“Momentum killer” .......I like it. Sometimes it happens when a player tries to do too much and ends up losing the ball cheaply, sometimes it’s the lazy pass but what I hate most is the unnecessary backwards pass when half your teammates are streaming forward in anticipation. Reed and Smallwood are sometimes guilty.

Yes. The time he let the ball bounce dangerously before gathering.........he immediately kicked the ball, from hand, straight into touch!

Raya’s kicking has deteriorated again. Bennett was uncharacteristically disappointing, regularly outpaced and caught out of position. Lenihan was sorely missed. Why not Williams? He has that “dog” neceassary when Mulgrew is the other cb. I have big hopes for Rodwell but sometimes he looks lost. He’s not a cb on this showing. Mulgrew......where would we be without him? Evans and Smallwood are TM’s choice starters. Evans was impressive mostly, Smallwood less so but both are slow. Reed started well but finished ordinary. Armstrong frustrates me.........his push and chase tactic is limited as shown in this game. But he’s not a winger of course. Dack. We’ve got to make more of this guy’s talents. We’re not getting the ball to him in positions where he can do real damage. Too often he is teceiving the ball on the halfway line. Our attacks from open play were woeful. Graham is a hero but had his most ineffectual game for a long time. We need players who can add impetus......Rothwell or Palmer could maybe give us a bit more “go-forward”. (I don’t mean at Danny’s expense!) i feel for Brereton......I will him on every time he gets the ball. Gotta try to stay patient. Rothwell........well it’s hard to impress when you are getting a few minutes every time you’re thrown on but at least he has a positive attitude and wants to move forward.

An assessment of player performance v Swansea Each player was judged on the following criteria: Instance of excellent play * Instance of decent/good play * Instance of disappointing/poor play * Instance of terrible play * E&OE Ratings Whoscored.com ratings Raya ******* 4.9 Bennett ************************ 6.2 Lenihan(9) * 6.3! Mulgrew ************** 6.6 Bell ********** 6.1 Reed **************** 6.4 Smallwood **************** 6.2 Evans(71) ***************** 7.0 Armstrong *********** 5.8 Dack ************ 6.1 Graham(58) **** 6.5 Rodwell(9) *********** 6.6 Brereton(58) ******* 6.1 Rothwell(71) **** 5.9 Highlights and Lowlights (A justification for the main ratings above) 6. So far, so good. Rovers pressing well and Reed has had more than twice as many good touches as any other player! 9. Bennett has to sprint back having been caught out of position but Celina waltzes round him effortlessly. Fortunately his shot is over the bar. Bad news; Lenihan injured! 16. Rovers knocking the ball about nicely all over the park but then Evans’ pass is intercepted and it’s all for naught! Here come Swansea and Olsson beats Rodwell and fires over a dangerous cross. Mulgrew blocks the final shot. Amazing……we were passing the ball about nicely – looking good, but in truth, didn’t look like posing any threat – then one mistake and they almost score! Bennett had been left upfield again! Raya catches the corner. 24. Nice long pass by Evans in midfield to Armstrong on the wing. He drives forward and feeds Bell on the overlap in the box. He beats his man but is brought down. Penalty! Mulgrew stutters his run and expertly sends the keeper the wrong way. Beautiful! 32. The only time we’re getting into the box is when Bennett launches one of his long diagonal balls. This one is underhit. Bennett and Reed are both caught deep in the Swansea half as Olsson attacks. Evans does well to hold him up but he is beaten by a 1-2 and the dangerous cross is headed straight up in the air by McBurnie. Raya lets it bounce!!!!! We get lucky and Raya collects! 