I’m not as hard on Gally as a lot on here, but he’s been mostly dreadful today - more of a hindrance than a help up top. Make the change, JDT.

I’d go with this - and, if we need a goal late on, throw on Leonard. Full of confidence, banging them in for the U21s.

Did I mention I love VAR?

Fair point.

Just said this to my missus now. As (highly) amusing as it is to watch the Dingles getting smashed, we wouldn't fare much better if we get them in the next round. Haaland is an animal though. Honestly think he's better than Shearer at 22, as absolutely world class as Shearer was for us.

The Administration / points deduction thing is quite interesting, as I’ve read that it’s in relation to non payment for players, such as Anel. As Anel has been a huge part of their season and a big reason why they’re in the top 6, if they continue to fail to pay for him, could that not be construed as an unfair advantage over clubs like Rovers (who, coincidentally, would have paid for him)?

I’ll second this - not as a student, but I used to work in the north part of the city and looking after the students was one of the many duties (I was based at Broomhall). To say it’s Yorkshire, Sheffield is alright.

Just came across this on social media. Despite some fans feeling that he’s not had a great season, BBD has clearly been our most effective forward in literally every area analysed. Good to see the stats supporting Trav’s performances also, particularly after returning to the team.

Not sure I'd agree with that. Can't comment on what his situation at P'boro was, but everything I read from their fans suggested that they were gutted he was leaving. As for his first half of the season, he was in/out of the side and had injury issues, but he certainly showed glimpses of his talent - like the goal at Swansea for example. Delighted at how well he's doing now, looks a very good Championship player, at the peak of his powers. Looks to be a very good addition to the side, at a very decent price.

5 points clear of 7th / 9 points off 2nd. Going to be an interesting last 9 games...

Made it hard for ourselves, but decent performance and huge win.

Almost like JDT knows what he's doing 😉

Big Sam making up for the misses with that assist!

Neither did SG. But either way, the point remains, Gallagher isn't anywhere near the worst striker in your lifetime (unless you're under 10).

Not even close - Chris Brown alone was several shades worse. However, he could have doubled his season's tally tonight. We HAVE to take one of these chances, or we all know what's happening in the 93rd minute...

Think Trav deserves some credit again as well; he's been a different player since being dropped. Should be several up, but really need that 2nd goal. As shit as Reading are, they'll have a chance in the 2nd half.

Sam Szmodics has been good again tonight. Really think he's been quite central to our recent form.

Gally should have had a hat trick this half.

Looks a decent attendance from what I can see on the telly.

Great start.

With 9 games after this - and us having a small buffer over 7th place, it's absolutely nowhere near all over if we don't beat Reading. However, it is a massive, pivotal game and if we are to finish in the top 6, you have to be beating the Readings at home. These (along with Sunday) are the games that you live for as a player; big stakes and big rewards at the back end of the season.

I'm not one for the conspiracy theories, but I'd need this one explaining to me. In what eventuality would promotion to the place where we'd be given cash in bucketloads not be desirable to the owners? This is the only possibility of them clawing the money that they'd thrown at Rovers (if we spent a few years there). As for JDT, he's managing expectations with his comments - if you think that he's not saying the exact opposite to the players, it would be a very, very naive view.

His heading and aerial ability has improved a lot in the last few weeks - you'd expect that JDT is working closely with him.

5 additional mins.

The facts and records would state the opposite - this is the first defeat in 12. But tonight has been shite either way and it's about getting over it as quickly as we can and back to the form we've been showing over a number of weeks.