn't really one of them in my opinion. There has been a lack of investment in it but the ground staff at Ewood do an excellent job.

When was the last time a match was postponed for a waterlogged pitch?

I find it really surprising that some posts say the game might be off because it has rained heavily. Pitches now can withstand heavy downpours with the excellent drainage. In fact I'll be surprised if the sprinklers aren't on before kick off.

I think everyone knew what I meant.

I really don't understand these wholesale changes in league matches from managers simply because they have three games in a week. If players are out of form or injured that is different but using fatigue or any other excuse is poor form in my view. Managers should be obligated to supporters to put out their strongest team in every game.

Forest were poor last night I thought and stood off them and allowed them too much possession. It was funny though to see two VAR decisions to against them. It's a pity there was no VAR when the convicted drunken driver handled the ball in the penalty area last season at Ewood.

They aren't that much more. In fact a child and adult/senior in their family stand is cheaper. https://www.mfc.co.uk/news/2023/february/20/erimus--we-shall-be---early-bird-season-cards-on-sale/

I was buying chips for my granddaughter on Saturday (btw these are 25p cheaper than last season) and I noticed a bloke behind me who I know and haven't seen for a while. We were waiting for the chips he said all he wanted was a cup of tea. Known for his sharp wit he said to the young girl after a few minutes waiting "just give me a teabag and I'll suck it". His humour was lost on her.

Because they are the antithesis of us - well run and owners that actually care.

He was a proper football man. Played and managed at a very good level and took up refereeing later on. Had he started earlier in his life I think he would have gone all the way.

It was quite a difficult game to come into I thought for a striker as Middlesbrough were enjoying their best period of the game and we were on the back foot. I thought he was strong and looked mobile and showed a decent touch.

I'm pretty sure he worked at ROF when his professional career ended Andy. Working there at that time was Jimmy Birkett who was also the Darwen manager who persuaded him to sign.

The person on Swags left is Rick Parry, the chairman of the EFL.

Chris Sulley, Paul Round and Marlon Broomes are three that haven't yet been named.

The correct position is in line with the second rearmost defender.

Rankin-Costello was the ideal man to bring on. His energy, tackling and ability to carry the ball was something we just didn't really have today in midfield particularly when we were under pressure.

I sit in the JW Upper in a similar position to you and in the immediate aftermath the linesman was pointing at a Rovers player who he was saying played Crooks onside. That made it even worse for me. Not long after he gave an offside in which the Boro player looked at least level to me. I said to my brothers that the pressure he was under from the crowd got us that decision.

I knew the Boro goal was close to offside but how on earth has a full time, professional official missed that. Shockingly bad. The same linesman missed two clear fouls on Pickering and Hyam right under his nose. And when he finally flagged for a foul on Szmodics later he was wrong.

Three points is always the objective so it's mission accomplished. The main reason we weren't more comfortable was there for all to see and it's an area which is starting to worry me. In our last two matches we have created enough chances to have won several games but we simply haven't taken enough of them. I thought the majority of other aspects of play we were good at. Intensity, passing, movement and creativity were good today and it we can just convert a higher percentage of good chances we will do well. Once again Tomasson deserves credit for his set up and changes he made. It was telling that Carrick played more on the counter attack in the second half as a testimony to his well we played in the first half. That said I would be making changes for Wednesday with Dolan and Travis being my choices to be replaced. Both of them were under per today and Dolan in particular with his awful decision making. Hopefully the talismanic Szmodics will be fit. His importance to us was never more evident than today up until getting injured. I'm happy tonight as I a!ways am with a win and if we can follow this up with another on Wednesday I'll be delighted.

It only appeared on Rovers twitter earlier this week which indicates to me that it almost fell through the cracks at Ewood and perhaps a third party brought it to their attention. It's another rush job, get a few players to say a few words and roll out some old players. And Rick Parry is making a presentation presumably to Waggott (the man I just don't see representative of our proud club) at half time. It would be right and fitting if Waggott was roundly needed from the stands.

The suits behind this decision (likely to be Cheston and Swag) probably take £500k out of this club in earnings. If they took a 0.5% pay cut it would more than cover the expense of shutting the Blackburn End. And another thing that grinds my gears is that these twats don't even pay to watch Rovers. They sit in the lap of luxury in the Directors Box and will be fed and watered for free. Any away games they go to will be the same. The gall of these self serving knobs is really beginning to grate with me.

The hypocrisy is alarming. Somebody authorised the spending of a reported £3k on that unsightly lettering in the Darwen End Upper and yet, to save money arguably the most popular stand is closed. I recall when Waggott closed the Family Stand and quite a few regulars didn't renew their season tickets in disgust. I think this will probably push a few over the edge, supporters who have sat in the same seat since the ground was rebuilt. And how many Cardiff fans will the Darwen End be opening for? Shambolic decision making by the club once again to save a few quid.

And Coar did nothing in them 'turbulent times'. I remember him threatening legal action against a supporter who asked him if he could look Jack Walker in the eye were he still alive. A freeloader.