33. Celina beats Bennett, Reed and Smallwood but Mulgrew steps in decisively to intercept his pass. 41. Bennett is haring back again after mis-adventuring upfield but, in desperation, he fells the Swansea guy and is booked. He redeems himself somewhat by heading away the free-kick; Grimes is there to volley the ball just wide. 48. James leaves Smallwood trailing and eases past Bennett as he drives into the box. Rodwell blocks his shot! Impressive run! It’s not clear yet though and Celina and James combine again but James shot is mishit and over the stand! 50. James does Bennett again but his cross is collected easily by Raya. 54. Swansea playing with some style at the moment. Reed fluffs his challenge, the ball is crossed square along the edge of the box but Celina hits it over the bar. Phew! 62. Bennett wins the ball well and feeds Armstrong who plays a neat 1-2 with Dack but the final cross from Armstrong is disappointing. 63. Nice turn into the box by Brereton but his final ball to Dack is just too far. 64. A good long ball cuts straight through our midfield. Fulton gathers, moves forward to just outside the D and his powerful shot hits the post and bounces in off Raya. Here’s what I think! Rodwell, stood 2 yards in front of Fulton, flinched. Lenihan doesn’t do that! Commentators think no one is at fault though. 66. Nice pass from Evans to Dack in the centre circle. He drives towards the edge of the box and lays the ball to Reed but his cross is poor. Brereton was in a good position. 67. James doing what Armstrong can’t. Using his pace to gallop through midfield, no one lays a glove on him, Bennett can’t match him for speed and he slips a lovely pass to Roberts, who avoids Bell’s weak attempt at a challenge and smoothly puts the ball past Raya. Again no one is taking charge in the centre of our half. 70. Poor pass by Brereton leaves Evans short and Swansea attack from their own D. James does Mulgrew for pace and his shot touches the outside of the post! 75. Good grief! Again, no one tracking James as he chases a square ball into the box. It’s deflected by Rodwell on to the bar for a corner. Smallwood didn’t seem to notice James sliding behind him. 76. A few poor kicks from Raya today. This free-kick goes straight into touch! 80. Swansea are giving Rovers a bit of a lesson here! This time Celina and James combine together again. We just can’t handle them. James crosses square to McBurnie one yard out but Mulgrew is there to save us again. Bennett was done for pace again and Rodwell seemed lost. 81. Nice sets of passes, Reed to Dack to Rothwell to Armstrong who crosses long to Bennett (where did he come from?) who does well to get in a half-volley from the corner of the 6 yard box but it’s saved. 83. An accurate long ball from Rodwell reaches Brereton in the box. He controls well, holding off the defender but his attempted shot is deflected for a corner. Dack wasn’t far from reaching it! 84. Reed lashes a loose ball into the box. Dack leaps on to the rebound and his first time shot from just inside the box is well saved low down by the keeper. Oh dear! While the camera concentrates on a tearful Dack, Swansea put the ball in the net at the other end! Bennett and Smallwood haven’t got the pace and we are carved open down the middle again. 89. Another positive drive down the wing from Brereton but there’s no support again and he has to lay it back. 91. Rothwell loses the ball too easily again! 94. Full time. Bristol City re-visited? I think it was hard to apportion blame for a lot of our mistakes but I did my best.

