arbitro

I think that might be true for the TV audience but there has been lots of inconvenience for the fans who watch the games live. Early and late kick off times are one of the bane of the travelling supporters life. A few years ago I'm sure the FA said they were going back to the old traditions which people of a certain generation would remember well. The draw for each round would be 12.30 on the Monday after the previous round they said, the majority of games would be played at 3.00 on Saturdays they said, replays would be the following week they said and there were other things. Now the FA Cup has been devalued by the suits at the FA who have really sold its soul for commercial gain. Still they had to pay for Wembley somehow. Custodians of the game my arse.

Decent performance and good result. We dominated the ball for long spells which is something we haven't done too much in the Championship. I fancied a draw before the game and to get them back to Ewood should boost the coffers IF Rovers are sensible about pricing. The should reciprocate on the Newcastle prices at £10 and £5 but I have a feeling they won't. I also think they might close the Riverside and pack the Blackburn End and Jack Walker. I think it's fair to say that most will be disappointed if that happens.

Over the course of Mowbrays tenure we haven't really had a problem scoring goal albeit in the main from three players. The real weakness is the concession of goals irrespective of the times we concede (although that is a problem within itself). So for me we need an experienced centre half who commands respect and can do the ugly stuff. I know there are difficulties in bringing in such a player in a notoriously tough window but that is where I believe the focus should be. I genuinely would be comfortable if this was the only area in which we strengthened, the other business of different positions can be addressed in the summer.

I suspect they may be looking to shift him somewhere on a permanent deal and possibly have an offer in already. Either way I can't for the life in me see him anywhere near the first team squad.

I would expect our two Geordie strikers to be desperate to play in this game. I think it's a free hit for us and hopefully Mowbray sets us up to go for a win. However I fancy a draw.

Harsh. The way we play is largely based around Grahams hold up play and bringing other players into the game. You make it sound like he earns a dozen free kicks a game. Today he won a couple of free kicks late on which relieved the pressure and killed West Broms momentum. That is a key role within the team. And he scores, defends and leads from the front. I honestly find it strange that somebody of your age who has watched football for a long time can't see the qualities he brings.

It's a strange thing at times is football. Less than a week ago he was almost certain to go out on loan and now he is probably second choice in midfield. Hopefully Mowbray sticks with him and resists his natural instinct to bring Smallwood back. We are certainly a better team without Smallwood starting.

Given the run of form we are in I believe that is our best result of the season. Plenty of positives today and although it wasn't perfect by any stretch of the imagination today isn't a day for too much criticism. Along with nearly every Rovers fan I thought Travis was excellent. He tackled, he intercepted, he ran forward, he tracked back and got several important blocks in. He was well supported by many others in a real team performance. Well done to the players and staff today. It was good to walk away from a Rovers game with a sense of pride (and relief) instead of traipsing out feeling angry and frustrated.

He did but it was rescinded on appeal. He was also accused (later exonerated) of rascist comments to a Brighton player and denied he did Raya on purpose. Just sayin like..

Indeed he did. You can take the boy out of Burnley............................. He was nasty in the Hawthorns match and that should serve as a massive incentive for some of our players to beat West Brom today. And if somebody could smash him in the process that would be a bonus.

I think that's a fair assessment of us. I really think Mowbray would like to play an quick, expansive passing game but the bulk of players he picks simply aren't good enough to play that way. Our tactics are muddled probably due to inadequacies on the field and quite often we are far too easy to play against. Mowbray often talks about artists and soldiers but he hasn't got the balance between the two despite bringing in several players.

So Coyle and Kean should have had three or four years? I don't think too many are actually saying Mowbray should be sacked but there simply has to be a big turn around in results. That is the same for any manager, they are in the results business and we are currently falling massively short. He is, quite rightly under pressure and he more than anyone will know the consequences should results not improve.

You are wrong, the law doesn't say every handball is a caution. For it to be an offence the referee has to deem it intentional but even then a caution is discretionary.

Handball is the only penal offence that has to be deliberate. Are you really advocating that every handball given is a yellow card?

It was but not every handball is a yellow card. I'd have been disappointed if we had a player sent off in those circumstances.

In the recent past they had Shittu sent off against us and we went two up. And then the crowd became more hostile than usual and our players melted and Millwall quickly scored two goals and could have won it. It's no place for shrinking violets and we simply have too many of them.

I thought the referee was decent and out of the two red cards I thought Basham's was really harsh. I don't get where Mowbray is coming from here, as soon as Smallwood's challenge went in I called a red card. He was high, late and out of control. His post match interviews are beginning to smack of desperation. I don't think there will be an appeal despite Mowbray trying to exonerate Smallwood.

I'm aware of the history but today some Rovers fans took crudity to a whole new level.

That game should have been at the very least a point for us and possibly three. The sending off of Basham should have really given us an advantage as Sheffield put men behind the ball and didn't show much inclination to attack and then came the real game changer when Smallwood got himself sent off in the most stupid manner imaginable. The momentum then swung their way, gave the crowd a lift and shook our players. After Travis was sent off at Portsmouth last season he was pretty much ostracised by Mowbray for the rest of the season. My anger towards Smallwood now tells me that half a season without him will not be long enough if Mowbray is consistent. Absolutely brainless from a player who punches above his weight and is lucky to be playing Championship football at a great club like ours. A special mention today to the Rovers 'fans' who abused the Sheffield goalkeeper in a filthy and disgusting manner. I saw three separate objects thrown at him too. And it wasn't just a few neither. Another bad day for us and we are seeing too many of these. The buck stops with the manager who needs to stop the rot quickly. Has he got the wherewithal to do that? Personally I have my doubts.

He was at Leeds sat in front of us presumably having travelled as nineteenth man. Playing Reed as a right back is an absolute waste for me. His energy, drive and work rate would be far better served higher up the pitch in my opinion.

For me it has to be Travis to free Reed up to play further forward. The way that Sheffield play as the wide players in the back three bomb forward needs our full backs and wide midfielders to work together. I worry about the left if Mowbray plays Bell and Williams together again.

Quite the opposite for me Philip, I want a win and will take it under any circumstances. However if you offered me a draw now I would snatch your hand off.

I wasn't sure because there was some veiled criticism of Mowbray if it was a serious post and the 11th Commandment is Thou shall not criticise Mowbray. ?

So he's got part of it right. The criticism of him and the players is the other part which is costing us dearly.

I honestly don't think we will be relegated but my real fear is getting into a scrap given the way the team have capitulated recently. But the big problem of losing leads and conceding goals has to be addressed by Mowbray and my real concern is that he doesn't know how to. His post match comments yesterday frankly appalled me when he said about the strikers coming back to defend. Is he trying to exonerate himself and pass the buck? His demeanour on the touchline when he puts his head in his hands after a players error is a public display which is quite damning of the player. He appears to have belief in his players as evidenced by him handing out new contracts to players who the majority of fans think aren't good enough for the Championship. A few weeks ago the team defended terrifically well at West Bromwich in difficult circumstances which tells me the players do have some 'bottle'. This is a testing time for Mowbray with a transfer window coming up and a run of poor form. I don't believe we should be pressing the panic button yet but he simply has to make us harder to beat.