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

In the case of Wharton and Travis I think their form has fallen off a cliff. Wharton in particular looks like he is having a confidence crisis. He is taking too much time on the ball, delaying the obvious pass and his timing is all over which was epitomised by a free header in the second half in which he was forward of the ball and it skimmed off the top of his head. It's almost like he has the yips. The best thing for anybody like that is to take them out of the limelight and slowly rebuild their confidence.

I had a pair of lucky underpants for match day only and I always out my shorts on last. I remember reading a player profile in Shoot magazine years ago and he was asked about any match day superstitions he had. He replied that he always put his socks on before his boots 😁😁.

I honestly didn't think a lack of effort contributed to our defeat last night. I thought Forest were far, far better in almost every aspect and our own unenforced errors aided them.

Last night was disappointing, it always is when we lose but my misery wasn't anywhere near it was after the demolition derbies when my anger was palpable for a considerable for some time after. I'm over last night already and looking towards Sunderland now. That, in my opinion is far more important than last night.

I mentioned last night that the pitch was looking a bit patchy. And they are training on it again on Christmas Day evening under the lights before they leave for Sunderland.

Stupid shirt 😙😉😉😂😂😂

Were you at West Ham?

I didn't have an issue with the starting line up primarily because the majority of them got us through three rounds and beat a Premier League club away in the last round. Forest were simply better than us and for me the scoreline reflects that dominance. Looking at the bigger picture it's clear to me that the likes of Scott Wharton, Travis and Hedges are in a bad run of form. Tonight was an opportunity for them and in my view all of them struggled and such a drop in form can take time to get back up to speed. Our two starting loanees should be sent back if possible and either replaced by another loan player or one of the kids. That said Markanday showed up well particularly in the first half and should be on the bench at Sunderland. Hopefully January will bring in some fresh faces that actually improve us and we don't make the mistake of previous years of resting on our laurels.

I have checked the Forest website and twitter and the advert about the Legends Lounge being open doesn't seem to appear on any. So how will the Forest fans know about it?

What a gross overreaction there has been to a handful (maybe two) posters asking for Tomasson to be sacked. Lots of angst was shown after the Dingle demolition and Nobbers hammering and rightly so. Them two defeats were certainly not helped by his tactics and team selection, in fact against Nobbers he said the fans were right to jeer and feel disgruntled. But at no time has there been anything like any open dissent towards Tomasson at any game. Compare that to Norwich who would have gone third on Saturday had they won. After twenty minutes the rumblings started with 'Dean Smith, your football is shite' and 'we want Deano out' chants from many of their supporters. This is a yoyo club who just have hugely benefited from Sky money and parachute payments. My point is football fans are generally the same wherever you go and we are no different.

It was said in commentary last night that the two highest (in number not field position) pressing teams in the Championship are your lot and Sheffield United.

Forest fans can access the Legends Lounge in the Darwen End for £10. That includes a drink or either beer, cider of a soft drink. I'll wager they are falling over themselves to take advantage of such a bargain.🤑🤑

I noticed that several fans who bought them wore them on Saturday. I wore mine for the first time albeit under a jumper so being superstitious it has been washed, will be ironed and ready for Wednesday. If we beat Forest rinse and repeat for Boxing Day. Hopefully it will be worn out by the time the next batch are available 😂😂.

BBC 5 Live were reporting that the absence of Tella yesterday was 'unexplained' and reading between the lines they are expecting Southampton to recall him. Have you heard anything?

The significance of not playing Travis yesterday was apparent to me. I like Travis. He seems a decent person, loves the club, relates well with the fans and lots of other things but his limitations really stifle us. Our midfielders yesterday could both take the ball on the half turn, press higher up the pitch and pass the ball quicker whilst under pressure. Travis struggles in all of them aspects, aspects I believe make us better and stronger as a team. If Tomasson wants to play him regularly then he has to have a different way of playing. I'm not scapegoating Travis by the way, I'm simply pointing out the evidence of my own eyes.