An assessment of player performance v Leeds Each player was judged on the following criteria: Instance of excellent play * Instance of decent/good play * Instance of disappointing/poor play * Instance of terrible play * E&OE Ratings whoscored.com ratings Raya ********* 6.8 Bennett ************************ 7.0 Lenihan ***************** 7.9 (MoM) Mulgrew ***************** 7.0 Bell ***************** 6.8 Reed(67) **************** 7.1 Smallwood(56) ************* 5.9 Evans ********************** 6.9 Armstrong ******************* 7.7 Dack ************* 6.6 Graham(62) ************ 7.7 Rodwell(56) *********** 6.3 Brereton(62) ******** 6.2 Conway(67) **** 6.9 Highlights and Lowlights (A justification for the main ratings above) 0. Weak tackle from Smallwood on halfway allows the Leeds man a run on goal but Bell manages to cut out his poor pass and sets Armstrong off on a long run down the wing. He blitzes 2 defenders with his pace and he’s into the box. He attempts to square the ball to the waiting Graham but it’s blocked for a corner. 1. A second corner but from the right. Reed’s delivery is perfect as Graham runs in from around the penalty spot to power home his header into the top of the net. Great goal and one from the training ground! 4. Leeds’defence looking nervy but some good play in midfield sets up an attack. Armstrong is a spectator as Bell is outflanked. Bennett clears the incoming cross for a corner. 6. Smallwood, Bennett and Reed are all bamboozled just outside our box by the Leeds midfield. Roberts puts the low cross well past the post under pressure from Mulgrew. 7. Good long ball by Mulgrew to Graham who controls beautifully to lay back to Armstrong just outside the box. His shot is blocked. The ball comes back to Armstrong, he drives into the box, sidesteps the defender but his attempted curler is weak and easily blocked. 10. Smallwood is really looking off the pace today. Saiz rounds Evans too easily on the edge of the box and Raya tips his shot over the bar. Graham and Mulgrew both misjudge the corner and Jansson has a free header from 10 yards……over the bar! 12. Another galloping run by Armstrong down the wing. His push and chase tactic is working well here. He shoots from the edge of the box, it’s blocked but breaks for Dack. Good save by the keeper. Reed picks up and delivers a fine square ball from close to the touchline but Leeds bundle it away as Smallwood slides in. 21. A long ball bounces way over Graham’s head…….but Reed doesn’t give it up as a lost cause! He chases towards the flag, harries the defender and wins a corner! 22. Reed wins the ball again and flicks a lovely ball to Graham on the edge of the box. Armstrong crosses and Smallwood, in the box , makes an awkward attempt at a volley but it looks like he got a nudge in the back. It’s saved. (I gave Smallwood credit for being in the right place. It’s the second time he’s been in there sniffing!) 26. For the second time in a minute Armstrong leaves Bell exposed. Evans and Lenihan clear up. 36. Lenihan and Smallwood get in each other’s way and there’s danger! The low cross comes in and Bennett is there with a vital challenge, 2 yards out, to save the day. Offside anyway. 39. Lovely run and cross into the box by Bennett towards Graham. It falls to an unmarked Armstrong who drives the ball against the nearest defender. I’m getting a bit frustrated with that outcome but at least he won a corner! 42. Some nice midfield interplay between Evans, Reed and Bennett. Eventually Bennett’s beautiful cross finds Armstrong in the box. He controls well, beats his man and hits a nice shot but it curls over the bar. 44. Commentator noting how important it is that we don’t concede before half-time! 45. Saiz avoids Evans again and lobs the ball into the box. A totally unmarked Berardi squares and Klich scores! Difficult to say who was supposed to be covering Berardi. Armstrong? 55. Some nice play by Reed so far this half. Here he launches a long ball for Armstrong to chase. The defender fluffs it and a persistent Armstrong tries to chip it over the outrushing keeper from a tight angle. Good save. 61. Full-blooded challenge from Rodwell wins a throw and lifts the crowd! 66. Nice interception and lay off by Rodwell. Brereton, under pressure, sets off on a long drive down the wing but there’s no support and he lays it back. 68. Corner. Conway’s first touch and he places it perfectly for Lenihan who rises tallest to head into the net. 70. Bell’s headed clearance only just leaves the box and Klich strikes it first time but it’s straight at Raya. 77. Berardi sneaks round the back of Rodwell deep in the box………..offside phew! Then there’s a poor pass from Rodwell and Leeds stream forward. Evans slides in brilliantly on the edge of the box to deflect Clarke’s shot for a corner. 78. Rodwell eases the defender out of the way with his body allowing Evans to release Armstrong who again uses his pace to drive into the box. He shoots from a tight angle but the keeper saves with his legs. That’s the problem Armstrong seems to be having! He does a brilliant run, outpaces the defender but as he’s a centre-forward attacking from the wing, he’s invariably too wide and his shot has little chance of beating the keeper. It was the same in the last home match. 79. Bennett wins the ball and Brereton drives forward strongly, covering half the field! His final pass is weak though and doesn’t reach Dack. If only! 84. Armstrong is not covering back and Bell is again outnumbered. Eventually the ball falls to a completely unmarked Klich, central and just inside the box. Rodwell seems to be the guy marking no one but he isn’t the only one at fault. Raya pulls out one of his top saves to tip the ball over the bar! 95. Not very much has happened recently but that’s a pleasant change for the endgame! Game over.

