The referee (or assistant in this case) deemed it to be excessive. And it's their interpretation of that which counts.

We can moan about it until the cows come home but in law the referee was absolutely correct. The villain here is Buckley.

An appeal would be futile and a waste of money. It's violent conduct and it can't be dressed up as anything else. Buckley was stupid and so unprofessional.

Buckley's lack of discipline cost us tonight. We played some good stuff in the first half and the big diagonals and cross field passes had Boro in real trouble as we stretched their defence and got in behind. We could have gone in two up at half time although Boro had a couple of chances of their own. We were caught cold at the beginning of the second half as Boro came out of the blocks quicker than us. I still thought we would go on to win but Buckley really killed that notion with his infantile behaviour. Boro stepped up and got their second and it was going to be tough from there but credit to our players who pushed for an equaliser and had a couple of chances. I was annoyed with Tomasson for taking off our two most creative players and replacing them with two defensive midfielders but my real anger is towards Buckley whose idiocy cost us tonight.

You're missing the point. We are third right now and Tomasson was pretty much dismissing promotion this season. It's simply not what a manager should be saying particularly with a transfer window coming up.

And building a squad capable of staying in the Premier League comes cheap does it? Players who are capable of that want big wages which we don't pay and signing them will cost big fees. Where will that money come from? Expecting several of our youngsters to be good enough is folly. Some might but most won't. We are third in the league and the manager is dismissing talk of promotion. Does that not alarm you? Mowbray was quite rightly slaughtered for allowing last season to drift away but never came out with any ridiculous statements like Tomasson did yesterday. Going up will put £200m into the club even if we come straight back down. Why would a manager, the most senior footballing person at our club just dismiss that. If I was thinking about buying a half season ticket I simply wouldn't after that twaddle.

Swag will be creaming himself again. It doesn't appear that the Legends Lounge will be open for the Smoggies. Did anybody hear how many Forest fans took up the generous offer?

In all honesty I had far more belief at this time last season than now. We were on a great run, not conceding any goals and had a system which pretty much suited the players. Of course we'll never know but I felt with the right signings we could have gone up. Right now I have very little to inspire me into thinking we can challenge for promotion. Inconsistency, constant changes, inherent weaknesses in mentality and a manager who is talking our hope, the one thing that keeps us going, down and stifling any aspirations we have despite being third in the league.

We are approaching a transfer window too and three or four signings who hit the ground running can be the difference between playoffs and ultimately promotion. His interview was really negative and must have riled many supporters who still care and harbour ambition for our club (despite the abhorrent owners). Any potential half season ticket buyers must be having second thoughts now and in truth who can blame them. Tomasson and Broughton are treading a fine line now in respect of our patience.

Congratulations Andy. Now you'll really have to dip into your offshore account. 😂😂😂

Two of the standout moments on Boxing Day to me were two big diagonal passes by Buckley and Morton which got our side players in behind. But that was it, two in the entire game. I saw a half time statistic which had is at something like 126 successful passes of which 90 odd were in our own half. And although it's not measured I'll wager the majority were within a range of under the yards. There needs to be some variation on the safe football Tomasson has us playing. Far too much is one dimensional and the cold reality is that this brand of football won't increase any players value which throws his latest notion about increasing players worth into disarray.

It speaks volumes for the other players when a player who up until two weeks ago didn't have a future here has been our best player over the last two league games. The vast majority (including myself) saw him leaving in January and he was only picked by Tomasson because we had nobody else. He showed more aggression in the final moments yesterday than most of our team showed in the entirety of the game. We had several yellow cards but most were petty offences and this lack of real aggression has been bothering me for some time now. Maybe it stems from a lack of leadership in the current squad but on the way back yesterday we were chatting about the strong characters we have had down the years and not one of today's lot cropped up in the chat. Weak players usually have a weak mentality.

