arbitro

Another enjoyable watch once again as both teams knew they had to win and went for it. We had an awful start conceding in the first minute but we kept at it and equalised with an excellent goal. At that stage I felt we had enough to win but credit to Bilbao as they got the winner in stoppage time. I thought Aodhan Doherty was very good on the night and Matty Litherland out in his usual no nonsense defensive display but, unusually for a modern day centre half he is prepared to carry the ball forward and look for a killer pass. Ribeiro was the best of the three new signings for me with Dennis looking at times that he needed a ball of his own to play with. I was surprised to see Woodrow dropping so deep at times but mostly he was tidy in possession. The real disappointment on the night for me was the play acting of the Spaniards. The squealing and rolling about after most challenges was grating and this was exacerbated by a weak referee who fell for it.

I thought that too but I have been told they are only playing for the first half tonight. It doesn't make much sense to me that we may be making an unenforced triple change at half time in a game where, if we win we can progress in the competition. We don't want a situation where a couple of injuries in the second half might scupper our chances.

Dennis, Woodrow and Ribeiro all starting for the under 21's tonight.

They, like us had two big centre halves and a big centre forward who were clearly going to be targets for crosses. Gueye is the spare man for us on defensive free kicks presumably for him to attack the ball. When Frey saw he was being marked by Beck he must have thought it was his birthday. They could have scored from every set piece they had in the first half and for me a lot of that was down to how we set up to defend them.

The penalty spat looked absolutely ridiculous and almost childish but for me it's on Eustace. There should be a designated penalty taker and it has to be the managers choice. Given the pettiness around the incident I felt certain that Dolan would miss, there was an added pressure he didn't need due to ludicrous situation that developed.

Just on train home now and the disappointment is palpable. It's really frustrating that we got ourselves back into the game, looked like we were capable of going on to win it only to throw it away. Like Friday against Nobbers I thought our first two changes actually weakened us particularly Cantwell who contributed nothing. I fail to see anything he offers to us. Throwing points away will certainly come back to haunt us. I was amazed to see Beck picking up Frey on set pieces. He is so powerful in the air and the first goal would have been avoided had one of the centre halves or Gueye had picked him up. His free header in the six yard box was an awful goal to concede. That nonsense must be on our set piece coach. Here's a tip for him - let our big lads pick their big lads up. Hopefully the new signings can hit the ground running otherwise our season will just fizzle out.

It looks like we are going into this game with only one recognised striker in the squad if Kargbo isn't up to speed. That could really impede us tonight in what should really be a winnable game. Hopefully we carry on the momentum from Friday but to do so I think Travis needs to start. we looked a different team whilst he was on the pitch and almost capitulated when he went off. Defensively we are looking good so I expect very few goals. A clean sheet for us will do for starters.

Asking if a corner routine is 'woke'! This bloke needs to have a word with himself. I like to see some variation on our set plays.

It doesn't have to be deliberate. The word 'intent' was taken out of the laws several years ago. It's a clear penalty as was theirs. Edit: The Nobbers manager described it as a clash of heads. It was anything but that it was so late.

It is a penalty in law. It was very similar to the one Brighton got against Arsenal recently which was a careless challenge too. Anywhere else in the pitch it's a free kick and to give the referee some credit it's a good spot.

Delighted to beat that lot with their tinpot support particularly in the manner we did. We more than matched them for shithousery and that was an important factor in the win. We scrapped and fought for everything and the number of times they went crying to the referee delighted me. They are going to moan about the penalty they should have had but so what - in many respects that makes the win even sweeter for me. In a match where there were many good performances I felt that Callum Brittain was once again the stand out player. His form recently has been exceptional. Makhtar Gueye was really good tonight too and I for one am prepared to eat a large slice of humble pie if he continues in this vein. Defensively we were generally solid apart from the latter end of the match when we sat a little too deep for my liking and invited them on. The downside on the night was the substitutions both teams made. Ours actually weakened us and theirs made the stronger. The goal we conceded was sloppy as Beck should have done better and certainly Pears should have too. The final whistle was a huge relief to us all and in the big picture only one thing matters and that was getting the win. It's only three points but somehow it feels like a lot more right now.