Thanks. I like to know how you went!

Puts it all in perspective!

Thanks bazza. It’s funny; when I choose the question I’m never sure whether it’s too hard or too easy! I don’t get much feedback so it’s hard to tell!

Rovers Trivia Quiz 1. Which former Rover never enjoyed his time at Ewood: "The dourness of the club matched that of the town. I could not shake off the depression that caused me to wake each day regretting that I had to go to the ground. Life was grey and monotonous". He did, however, withdraw his infamous transfer request after scoring a hat-trick against Manchester Utd on the first day of the 1960-61 series. 2. Which Rover returned to Chelsea in 1997 for a 5 million pound fee to become the most expensive defender in English football. 3. What year did we sign Alan Shearer? 4. Which 3 former Ewood heroes are currently in the Norwich City first team squad? 5. Which former Rover, in 2013, also left for Norwich. Subsequently he moved to Swansea where he became a member of a very select group: “Players who have been relegated from the Premiership FOUR times!” 6. When Rovers sold Colin Hendry in 1989 he immediately became “Player of the Year” for his new club. Which club? 7. Morten Gamst Pedersen is back playing for the club we bought him from! Which club? 8. Which Rovers legend retired from football on 24th May 2009 and was voted the 47th best player in the Premier League for the decade 2000-2009 in the Daily Mail? 9. Who managed Rovers to the Third Division Title in 1974-75. 10. Where was former Rovers centre-forward Roque Santa Cruz born? BONUS QUESTION! only 6 clubs have provided more England internationals than Rovers (48). Which clubs? Answers 1. Derek Dougan 2. Graeme Le Saux 3. 1992 4. Grant Hanley, Ben Marshall, Jordan Rhodes 5. Martin Olsson 6. Man City 7. Tromso 8. Tugay 9. Gordon Lee 10. Paraguay Bonus: Villa 73, Spurs 73, Liverpool 67, Everton 66, Man U 64, Arsenal 63 (This is from a 2015 Daily Telegraph article so not quite up to-date.) Some of these answers I looked up on Wiki……..so I can’t guarantee 100% accuracy!

Championship Trivia Quiz (data from whoscored.com) 1. We are 10th in the form table (last 6 matches). There are 3 unbeaten teams, who are they and which team heads the form table? 2. Which recent opponent is rock bottom of the form table? 3. Who is the Championship’s top scorer; having scored half of his team’s goals this season? 4. Not surprisingly, Dack has 3 Man of the Match performances. Which other Rover has three also? 5. Who is the tallest Rover on the squad? 6. Who is the only “outfield” player to have started every game for Rovers this season? 7. You won’t get this one! Who is the only player in the squad to score an individual overall rating less than 6.0 ? (Hint: he hasn’t played a lot of games yet and Dack is on top with a rating of 7.34) 8. Which Rover, on average, makes the most passes in a game (49)? 9. From Saturday, which Bolton man is currently rated in the top 20 players in the Championship? (Hint: he was a handful at set pieces and we have Dack and Mulgrew in the top 20). 10. Who did whoscored.com rate as the Man of the Match v Bolton? Answers 1. 1st WBA, 4th Forest, 6th Birmingham, 2. BW 3. Maupay, Brentford (10/20) 4. DL 5. CM (191cm or 6’3”) 6. DL 7. BB 5.89 8. DL 9. Magennis 10. DL…..that man again! Rating 7.6.

I know, i’m too kind!

Pleasantly impressed v Bolton. Height, strength, the ability to pick the pass and deliver it accurately...…..what's not to like? I reckon if the lad's ever going to get his mojo back, he's got a great chance with this set of teammates...……………..and this manager.

I was impressed by Rodwell but he is a damaged article and it will be hugely to TM's credit if he can repair him. I think he's created the team spirit where that is possible. (His distribution could be what we're looking for in midfield.) As for Rothwell, I was impressed at his introduction on Wednesday, His energy and desire to get forward were like a breath of fresh air. He did OK in spells v Bolton but I was a wee bit disappointed. Guess I expected too much. Oops! you won't believe this...……...I was just dragged away to watch "Come Dine With Me!"...………………………... I know! but forgive me but it was from Blackburn and I don't get much chance to hear that wonderful accent. (I haven't lost mine by the way!)

