Due to having far too much time on my hands and absolutely nothing better to do, I've done a bit of detective work on this photograph. Alan Ainscow played alongside several number 9's at Rovers, including Thomson, Quinn, Archibald, Diamond, Hendry Patterson and Curry. Clearly then, the unidentified male must be Diamond or Curry. I recall however that Diamond sported a popular mullet cut and wasn't as stocky as this male. Assuming that this photograph shows Simon Barker congratulating Simon Garner on scoring a goal and further deducing from the photograph that this took place at Ewood Park during a night game, I think I've arrived at an answer. The only home night match with Garner, Barker and Ainscow on the pitch together, in which Garner scored and with a number 9 who isn't Hendry, Quinn, Archibald, Patterson, Thompson etc took place on Tuesday 5th May 1987. We beat Birmingham City 1-0 with a Garner goal. Number 9 was Sean Curry. I would have been one of the 8844 in attendance.

Definitely not Kennedy. Sean Curry?

The youth of the early 1960s were the first generation for a long time not to fight a war or complete National Service. The testosterone had to be channelled another way.

I certainly predict them to suffer another relegation before promotion.

Never thought I'd say this but I'm praying to God that Mowbray remains in charge for the last game. If Johnson, or God forbid Venus are put in charge and we win, it might spur our workshy owners into making a very cheap and painless managerial appointment.

The big question for me is will Mowbray have the balls to stay 4 at the back or will he fear the opposition and revert to type?

So, so frustrating that these rubber dinghy men go 2nd, completely bottle it until the chance is gone then put in a performance like this Almost criminal.

I read an article in last week's paper about Neil Warnock. Whilst he claims to have retired, it's clear that he really wants back in. If it was up to me, I would pot Mowbray today and appoint Warnock tonight for the last few games, with a view towards next season.

I simply can't believe this Mowbray to WBA rumour at all. Isn't it more likely that he was considered by them a few months ago when we were riding high but that they opted for Steve Bruce instead? Bruce was appointed in February when we were at our peak. That seems the more likely source of these rumours to me.

Tremendous post. I'm right with you. The other thing with me is that I can't ever forget (or forgive) the behaviour of the cockroaches calling themselves Burnley fans singing their Jack Walker song. It wasn't just a few morons in isolation either. This is why I'm so keen for them to have a couple or three relegations.

Very true. I was just correcting the assumption that a rail problem caused only 800 Burnley fans to travel to London as that is demonstrably a false assumption. Lack of demand for tickets amongst Burnley fans was the real cause. My point that Burnley fans didn't turn out in numbers to support their beleaguered team in a time of crisis remains valid regardless of our support in similar bad times.

The rail disruption didn't seem to have the same effect on Liverpool or Man City fans going to Wembley. Perhaps Burnley just don't have a very good away support.

Very true . Unfortunately I showed a little less Christian spirit than you on this holiest of days and just couldn't stop myself from applying the salt.

Apparently this former 4th Division outfit took a paltry 800 fans to West Ham, having been offered 3000 seats. Nothing like getting behind the lads in a crisis.

I think Allardyce will come in, which tells us this is a last gasp, smash and grab. There is no plan for next year. Just a naked, desperate last throw of the dice. None of the named candidates including big Sam are better placed to keep them up than Dyche in my opinion. He and his staff won't have been cheap to sack either. This is officially where history will show when the rot set in folks. Good Friday 2022

I agree with this. It wouldn't be the end of the world. I would say he is generally respected by supporters but I don't see any real affection or love for him. There are large parts of his game that never seem to improve. He still reminds me of a raw youth player sometimes.

Great post: but next to Pickering you forgot to write (cat piss).

Following on from posting the above from the Talbot archive, I looked at Andy Crawford on Wikipedia. It seems that he scored only 39 league goals in his entire career. More than half of them in this promotion season. Looking at him and Garner on this photo and noting that they were both born in the same year I bet most supporters would have seen Andy as the more likely to become our all time leading goalscorer.

What a great link. Many thanks. Oh to have these four lining up for the remainder of this season

I would guess that relegation would cause the owners to use the parachute to square debts off. This would be prioritised over squad strengthening and would lead to Dyche seeing the writing on the wall and walking. They will appoint a vastly inferior manager, the best players will leave without being adequately replaced and another relegation will follow within three or four seasons. Only then will they resume their place in the correct order of things and our 'no nay never' song will no longer be so embarrassing.

Classic Mowbray today: He brought Buckley on to be creative, but moved him to fullback (where he can't play), because Nyambe (who can play there) was bizarrely subbed. He left the truly dreadful Pickering on the pitch rather than replace him with Giles who ended up playing God knows where. What was the formation when Hedges came on? Several players shouted to the bench for clarification. I don't even recall playing for a Sunday league manager who would wing it in such an amateurish fashion, and some of those blokes were an absolute shambles let me tell you. If we had any kind of normal infrastructure he would be sacked tonight and a lot of money would be dangled before an Allardyce type figure.

Agreed, dreadfully slow. He makes Tommy Spurr look like Alan Wells. (One for the old 'uns)

I would play: Kaminski Nyambe Van Hecke Wharton Giles Buckley Travis Rothwell Dolan Dack Brereton

That Leeds game was brilliant to watch as a neutral. Even better as a Rovers fan 😁

He looked to have hurt his left knee last night, just before we made our final substitution. He seemed to run it off ok but his general body shape, whilst always bulky, bothers me a bit. He is such an important, galvanising presence. Vital for any future success this season.