An average age of over 25 for today's starting eleven which blows Tomasson's excuse out of the water. He trots that line out like we are a team of 20 year olds.

In truth I thought a draw would have been a fair result but in the second half I thought had we showed some real attacking intent could have won. That said Sunderland had the best three players on the pitch in my opinion and our back four were decent. The rest of our team were hugely disappointing with the exception of Dack. Brereton was poor, almost a return to when he first came. Weak, easily pushed off the ball and lacking intent and purpose. Ditto Gallagher. Hirst, well he is an absolute waste of space. I don't see one redeeming feature about him and on January 1st he should be driving back down the M1 never to return. If Sam Burns or Harry Leonard aren't better than him then I give up. Tomasson's changes were perplexing as he took Dack off (again) when Brereton was blowing out of his arse and had taken a couple of knocks. Truly baffling as was his decision not to bring Markanday on. His pace and ability to run in behind would have been useful as Sunderland tired. O'Nien for Sunderland had to play centre half today due to injuries and he is about five feet and eight inches tall but we rarely put him under any aerial pressure and when we did he actually beat Gallagher, Brereton and Hurst in the air. Embarrassing for them.

I am reasonably confident of getting a win today but I base that on the tactical inadequacies of Mowbray (as witnessed many times) rather than having too much faith in how Tomasson will set us up. The high press we have employed this season has worked well and at Norwich I would say was the biggest contributor to the win. Squeezing play from the back and denying them any space is important if we are pressing high up the pitch. With a big, expectant crowd the onus will be on them so, as ever the first goal will be vital. We should try and mix play up like we did at Norwich and not afraid to go long. The first goal at Norwich came from a Kaminski long kick, winning a free kick thirty yards out and scoring. This is such a simple game. Safe travels as always to anyone going there today.

Merry Christmas to Rovers supporters everywhere and thanks to the moderators and people behind the scenes who give us all the opportunity to agree, disagree, squabble and grumble whilst keeping a sense of order.

At the moment our two brightest young players (Adam Wharton and Ash Phillips) have started around half a dozen league games this season and I don't think either have finished many. Compare that to Tyler Morton who has started pretty much every game and isn't our player. Surely if this player development was the priority Wharton would be ahead of Morton as I see two very similar players in respect of ability and potential. And where are our other young assets? Many have been bit part players not given an opportunity to shine or put in the shop window. I really think Tomasson is trying to buy himself time by regurgitating this nonsense. Development over results - do me a favour. Football is really about the here and now.

The exception to the rule. How many more?

Off the top of my head Huddersfield, Forest and Sheffield United were promoted and didn't have parachute payments nor huge income streams. They had good managers who set up their teams to get results in a way suited to the players they had. Crewe were a development club who are now languishing in League Two. How many promoted clubs sell their best players (young or older) and get promoted?

Professional football is all about results. That determines pretty much everything that success is measured by. Increased attendances, commercial revenue streams, merchandise and many other things. This project talk and development over results nonsense just completely turns me off and no doubt many others. I want promotion this season not some mealy mouthed excuses about prioritising one thing over another. My priority is to see Rovers win every game.

I honestly don't think the owners have or have ever had a vision. Mowbray had the easiest five years of his life here under very little pressure and pretty much full autonomy of the playing side. Tomasson, from his interview wants to buy himself time very much like Mowbray with talk of projects and a need for several transfer windows. I think this has what has/had been sold to the owners albeit Broughton is now a Director of Football and Mowbray didn't have that and the owners bought it. They have given themselves a degree of job security in the most insecure profession.

Yes but no floodlights. On Christmas Day he is allowing the players time with their families, report to Ewood for 6 pm, train, have a meal at Ewood and coach to Sunderland at around 8 pm.

He prefers training on grass so Ewood it is.

A word of warning to any Rovers fans going to Sunderland that coins and vapes are not allowed in the away seating area and they will be confiscated if found. But home fans are allowed them. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/63456664