Safest prediction I made all year!

Up there with the best performances this season, richly deserved three points. Rothwell will grab the plaudits with his goal and effort, still managed to frustrate the hell out of me (especially his two misses in the second half) but he was a menace, if he can consistently hit that level and add an end product, we’ve got a talent on our hands. That said, my Men of the Match would go to the middle 4, Lenihan, (the oft maligned) Williams, Travis and Reed. In NFL terms they talk about ‘winning in the trenches’ and these four set the tone all over the middle of the park. Mention too for Bennett, he’s been as poor as anyone the last few months, but his tenacity and leadership tonight was everything we love about him. Enjoyable night, 99.9% safe..... Hope we can end the season on a positive note.

15 minute cameo from Harry Chapman? Uninspiring team alert [What I think TM will do] Raya Bennett - Nyambe - Lenihan - Bell Travis - Evans Reed - Rothwell - Armstrong Graham Subs: Dack, Chapman, Leutweiler, Williams, Rodwell, Brereton, Smallwood

Whilst not writing him off yet by any means, I thought he looked distinctly average yesterday. Didn't take his opportunity to shine and what was perplexing to me was his lack of end product, I can clearly think of two clear chances in the first half which lead to a tame effort on goal and a poor final ball. Also, his first touch always seemed to be 5 yards in front of him!! On glimpses this season and yesterday, he looks a million dollars, but I remain unconvinced.

Didn't Jokanovic turn down West Bromwich? Why would he come here instead?

Having watched it, pity it took until 75 minutes to start getting the ball down and playing some nice stuff. Still looked pretty toothless though despite the possession. Big summer ahead, many questions need answering, this season can't end soon enough.

This feels harsh. Bennett only made 17 starts and 7 sub appearances the year we went down, and I remember almost everyone saying ''where has he been all season?'' as he was largely frozen out by 0wen C. Bennett in 16/17 17 starts 7 sub 3 League Goals [Same as Mulgrew, Emnes and Joao] 1 League assists A major part of relegation (in my opinion) was the lack of a defence, a poor goalkeeper for most of the year (Steele), bad attitudes from several players (Emnes, Joao) but primarily the lack of leadership from 0wen C, the sale of Hanley, Duffy, Marshall and the poor quality of players signed (Samuelsen, Byrne, Stokes, Brown, Greer, Feeney). Bennett wouldn't figure much in any 'Relegation blame' in my opinion.

In response to the excellent video on Sheffield Utd (in the Summer transfer thread) it got me thinking about the best Championship teams we've seen down at Ewood Park in the last few years. With only Stoke, Derby, Bolton and Swansea to come this season, who have been the best team we've seen at Ewood? Sheffield Utd would be my vote, ruthlessly efficient as a unit, not surprised they are in contention for the title. Although the two teams that always stick out in my mind are the Derby County team from 2014/15. Rovers 2-3 Derby, who were sensational that night with Will Hughes and Jamie Ward both magnificent...... cue Bowyer's classic line https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/29137521 and Huddersfield, the year they went up (and we went down) 2017/18. Rovers 1-1 Huddersfield, though how we got a point was daylight robbery. Aaron Mooy, Elias Kachunga and in particular Kasey Palmer (whatever happened to him? ) running the show! https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/38113555 Who would you think was the best Championship side we've seen down at Ewood this season? Or maybe in the recent past?

More youth signings! Has to put out a positive message to any youngster wanting to join the football club. Would love to see a team of entirely ''home grown'' players like Middlesbrough did against Fulham in 2006 http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/4957456.stm

Statto Alert This recent run has made for some interesting reading *At Championship Level Lambert P 30 W 10 D 8 L 12 Pts 38 League Win Percentage 33.3% Points per game 1.27 xPts (Expected Points over a Season) 58 Mowbray P 53 W 17 D 17 L 18 Pts 68 League Win Percentage 32.1% Points per game 1.28 xPts (Expected Points over a Season) 59 58/59 Points usually good for 14th - 16th Place (Based on last 5 seasons)

Was that actually the Under 18s or the Community Trust team? Why wear last years kit? Either way, that's some shocking goalkeeping.

Only 49 days to go til the season ends.... Massive refurbishment needed in the summer.

To use an Americanism, the 'depth chart' on Centre Backs must read as follows. Mulgrew Lenihan Rodwell Downing [Loan] Williams Nyambe Wharton [Loan] Grayson [Loan] Magloire Doyle Proving with nobody out on loan, and everyone fit, Magloire is probably 9th choice. Even with the loanees, he's still 6th choice. Desperate times!! I'm convinced the pairing tomorrow will be Nyambe and Williams, with Bennett at right back. Bell at left back......[shudder] My guess therefore would be the following team. Raya Bennett - Nyambe - Williams - Bell Smallwood - Evans Reed - Dack - Armstrong Graham Subs - Leutweiler, Magloire, Travis, Rothwell, Conway, Brereton, Nuttall

Paul Downing made a costly error yesterday for Doncaster, which allowed AFC Wimbledon to score. An error that any of our defenders would have been widely criticised for making. New signings of a requisite quality in the summer are needed.

