It’s naive at best to assume a deal is done before it’s signed and ratified, so it’s no excuse at all. Broughton should know better and there’s no excuse for his failings in January.

Dack has 180 minutes to prove his worth, though that might be difficult from the bench. I’m clinging to the hope of a Dack inspired fairytale end/extension to the season. That would change the outlook somewhat, but as things currently stand I expect both will be off.

Leaving the O’Brien debacle aside, the biggest issue is Broughton’s miserable failure to bring in a centre forward. Sob stories around players “going back on their word” are just bad excuses and people need to stop making them. Likewise people claiming “it’s difficult signing players in January”. Bollocks. Other teams manage it. He had time, he had funds apparently, he has failed in the most fundamental part of his job.

It’s got a 103rd minute Amari’i Bell equaliser written all over it.

Another point I forgot to add… The club introduced an international flexi season ticket this year apparently off the back of loads of requests from fans. They thought there was heavy demand based on what supporters were asking for, but they sold 2. I get the sense this has added to their reluctance to try more novel approaches.

To add to what @only2garners has posted above, The Supporters Trust have also had similar conversations. Some ideas we’ve put forward include: Entry level pricing - we don’t have a “cheap” season ticket, and some fans are priced out. It’s a big commitment for fans who have never had one before. The front 6 rows of the Riverside are uncovered, they should be cheaper. We proposed £150 for a season ticket there. Obviously that’s a limited number of cheap tickets. I doubt you’d see many regulars giving up their seats elsewhere to sit in the worst seats. You’d literally just attract people who wouldn’t buy one otherwise. There was an argument that “people will just move back into other seats”. My answer was in a 1/3 full ground, so what? Flexibility - massive issue. I think there will be a larger than anticipated number not renewing this season off the back of the number of games we’ve had moved to evenings that people (especially those who generally take their kids) can’t make. Loads of suggestions around this. Tied into this and the significant number of fans I’ve spoken to who’ve had a DD knock back, we suggested a “pay as you go” season ticket. Currently you pay £40 to a finance company for the privilege of spreading your payments. We suggested a £50 membership/initial cost (money to the club) that then allows you to buy a ticket to any league game at a pro-rata price equivalent to the season ticket price per game, so around £18. If you want to go to all of them, you pay about the same as someone on a direct debit. If you can’t make half you aren’t wasting hundreds of pounds. You’d also get the other fringe season ticket benefits like access to away tickets etc. This is from my own working knowledge of consumer credit rather than any discussion with the club… Regarding the direct debit function, the club can’t offer finance. They aren’t licensed to, and it’s a non-starter. I do wonder what criteria v12 are going by, as I know homeowners who have been rejected and people with CCJ’s who have been accepted… I’d guess they are looking more at current work/income status than credit history to make their lending decisions. We’ve also had massive discussions around catchment areas and the marketing of season tickets the club do. I have to say the insight Fraser Reed has into this is brilliant from a digital point of view - very illuminating. There was an acknowledgement they needed to do more in more traditional/non-digital channels, as well as an acknowledgement they don’t have our strength of local knowledge and that was identified as an area they’d like some help. One comment was “the majority of our database has a BB postcode” which resulted in me literally getting a map out and showing them that that meant they could be coming from Rossendale, Ribble Valley, Hyndburn or even Burnley. We asked for tickets to be on sale sooner. That box was ticked, but the issue of only having a window of one or maybe two paydays before a price hike remains, frustratingly. Personally I’m sick of deadlines and cut off points. Season tickets should be available at any point during the season on a pro-raga’s price basis. What happens if someone who has been out of work finds a job in September? They have to wait til half season tickets go on sale at Christmas. We’ve also discussed a membership scheme on very similar lines to the fans forum, as an additional product and not a replacement for the traditional season ticket. There’s a lot more I could go into and the Trust will be putting out Comms regarding this in the near future. We do appreciate any input though, so feel free to reach out. We’re also looking to expand our membership (always) and our board, so please keep an eye open. edit - I should’ve added that there wasn’t any great expectation from our side that there’d be anything much this season. We see this as a longer term project, but id be disappointed if there isn’t something a bit more radical in 12 months time.

We have to end this winless streak at some point.

