superniko

Hindsight is a wonderful thing given the demand, but it would have been good to see a sold out split Darwen End (3.5k each and 1k segregation in the middle) - it’s essentially the same home fans as the upper tier BBE. Then start opening the Upper BBE once that sold (which would be about now as we approach sell out) Or even just split the lower tier Darwen End and then open up the Blackburn End Upper. Always prefer Ewood with home fans in all 4 stands ahead of the upper tiers.

Yeah real head scratcher that one 🙄

You just literally highlighted my point that it’s the correct set-up for ELITE players. Your bog standard championship winger can’t cross very well with their weaker foot, that’s fact, and they’re not good enough to come inside and ping it in the bottom corner on their strong foot like those elite players you listed. Roberts is one of, if not the, best winger in the league Stick Ryan Hedges on the right wing, do you think he performs better? He can just about use his right foot for standing on

Yep - absolutely no need for segregation in JW or Riverside. Darwen End is completely separated.

Robben and Saka spring to mind for wingers who cut inside, playing on their opposite wing. Gakpo and Salah goals tonight both fit that mould - it’s certainly the percentage play at elite level, though I must admit at our level it feels more beneficial to play left on left and right on right due the sheer lack of quality.

Yeah - must have been over 26k Rovers fans at the Oxford game. Cracking weather too - complete opposite to the Wigan one!

Yeah I stupidly ignored Oxford as the overall was still only 27.6k given their small following. Eugh, that Wigan match was a grim night in that crowd.

Would have been the biggest gate since 2011 if we’d used the Darwen End appropriately - and only bettered by those where we gave 8k to United and co. It’s not tracked but I’d be interested to see when we last had a bigger ‘home’ section. It’ll be about 21k-22k home fans Edit: ignore that - more home fans at the Oxford match wasn’t there

Our fixtures look interesting. We get the return Leeds and Burnley fixtures out the way straight away. Then go on a long run of ‘winnable’ fixtures (if there is such a thing in the Championship) until April when we meet Boro, Wednesday, Sunderland, Watford and Sheffield United - all in the battle for Top 6 with us. Hopefully we don’t run out of steam late on like we have in years past!

Real shame Pickering is out for so long as Beck is our best answer for left sided winger. Could do with addressing that in January (we won’t)

Point a fair result. I expected 4 from Millwall, Sunderland, Hull, Leeds - so hopefully we pick up 3 at home on Sunday. Leonard probably deserves more time over this busy period. I think he could make a decent step up this season in this team. Great piece of keeping from Pears at the end. There will be lots of ups and downs this season- we need to keep winning the games we expect to, and picking up points elsewhere when we can - Sunderland will be in the top 4 when all is over in May.

The crazy thing is the majority of that bench were in the starting 11 over years gone by - such was the shiteness of the squad for so long (cheers Venkys). Brittain, Buckley, Dolan, Hedges would have all been starters over prior years, Weimann and Baker new signings and Beck a Liverpool loanee. We’ve actually been quite lucky on the injury front prior to the two picked up today.

I don’t know why we don’t do it more ourselves, especially with Gueye now. Whoever coaches out throw-ins needs sacking…same looped 7 yarder up the line every time leading to max-two touches before we’ve given the ball back to Millwall. Either play it short to feet or stick it in the mixer to our big striker who won pretty much every long ball that went his way

Disappointing to see the winning run come to an end, but it had to happen eventually, and all-in-all it’s just 1 point dropped, far less frustrating than conceding late when leading by a goal. Today was textbook championship, Millwall beat Leeds and Burnley at home. Glad to have 2 home games over the Christmas period - hopefully we can get something on Boxing Day to take the pressure off the Hull (our most likely W) match

Ref was fine mate - Rovers weren’t

Rinse and repeat Exiled Rover comment every time Rovers don’t win - kinda got used to not seeing it for a while

Not many softer lads than Cantwell have stepped foot on a football pitch. Surprised he’s got 60 minutes away at Millwall.

Some blinkers in this chat re: the ref who has had a fairly steady game in my opinion. The Cozier-Duberry one might have looked soft at first but it was studs on the lower shin/ankle. VAR in the prem and it’s worse than just a free kick to Millwall (view may change when I see this penalty shout again)

Ditto, everything said scrappy low scoring game but did nothing about it 😄

Sunderland, Boro and Watford all losing (yes we are on playoff watch already)

6 goals in Rovers last 5 games and 7 in Millwalls last 5. Always going to be a scrappy one. I’d be surprised if this isn’t 0-0 or 1-0 either way. 1st goal is massive (as always) In Millwalls last 13 games, no team has scored more than 2 in a game (either Millwall or their opponent). Under 2.5 goal backers rejoice

Two pacey wingers - what we’ve cried out for for 10+ years

It’s going to be a tough match on a fairly poor pitch. But I don’t think they’re up to too much. We need to be up for the battle though!

I have a few in the Upper and they all have a row and seat assigned. Would be very strange (ridiculous even) if some tickets had seats assigned and some were labelled unreserved - it will cause absolute carnage

Szmodics versus Derby…He was our 2nd top scorer across all comps for a few months (might still be!)