arbitro

In respect of the goalkeepers Wednesday's team selection will be interesting.

Our set pieces were abysmal today primarily down to poor delivery but I can't remember one where one of our players got the first contact on the ball. Similarly we didn't win many second balls, something we were good at with the Tronstad/Travis pairing earlier in the season.

That's pretty much it. The name on the managers door may change but the real issue is still very much there and they are getting away pretty much Scott Free. If only the voluble chants today aimed at Eustace could have been directed at Waggott and Pasha.

In the next few weeks when mid table obscurity has been sealed I would be tempted to give young Nick Michalski a run of games. He's confident lad and certainly couldn't do worse than Pears. By saying that I have grave doubts about Toth too.

I'm not sure tanked is the correct description for the two games without the context of us losing four out of Eustace's last five league games. We were poor today which Ismael acknowledged and drew last week came back after conceding a 90th minute goal to equalise and with ten men. I'm struggling with your 'players seemed to have downed tools' quote. I accept that many didn't want him and I wasn't particularly enamoured with the appointment but for anybody to suggest sacking him after two games is a ridiculous notion.

That's what really annoyed me with the first goal. I can live with mistakes, they happen but Pears simply bottled that challenge not wanting to get hurt. And for a keeper that is unforgivable.

You might be right, who knows but judging him after two matches is crazy.

That might be the case but the suggestions to sack him after two games is one of the most ridiculous things I've read on here.

We got a deserved draw against a decent Norwich team last week. Today we were poor. We had a spell when on that winning run and didn't concede many but take those six games out and we have conceded. Today was the twelfth game this season when we have conceded two or more goals, many of which have been poor.

I'm staggered to read that some want the manager sacking. After two games!I And if a new manager comes in and draws and loses in his first two games what them?? Sack him too? He wasn't responsible for Pears gifting a goal to Derby today or for Hyam and Carter not being able to deal with a simple cross. I'm as frustrated As anyone but he simply has to be given a chance

Another agonising day on the road with Rovers with what I thought was a tepid performance. At any level conceding two sloppy goals in the first seven minutes gives you a mountain to climb and that's exactly how this played out. The first one was a simple ball into the box which I would have expected us to cope with comfortably but the centre halves went away and Pears did what Pears does - he flapped. It was a bread and butter ball for a keeper in my view and his lack of bravery saw us to one down. Pears is too error prone and needs replacing. The second goal we conceded wasn't dissimilar with a nothing ball causing panic and creating havoc. Wow, seven minutes in and two down. After the change of shape we rallied and created a couple of chances and scored just before half time. Significantly we were out for the second half well before Derby so hopefully Ismael told a few home truths. The second half just passed us by. Lots of possession but far too many nothing passes. The number of opportunities we had to cross the ball but didn't was alarming. Lots of huff and puff but nothing like an end product. How many shots on target did we have in the second half? I can't remember any. Hopefully Ismael found out a few things about some of our players today and too many were poor or at best average. I have never thought we would make the playoffs because of performances like today. We simply lack any consistency and today showed exactly that. Playing a team who were bottom and lost their last three and we start as poorly as we did.I I didn't think we deserved anything today.

I know exactly who was responsible for the deal but it doesn't make it right.I If you do go to more away games I trust you'll have a greater understated of the issues with early starts, lack of public transport etc. Leeds are at Portsmouth for a noon kick off on Sunday. Aside from the huge inconvenience to them if also impacts on the midweek fixtures next week when Portsmouth's match against Plymouth has to be moved from Tuesday to Wednesday.

But the fans didn't have a say in any of this. It was foisted on the fans by clubs who simply saw one thing. I wouldn't mind as much if the clubs were mandated to reduce ticket prices or any ventures that made the watching of live football cheaper and a better experience. Instead the money will go into the pockets of players, agents and in Rovers case directors. As I said though the travelling fans are the group who sufferer the most. I don't think you go to many away games so it won't impact on you as much as others but at least try and see it from their point of view.

Whilst some home supporters are inconvenienced it's usually the travelling away fans who have difficulties. This season we have had two long distance away matches at Watford and Cardiff changed to 12.30 for Sky coverage. Leaving home at 6.30 just isn't right and will affect supporters decision whether to go or not and travelling by public transport makes it even more difficult. Norwich had what I believe to be one of their smallest away followings at Ewood last week for which the 12.30 kick off had to be the main reason. Although QPR aren't the best supported club away from home I'm sure there would have been more than the reported 400 had it not been 12.30. When the clubs voted for the extra games and greater revenue they knew how inconvenienced some fans would be. It would have been nice for the clubs to subsidise travel or tickets for such games. Instead we have a CEO who gets a huge pay rise.

I have had three meniscus operations and from experience he would really struggle to run if it was torn (which I'm assuming it is). A scan would have showed any damage.

He kicked one of the spare balls of it's done but I don't know if he actually did it then but as soon As the game kicked off he was limping heavily.

It looked like he picked up an injury celebrating his equaliser on Saturday. He was certainly hobbling when the game restarted.

At the rate he is progressing I would say yes but that depends on how Ismael views blooding youngsters. That process all but stopped under Eustace after Tomasson gave a host of youngsters an opportunity.I With a couple of exceptions loaning players out hasn't been too beneficial for us so I would like to see Dunn stay and progress working with the first team squad and coaches. I watch a lot of non league football and I really believe that sending kids on loan to the likes of AFC Liverpool doesn't do much for their development. The Premier League 2 is a really competitive league and much better for development in my opinion.

I'm certain the Rovers players would love to get promoted and reap the riches it would bring to them. I haven't yet met a Rovers fan who doesn't want promotion neither. The abhorrent ones and their lackeys can't influence results between now and the end of the season. Just to add though I don't believe we will make the playoffs.

Another good watch at Leyland last night as the under 21's best Norwich 2-0 in the penultimate home match of the season. It was probably just about what we deserved although Norwich had their moments too. I thought Isaac Dunn was outstanding in midfield for us and it was the best performance I have seen from him. His all round game is really coming on and he actually reminded me so much of Tronstad last night. Michalski again caught the eye with some good saves. Once again we scored two well worked goals arising from some crisp passing and good movement in the penalty area. It was a competitive game but the 9 yellow cards and 30 free kicks were wholly disproportionate to what I witnessed. Four Rovers players were cautioned for delaying the restart when, in my view the situations were all manageable.

I don't think we'll make the playoffs neither but that doesn't mean we won't. I have some friends who support Middlesbrough and they say pretty much what we do about being inconsistent. I also spoke to some Norwich fans walking back on Saturday and they said similar. I really think the next four matches will shape our season in respect of making the top six. These four games are against struggling teams so on paper winnable but the Championship in general just doesn't work like that.

We have a game at Stoke sandwiched between those two.

It will be by default if there is no subsequent charge. It was so out of character from Hyam who must have known he was running a huge risk.

The fact he started with a free kick indicates the infringement was seen but no further action against any individual was deemed necessary. The linesman should really have been monitoring this and perhaps advised the referee.

I agree it wouldn't have been the clearest sending off ever but in the modern game I believe it should have been a red card and I strongly suspect that the authorities will think so too when the match is reviewed. We have got away with one with Hyam though. That was a clear red card.