I’ve tried to take some time and reflect on the actual match and performance, but I’m still pretty crushed. Wharton was obviously a class above. Him and Benson provided the moments of quality. JRC is one we must tie down to a good long term deal immediately and I’d also make him captain. The bully Barnes was put in his place. Unpopular opinion, but Hyam is in a poor spell of form at the moment. He’s a way off the massively high standards he set early doors and his distribution last night put us in trouble a few times, while Carter made a single more costly error he was more consistent. Pickering should probably have been hooked as soon as he got booked. Obvious what Benson would try and do and being on a yellow stopped him preventing it. I’m not even sure he should’ve been booked as it looked from the back of the Riverside like it was Wharton who actually committed the foul. Hedges and Dolan huffed and puffed but neither ever looked like threatening the keeper. For the first time I thought Brereton lacked enough effort, perhaps I was being kind to him over recent weeks. Travis was disappointing, liked how Sorba Thomas showed some fight at the end. We are hampered by the lack of a centre forward, but we also limit ourselves by overplaying around their box and not getting a shot off. I’m still annoyed at how we continued to play about incessantly at the back when we were desperate for a goal. Oh, and Craig Bellamy is still an absolute prick. Very unlikeable little man. Bankruptcy is karma.

Darrenrover, formerly of this parish, hinted that he was appointed directly by Venky’s and would work independently of and was lined up to eventually replace Waggott. I doubted this as soon as I met Fielder, and having met the two together it was very clear Waggott was his superior.

Whose fault was it we haven’t got a striker? Never really needed O’Brien. Just needed to play Adam Wharton.

He was so far ahead of everyone else on the pitch last night it was ridiculous. Not for the first time either. Freezing him out for so long has cost us badly. We’d be comfortably in the playoffs if he’d played anywhere near the amount of minutes Morton has.

It’s sickening what Venky’s have done to our fans expectations. We managed about half a dozen top 6 finishes in this league in the 80s, but now we are looking on jealously and shitting ourselves at the prospect of playing a team that was non-league when those cretins bought us. Even if we end up finishing 8th some people will call our performance miraculous. I don’t get it. After last seasons collapse I’m not sure I can handle us blowing and opportunity again this time round.

But the fact remains that he could’ve played in a pair of wellies tonight and still been the best player on the pitch by some distance.

I’m not dwelling on any positives. Why should we… this is a dark day in the history of Blackburn Rovers. Moderate annoyances: 1. It’s all well and good sending your keeper up for a corner in injury time, but a minute prior our centre backs we’re playing one-twos with each other at the back for a good 30 seconds. We never mix it up, we are far too wedded to one style of play, and it leads to us trying (and failing) to walk it into the net. 2. Greg Broughton has a lot to answer for, but so does JDT. In Adam Wharton we have an exceptional footballer. How he has played so few minutes is a disgrace. Tomasson has sabotaged us with his lack of use of him and cost us points. Major annoyance: The Venky disease. 6 defeats by the dingles on the spin. No victory against them since they darkened our door. Now they’ve won the league (albeit the second division) at Ewood. Jack would be turning in his grave.

Also, Venky’s should be offering an enormous win bonus - their record of us having never won a derby since they rocked up is one of the most shameful stains on their dreadful ownership.

I’m having to have a drink to try and settle my nerves. It’d be bad enough playing them if we were both mid table, and I’m less bothered than I thought I’d be about the prospect of them winning the league, it’s only the second division after all. But the fact our season hinges on this game (totally unnecessarily thanks to our recent crap form) makes it practically unbearable. If ever there was a night for a big performance it’s now. Anything less than 100% effort, passion and graft will be unforgivable. Time for heroes to be made.

He’s a decent enough squad player, but he’s no goal threat as he goes to pieces in the box. Handy to have around, not ideal to bring on to try and change a game though.

The more I think about it, the more I want Dack to start tonight. End of the season (and possibly his time at Rovers) approaching, chance to go from cult hero to legend. Barnes was instrumental for them in the reverse fixture. Dack has far more about him than that knuckle-dragging potato with legs. He can be our difference maker.

Really depressing seeing so many people resigned to/advocating him being sold already. We aren’t Crewe. Personally I want to see an Adam Wharton inspired victory against the Dingles tonight, and eventually him playing for us in the Premier League.

I don’t understand the clamour for Brittain either.

Garrett froze last time against this lot. I’d drop Szmodics a bit deeper and start Dack.

Would sorting out “an eyesore” really be your first priority if you had money to spend?!?!

I can’t believe it’s the fans being accused of throwing the towel in?!?!

He did ok for the most part yesterday, but I don’t think he has the stomach for this fixture and I wouldn’t want him playing any part in the game. He’s put in plenty of substandard performances and kept his place, so I’m well aware it won’t happen.

Pears JRC Carter Hyam Pickering Travis Wharton Hedges Szmodics Brereton Dack Kaminski, Ayala, Phillips, Garrett, Dolan, Thomas, Leonard The prospect of Morton against this lot terrifies me. Scott Wharton’s recent performances aren’t good enough for a place on the bench regardless of where he was born. I’d also take away any temptation to bring him and Brittain on as it leads to disaster. No expectations, but a demand of 100% effort and no stupidity.