Tonight's under 21 match against QPR at Leyland is off due to a 'waterlogged pitch'. I thought we had seen quite a lot of dry weather this week, certainly not enough for a postponement. Or could it be off because the first team are also playing tonight and it's all hands to the pump. #sceptical https://twitter.com/academy_brfc/status/1885260108348670279?s=19

In recent weeks we have played quite well (apart from Oxford when we were poor) and in some of the defeats actually played better than in some of the games when we won six on the spin. Nobbers will undoubtedly try it on both physically and mentally but we simply have to match that including the dirty tricks. The game needs a strong referee unlike the one we had against Burnley recently. I was told that a few days after the Burnley game Eustace took all the first team squad into the video analysis room at Brockhall and made them watch the Dingles taking the piss out of our club with their ridiculous celebrations particularly with the corner flag stunt. The gist of his message was this doesn't happen again on our home ground. Hopefully the players heeded this.

As Tuesday was the claim your own seat deadline I ordered ours and was was surprised to see an option of 'add to your season card' which I took. I couldn't remember seeing this option on the first ticketing information the club put out but it is an option for any season ticket holder to use.

I know, I was using them as an example of how in recent times they have bullied us. Ledsom, Osmajic, Potts and the centre halves will be at it tonight.

In recent games against Nobbers they have, by and large bullied us. Players like Evans, Whiteman, Stockley have had the measure of us physically and in my view that has gone a long way to them getting a result. I genuinely think they see us as soft. The first thing we have to do tomorrow is compete and every player has to win his individual battle. The game also needs the referee (Josh Smith) to be strong on their gamesmanship. They will try and slow the game down at every opportunity particularly restarts and I wouldn't be surprised if they have employed the latest tactic of the keeper going down 'injured' so an impromptu team meeting can be held on the touchline. It's going to be a tight affair I think with not too much entertainment. I'll happily take that as long as long as we win.

I'm confused by the 'couple are close' comment from Eustace. What does it mean? Medical done? Fees agreed? Contract about to be signed? It's farcical once again. The reports of Kagbo coming after we increased our bid is embarrassing. The morons at Ewood trying to play hardball and end up paying what the selling club wants. The amount of time wasted on this when he could have been here much sooner (and potentially others too) borders on the ridiculous particularly when Eustace has been crying out for reinforcements for weeks now. They clearly have learned nothing from the last two botched January windows but maybe this time they won't be able to find a sacrificial lamb. Welcome to amateur hour John.

I saw the Barrow v Doncaster match and Duru was ordinary (although he is a player I really rate) and was taken off just after the hour mark. I don't know if he was playing to instructions but he hardly got forward at all and having seen quite a lot of him I believe it's one of his strengths. Also it can be difficult to shine in a low quality match As this one was.

I don't get the 'kind get any enthusiasm' line for this match. We are playing our second biggest rivals at home and we have an opportunity to shut them up for a while. They have had the Indian sign over us for some time now and beating them would only be bettered by beating that lot for me. For a few hours on Friday I'll forget all about the off field nonsense and concentrate on the football.

I saw Batty play for Stanley last night and the match made Burnley v Leeds look like a classic. It was difficult for any player to shine in the dross served up and Batty was in this category. I suppose from a Rovers perspective the fact he looked fit is a bonus and his substitution looked to be tactical (although shifting the deck chairs on the Titanic springs to mind). Predictably the game finished 0-0 and the match ball ended up in A & E.

What an awful match at the Hovel last night. The lack of quality was the most apparent thing to me quickly followed by both teams continually giving the ball away. If anything I thought Leeds just shaded it but when you look at the cost to assemble both teams it strengthens my opinion of Eustace.

Possible auditions for Garrett and Gamble? Also there is the possibility of another pair of brothers playing in a Rovers team.

To be honest I'm only interested in Rovers and the fact that other clubs haven't signed any players is immaterial. Our need since the window has been open was apparent to everyone including Eustace who has stated so several times. The fact we have dropped points in that period when new players would have given us a real chance of getting some speaks volumes about the state of our club and the lack of ambition. The excuses don't cut it with me and many others.

I understand he was approached by a few disgruntled fans who asked him about new signings. Given his penchant for evasion it could have been him just trying to appease them. Either way his rock bottom stock has dropped even further.

The transfer window is open for 34 days of which 27 have gone. So far Championship clubs have spent £44.1m and we haven't spent a penny. However you want to dress it up it's looking bleak.