BigUts

Blackburn end completely sold out. Jack Walker basically all gone barring about 200 seats so likely Riverside will get very busy now with probably about half gone. Going to be a big crowd which is magnificent. Sun is shining, the weather is sweet, let's hope the dancing feet are out at 5pm.

Huge game. Really hoping we put on a show for irregulars and also put us massively in the driving seat for a play off berth Rovers 1 - 0 Norwich Gallagher 67'

I think that's overly harsh. Don't forget Pears also made a very good one on one save in the same game. I ceratainly don't reflect on the QF and blame him for the defeat. The defending for their 2nd and 3rd goals are the issues not the goalkeeping.

BBD was taken off injured after 50 mins last night but early reports suggest its just a knock. But with that in mind I would guess that the Chilean hitman may well sit this one out or at least start on the bench. Pears JRC Carter Hyam Pickering Travis Morton Thomas Szmodics Dolan Gallagher

Linesmen keep their flag down during "open play" whether its close or not. They then put it up if they think its offside when the game has come to a standstill and then let the VAR do his/her thing.

Didn't respond yesterday as I was too far gone post game (lets just say I have a VERY sore head). I thought we played really well but the changes made by JDT simply didn't work and it was sad to see the game end the way it did. Agree with others when saying Szmodics and Gallagher looked gassed towards the end and if we had a more complete bench I'm sure they would have been changed. I've not seen the Morton incident back but I am reliably informed by Liverpool supporting father-in-law that it was embarrassing and the lad should be ashamed (which when I saw it live I felt the same). Their second goal too wasn't good enough and being able to turn inside 2 players when having your back to goal is poor defending. Someone should have been right up Mcburnie's a**e to stop him being able to turn like that. The turnout was class and it'll take a long time for me to forget the feeling when our 2nd went in. Its easy to forget those moments after a real sucker punch defeat but those are the moments we live for. The sheer joy, ecstasy and togetherness was beautiful. I even stopped immediately after it went in for a couple of seconds to just breath it in before going bananas. Microcosms in time that last forever. (I'm probably being overly soppy now due to having a hangover 🙂) We have momentum, we have togetherness and we have ability. After the weekends results and recent performances I think we are nailed on for the play-offs now and I don't think fear anyone. I know a few others have also mentioned this recently but JDT is taking us places. Yesterday really made me feel proud and we are on our way back.

The best duo in commentary.

Let's have a go. Let's have some fun. Let's do this!! COME ON YOU BLUES!

Never fear @Gav I am being ironic 😁

Lumped on. Don't let me down @Mercer

Job done. To coin a Mowbrayism - we put the points in the bag and we move on. Nervy, tense, edgey, flat. Everything I thought it might be. A tough scenario in a game you are supposed to win especially when you score so early and the game almost feels too 'easy'. After the equaliser I thought we would do what we have done so often in the past when we get a sucker punch and just find it almost impossible to get ourselves going again - but this side are now made of sterner stuff. I was aghast at the Thomas change initially as I thought, as usual, he was proving a decent outlet. Understood the Dolan one as I thought BBD looked like he was holding his hamstrings, but Hedges came up trumps with a lovely finish just inside the corner (from my angle in the BBE I thought he had put it wide). Special mentions for me for Travis, Gallagher and Szmodics. Travis looks rejuvenated and Gallagher is starting to look like the centre forward his physique will allow him to be. He's putting himself about and is winning aerial duals and flick-ons that are aimed towards him. Szmodics is a revelation and his energy and cute little runs are causing teams all sorts of issues. The way the team is playing I think we can put down to he and Thomas being in the side brining energy and verve. Hoping SS, and we, can maintain the energy on Sunday.

The state of the trains on Sunday are a big worry. I don't care about getting home but getting there on time is the most important thing 😄 You're correct that will be the first leg of my journey to Lime Street. Northern really are the bottom of the barrel and have been for a long time (I used to work for a travel company that dealt with nearly all of the TOCs). #pray4BigUts

Same. I'm bringing 3 Everton fans with me 😁

Already buzzing for this and we are still 4 days out. Jumping the train from sunny Southport at 8am for a 3 hour journey to Sheffield. Hoping a few Rovers join the train as it passes through Manchester to land in Sheffield at just after 11. COYB!

It isn't "must-win" but we absolutely have to win this game if we have any designs on finishing within the play-offs. There will indeed be further twists and turns but you can't always guarantee they'll drop in your favour. The more we can do to mitigate them affecting us as the season draws to a close then it'll make our job a hell of a lot easier and a lot less stressful.

Travis is fine. He is on 8 bookings so far. Unsure when the cut off might be for the 10 bookings but I'm sure I read somewhere its after the game tonight...so unless he gets 2 tonight, he's all good.

Shite 😔

Looks like lots of rain after 6pm Wednesday. We've seen a few times over the last 18 months that significant rain in a short period is pitches achilles heel...could be again especially after the last few days

I think we win this but maybe not as comfortably as we would all hope. Get a feeling we might end up with a late winner to send us home happy but frustrated for 85 minutes. Rovers 1 - 0 Royals Brereton-Diaz 86' Attendance 15,227

The Doobie Brothers - Long Train Runnin'

Potters 0 - 2 Rovers A Pickering wand of a left foot finish for 2 in 2, and a thumping Hyam header both in the first half mean we come away with all 3 points, with a smash and grab victory after having <40% possession and only 3 shots on target.

Almost the perfect performance on Saturday. The only thing lacking was putting The Blades to the sword in that spell of 20 mins just after half time. What I enjoy at the moment is the relentless pressure. Press, press, press and attack, attack, attack. Don't let them have a minute and they simply couldn't cope. There was a moment, I think after Szmodics hit the bar, were the whole United back line were bent over hands on thighs looking at each other looking gassed. The front 4 of Thomas, Gallagher, Szmodics and Dolan were unbelievable. Their collective and individual energy levels have really made us turn that corner. Hoping we can maintain the energy and the confidence over the next 10 games. We won't win them all, but play like we have done over the past few and and we will win the majority.,

Really fancy it. They had a very tough game themselves on Wednesday with a few out injured / illness and with it being an early KO this could swing the pendulum in our favour. The squad is looking thin though but a lot, and I almost can't believe I'm saying this, could rest on the shoulders of JRC being fit. He adds something to both the full back and midfield positions at the moment. You could see on Tuesday just how influential he has become when he got taken off Leicester really started to create some chances. Going for a nervy 2-1 victory which will hopefully keep up the momentum COYB!

The apparent "whoosh" makes no sense You know what that means, right?

I'm sure if your wife / girlfriend / partner was half a decent person they'd understand their own husband / boyfriend / partner in going to arguably our biggest game in the past five or more years. You can treat your significant other any day of the year.