Poor game, great result! An assessment of player performance v Bolton Each player was judged on the following criteria: Instance of excellent play * Instance of decent/good play * Instance of disappointing/poor play * Instance of terrible play * E&OE Ratings Raya ***** Bennett ****************** Lenihan *************************** Mulgrew ******************** Williams ***************** Reed ****************** Rothwell ************* Palmer ******************* Rodwell ************ Dack ************* Graham ********************** Smallwood(58) ******* Evans(58) ******** Armstrong(74) ***** Highlights and Lowlights (A justification for the main ratings above) 0. Graham outsmarts the full back on the wing and puts a beautiful low cross through the box. No one there! Perhaps Palmer might have been a bit more awake? 10. Rodwell is passing the ball around impressively. He’s a big unit too. Here he sweeps a lovely ball across the park to Bennett on the wing and his cross wins a corner. 11. Another lovely chip from Rodwell to Bennett on the wing. Graham challenges for the deflected cross but the goalie punches the ball away. Hmm, that’s the second time today already Reed has passed back removing all momentum from the attack! 14. An even better crossfield ball from Rodwell to Bennett. This lad can play! 17. Dack brings a man down in our D. The free kick hits Williams in the wall and goes for a corner. Palmer heads away and Rothwell clears up neatly and launches a huge pass downfield to Dack but it’s an inch too far! 18. Lenihan loses the heading challenge for once and Mulgrew makes a total hash of his attempted clear up…..the ball plops right into the path of the Bolton man. He squares to Noone, central and just outside the box. Williams, last man, gets in a good block. A long shot comes in but it’s poor. 20. Williams launches the ball long to Palmer, he holds off the defender magnificently, drives forward, does a couple of step overs, and slides a lovely ball to Rothwell in the D. Rothwell hits a sharp, first time pass to Reed who has made an excellent run into the box. His shot from a tightish angle is saved, Rothwell lashes the rebound against the goalie and then Dack finishes off in typical fashion. Great stuff. Commentator talking about an England call up for Dack! 23. Reed is dispossessed just outside the box. Mulgrew launches himself horizontally to head the incoming cross for a corner! Good catch by Raya who then throws an excellent long ball to Rothwell but he fouls the defender. 27. Decent Bolton attack. Lowe squares to Buckley, just outside the box; he turns inside Palmer who is too slow to react. Raya pulls of an excellent save. Corner. A strange one this. Williams, Raya and Magennis are chest to chest on the line. At the last moment, Magennis pulls away 2 metres, Raya pushes Williams away, Magennis rises far higher than anyone else and his powerful header is tipped over the bar brilliantly by Raya. Graham was nearest to Magennis at the end but I think he was so surprised, he hardly left the ground! 31. Nicely won and played off by Rodwell. 32. Poor back pass from Reed, Williams can’t prevent the cross but Bennett is there to head clear. 35. Rothwell beats his man on the wing and plays the ball into the box to Reed and it’s deflected for a corner. Rothwell, Reed and Palmer faff about after the short corner while the big men wait in the middle. Out for a throw. 39. Mulgrew gives a bad pass to a Bolton guy on midway, he has a clear run but Graham does brilliantly to chase back and dispossess him. 42. A little thing can be the lead up to disaster. It nearly happened here. Reed commits a cynical foul on the wing. The kick comes in and Graham’s attempted clearance goes straight up in the air, still in the box! Man Mountain Magennis destroys Lenihan and his looping header has beaten Raya but Mulgrew is positioned perfectly to head off the line! 54. Palmer strolling around with little urgency. 57. For the second time in as many minutes Rothwell is dispossessed but this time it’s dangerous as Lowe feeds Wildschut who runs into the box but his shot is blocked by Mulgrew. 67. Mix-up between Lenihan and Reed allows a through ball to sneak through into the box. Fortunately Wildschut’s cross is poor and Raya collects easily. 70. Turgid stuff at the moment. No attacking flair as on Wednesday. 73. Poor pass by Williams near their box and Bolton stream forward. Fortunately the ball reaches Jason Lowe and the move breaks down! 77. Rovers sitting right back now! It’s a good job that Bolton are rubbish! 78. Goalkick by Raya finds Armstrong in acres of space. He runs into the box. As on Wednesday night he elects to shoot from an acute angle. There’s power there but it’s straight at the keeper. 84. Reed does a complete air-kick near the box and it’s danger again. Evans wins the ball with a strong challenge but it breaks for Bolton. They win a corner. 87. Rovers almost get what they deserve for throwing everybody back! Bolton’s ball into the box pits giant Hobbs against tiny Reed. Hobbs heads square and Mulgrew is judged to have brought down Doidge 2m out.. Penalty! It’s OK he was well offside! It wasn’t a penalty anyway! 88. Dack receives the throw and holds off the THREE defenders and wriggles to the line, he dribbles into the box and wins a corner. 89. Dack receives the ball in the box, he wriggles free again and feeds Evans who heads to the corner…………he holds the ball well under robust challenge from 2 defenders but eventually loses the free kick decision. Final whistle………………nervy ending to a game where we decided to try to hold on to the narrow lead. Poor fare.