Just seen the disallowed ‘goal’ again.... FUMING https://www.skysports.com/football/blackburn-vs-preston/392964 Watch the video. Time 1:26

Has anyone seen the Graham ‘foul’ again, in the lead up to the disallowed goal? Looked very harsh in real time. Hoping the footage shows something conclusive to alleviate some of my frustrations. Similarly with the Nuttall chance....

Best Case Scenario - Turns into one of the world's best players, puts Rovers on the map in India, leading to a swell in supporter numbers, increased interest and funding from that area of the world, back into the Premier League as a major force. Worst Case Scenario - Not good enough, but forced into the team due to Balaji's dream of having a 'local' play for 'his' football team. Opens the floodgates for more mediocre talent from the sub continent and we slide down the league due to poor quality of footballers. Most Likely Scenario - Comes over, not good enough, but better for the experience. Unlikely to get a work permit regardless.

Slim pickings at the moment Danny Graham probably the most deserving, but still 11 games to go (nearly a quarter of the season) so chance for some to stake a claim. Dack, Armstrong and Reed have shown flashes. None of the defensive quintet deserve recognition based on our record. Corry Evans has performed well in patches, but hardly a Player of the Year candidate.

96% of BRFCS members have voted BACK And let’s be honest, those of us who have been here a while, know this board can be pretty fickle and vociferous at times....which fans messageboard isn’t? Mowbray had a dream, to build a football team..... let him get on with it!

96% Back based on 56 votes How anyone could think sacking Mowbray is the right thing to do is beyond me, but football is about opinions and I respectfully disagree. My thoughts, yes, the recent run has been poor and performances have ebbed and flowed all season, but this year was always about stability, re-establishing the club as a Championship team (on and off the field) whilst rewarding the commitment from those who helped us get out of League One, whilst trying to add wisely to keep the club moving forward. Personally I wouldn't fancy us to beat any of the current top 6 over two legs/final at Wembley so this ''playoff push'' is a moot point. There's no point getting into the playoffs if you're just making up the numbers. If by some miracle even then we managed to get into the Premier League we'd be the least prepared team to make the leap since Reading in 2012/13 (who won 6 games all season and finished with 28 points - they've not been in the Premier League since, and are threatened with relegation to League One). Expectations need to be kept in check, done correctly, the process will take time. Current promotion hopefuls Norwich* (last in PL in 2015/2016 - 3 seasons ago) Sheffield United* (last in PL in 2006/07 - 11 seasons ago) Leeds United* (last in PL in 2003/04 - 14 seasons ago) West Bromwich Albion (last in PL in 2017/18 - 1 season ago) Middlesbrough (last in PL in 2016/17 - 2 seasons ago - Only 1 season in last 9 seasons in PL) Bristol City* (never in PL) Derby County (last in PL in 2007/08 - 10 seasons ago - Only 1 season in last 16 seasons in PL) Nottingham Forest* (last in PL in 1998/99 - 20 seasons ago) * = Club has been in League One in the last 10 years If on the 18th February 2020 we're in a similar position, then its maybe a question to have, but for now, the rebuild continues.

Having slept on it, still disappointed with the result and complete lack of quality in both of the final thirds. As said by others it seems to be a real mish-mash team at the moment, players out of position, no set XI and predictable substitutes. Upgrades needed in the summer, particularly across the back. A LB, CB and RB on the transfer target list, for both depth and competitiveness. Other reflections: Brereton showed some positives, though that miss in the second half was a shocker. I've enjoyed watching Craig Conway and championed him on here several times, but he's a winger who needs bodies in the box to be effective, Graham isn't that striker and with Chapman now signed his days are surely numbered Dack's form has dipped Travis has been average the last 3 games (Brentford, Bristol City and Reading) he should be held to the same standards as Evans and Smallwood Amari'i Bell's goal shouldn't mask another poor performance Elliott Bennett should play in the midfield or not at all We're 4 or 5 short of being competitive in this league

I thought I’d put him on the list! A shoe in if ever there was one.

After the success of last nights event, it got me thinking who deserves to go into the Hall of Fame next? I know that it is run by the former players association BRFPA, and no ''non football related'' (e.g. Player or Manager) were enshrined in the Hall last night, so I've purposely limited it to PLAYERS ONLY. John Lewis and Arthur Constantine and of course Jack Walker all deserve to be in a Rovers Hall of Fame, but for the purposes of this discussion I've left them out. I've chosen 8 to get us started, I feel these are the next obvious names..... But please feel free to add names and vote Other. You can vote for multiple players

There's an argument that getting into the baseball Hall of Fame is ''too hard'' which I think is exactly what a Hall of Fame should be! The inaugural seven are all worthy. After that, I'd limit it to 3/4 each year.

Andy Todd. Really didn't take to him. Getting stupidly sent off against Birmingham and the blatant thuggish elbow on van Persie, crossed the line too many times in his football career (IMHO)