Well we have been playing like that pretty consistently. We just can't actually score any goals and that is not going to change. So if we do somehow slip into the playoffs its a brave man who would expect us to win them, even if we play like vintage Barca in midfield. I suppose my theory is that when we were playing poorly but winning in the first of the season we ended up scoring a lot of goals on the break which suited our forward players. But now we are so good at controlling games and pushing six/seven/eight players all the way up to the opposition box we just don't really have any strikers who suit the kind of opportunities we are creating.

Thought it was about as good a performance as you can have while ending up losing the match. We completely dominated for most of the match, everyone played well outside the box, but as per all season struggle to actually look like a goal threat. I'm looking forward to next season, think we have the best squad we have had in a long time, a very good manager, we play very attacking football, more good young players coming through. Just need to find the goal scorers. So while devastated by the result, and Burnley lifting the Championship at Ewood, feeling quite optimistic in the longer run.

A lot of how great we are is the press. I worry if Dack comes on we lose the initiative. Id give Leonard a shot for BBD around 70 mins.

Really great performance everywhere except in the box.... Warton really is superb. The Tugay comparisons are warrented.

I'll stick my neck out and think he may transform into a key player next season. I know he's 27 so hardly young, but I think he has it in him to step up a couple of levels from where he is at. Just a gut feel.

This is exactly a game we on paper will lose thoroughly. Only real scrappers in the team are Travis, Hyam and maybe Carter, no edge up front to go direct to which is key when football goes out the window. But will be a different atmosphere with a massive crowd, lots of volume and we've got a history of unexpected results this season. So all we can do is live in hope.

Think hes a player like Conway who needs someone to aim at. Take that away and its a real struggle for him.

I disagree, hes got the team playing well in the back and middle third. Should stick with it and find the right finishing ingredient up front. Think if we go off in a different direction could cause more harm than good imo.

Shame as well as that horrendous finish aside he was very good.

Another game to file under one we would have easily won with a decent striker. Feel pretty sanguine about it because as long as we can find one or two good strikers we will have a great shot next season. Obviously would love to make the playoffs to show progress but I would rate our chances of winning them as zero without a good striker.

Like the team except who is going to get in the box?

Main thing Im holding onto is we have a run of poor performances and then finally manage a win from somewhere, usually in a more difficult game than a run of winnable fixtures. So hoping today's that day.

I think JDT prefers Pears ability with his feet, and thinks hes good enough with his hands, so we're going to sell Kaminski. Just gut feel, but if he preferred Kaminski to be the long term number 1 he would be back in already as Pears has made enough minor mistakes to be dropped. Dont think Kaminski will fancy being backup and there will be a decent amount of suitors. For what it's worth I think Kaminski is the better keeper but can see why his ability with his feet is a significant issue given the risks we want to take with the ball at the back.

Cant say much about his football recruiting pedigree, but anyone else think he looks like a budget Morrissey?

Think it could work if you slightly re-arraged it. Szmodics will roam down the left wing anyway combining with Pikering and Wharton so don't really lose anything there by dropping BBD. Travis will go wide to combine with JRC on the right but I do think not having a right winger would be a bit of an issue though, as JRC likes to come inside also so could end up with no outlet down the right. Dacks not going to run the channels. Not totally against it though. Having Dack in would hopefully add more of a goal threat through the middle. Pears JRC. Carter. Hyam. Pickering Travis. Morton. Wharton Dack. Szmodics Leonard

Mercer why do you do this to us!!!!!! Youve been slagging the team off all week. Thought we were nailed on for a mercer defeat prediction, so could look forward to a nice comfortable win. But youve just gone and condemned us 🙁🙁🙁

In the games hes played this season (West Ham, Bradford, Hartlepool, Forest, Rotherham) I watched I saw him beat a few players on the inside and outside. He is quick and has good feet. Maybe my memory is failing me, but that is what I recall - I think a few on here will remember the same. Do I think it was a loss when we loaned him out - not at all. But I can see a kernel of a player who could be useful next year.

From what I've seen of Markanday he does have quite a lot of raw ability on the ball, and pace (something we really need). He can beat players when he gets one on one which is rare and valuable. But if he was going to make it you'd think he would have made an impression by now at U21 or on loan. I suppose we can always hope for a Brereton / JRC like sudden transformation from no hoper into a Championship player. But it would be a brave man to bet on that. He's got 2.5 years on his contract with Rovers so it's important for him and Rovers that he knuckles down and either forces his way into JDTs thoughts, or attracts decent loan interest. If he doesn't kick on drifting down to non league like so many young highly thought of players beckons. Given our philosphy of blooding youngsters and our lack of options up front I hope he realises he's not going to find many better clubs to try and make it at. So he should give it everything when he comes back in the summer.

If Szmodics plays in midfield it definitely ends up more a 4231 than a 433. I would play a proper central mid in there so Morton needs to come into the three with Garrett on the bench to come on to shore things up later. Gallagher I think would be better to save for later on in the game also when they tire and we need someone to keep the high line. Pears JRC. Carter. Hyam. Pickering Travis. Morton. Wharton Hedges. Leonard. Szmodics. Subs : Kaminski, Brittain, S Wharton, Garrett, Dack or Dolan, Thomas, Gallagher

Yeah, our squad is good enough for the playoffs in every department imo except striker. If we can get two decent strikers in the summer we should all go into next season expecting, not hoping, for top six. Maybe even a long shot run at automatic promotion. Annoying that bringing in a decent striker would have seen us safe and hosed for the playoffs by now, but it is good to have confidence in the rest of the side.

Yeah but given our extreme challenges to score and our vulnerability at the back when it goes direct its really optimistic to think we can make it now. Next season though i have high expectations

Overall thought it was a pretty good performance where we were overall much the better team till the last 20 mins... But if we can't see game out we are not going anywhere. Needed to get the second when we had the chances, and needed some old heads to bring on to manage out the game last 20 mins.

Think its a reference to "having bottle"

We all hate Gallagher when we're trying to finish chances (although today he scored an absolute cracker)- but where we really missed him was those last 20 mins. He's a rubbish centre forward if you want someone to finish, but if your backs are against the wall and you need someone to defend corners and chase down the ball he's the guy... As soon as he went off we totally folded. If he hadn't got injured we would have seen out that game. Also not having Garrett on the bench to bring on was a major oversight imo. We needed him to come on, not Morton.

Yeah we needed Garrett but not even on the bench.