I don’t agree there jim (not entirely anyway!) He also said that he worked through the problems with input from the players. This is one of the reasons why there is such a great team spirit......and why Mowbray has brought some well deserved enjoyment to the fans......first time for years. As for the tinkering.......mmmmm........maybe......a bit........but most of the players haven’t done enough to cement a regular place. too many inconsistent performances. I don’t think many were expecting the spanking we got from Sheffield. Certain starters for me would include: Raya, Mulgrew, Williams, Lenihan, Dack, Graham, Bennett ......not far away would be Evans and Rothwell. The rest haven’t convinced me. All in IMHO of course.

Now you’re talking! I haven’t seen the game yet but I love Mowbray’s interviews........best that I can recall from a Rovers manager........ especially explaining why his selections/substitutions. (paraphrasing slightly).......”We were poor, we weren’t fluid enough on Wednesday.....so I selected Palmer, Rothwell, Dack so we could be a bit more fluid.....picked Rodwell and Reed to feed them players......worked Ok for 20 min......but I thought the solidity Evans and Smallwood brought on later was important and secured the points.” ”Then I switchd to 3 centre halves because I thought we were going to concede....” AND ” the togetherness, the cameraderie, the spirit of these players is hard to break really.........when I dropped Evans, Smallwood and Bell......did anybody whinge? No.....everybody’s patting each other on the back, it’s great to see that togetherness.......” He talks to the fans. I like him.

You know, that made me think. It’s true isn’t it that we can easily forget significant events......I reckon it’s most likely to happen if it’s early in the game .......or especially if the event contradicts our individual little prejudices for the particular player. I mean who can remember the great Keith Andrew’s pass or the stunning Jason Lowe through ball? No really! They did happen!

Wouldn’t that be cool? I remember back in the day I used to use Alf Thornton’s reports as the basis of my own humble reports in an old notebook. I always made sure that my heroes, Mike Harrison or Mike Ferguson were Mom! I was always a nerd!

Yeah........how weird was that?

I know, I was kind because at least he was trying to move us forward. And his next run drew several guys out of position ..........if only he could have slipped it through.

I think I fixed it!

Oh, calamity! That was hard to watch. Our talismanic players: Dack, Graham, Bennett were unable to exert any positive influence and Sheffield U gave us a football lesson all over the pitch! We didn’t have a single “purple patch” during the game. An assessment of player performance v Sheffield Utd Each player was judged on the following criteria: Instance of excellent play * Instance of decent/good play * Instance of disappointing/poor play * Instance of terrible play * E&OE Ratings Raya ****** Bennett ************** Lenihan ****************** Williams ********************* Bell(69) ************* Reed ********** Smallwood(45) ********** Evans ***************** Armstrong ************** Dack ************* Graham(55) ****** Mulgrew(45) *********** Brereton(55) ***** Rothwell(69) **** Highlights and Lowlights (A justification for the main ratings above) 4. Evans, under no pressure, dithers on the midway line, miscontrols and is dispossessed. Big danger but Bennett flies back to get a foot in. Lenihan clears. 5. Sheffield corner. The ball reaches a totally unmarked Sharp who somehow manages to scuff his shot and Williams clears away. God knows who was supposed to be marking him? This is very similar to the corner v Forest; we didn’t have defenders in the half of the box closest to the corner taker. Sharp just ran into that space and should have scored! 10. That’s about 15 passes sideways between Rovers’ players just inside our own half. We get nowhere so Williams hoofs it upfield to no one! 21. Another terrible pass from Smallwood, he has to foul the guy to make amends. 23. Another Sheffield corner. Bennett scuffs his header, Evans clears. 24. We can’t get away from our own box! Sheffield have the run of the place. Another shot comes in and a good save from Raya. 26. I can’t record all of these but this is typical…….Reed, then Smallwood, then Evans challenge unsuccessfully in midfield and they are all left for dead. The ball flashes across the face of Raya’s goal…………….but Sheffield regain and come again! Sharp’s glancing header flies over the bar! Also typical, the goalkick is high towards Graham but he has 2 giants stood on his toes……………only one possible outcome. 28. Armstrong runs down the wing challenging 3 defenders……….. again only one possible outcome. Depressing to watch. Total lack of attacking flair/inspiration throughout the entire team. 30. At last! A lovely ball from Dack into the box for Armstrong but, faced by 3 defenders he dribbles round himself and then lays it out to Bell. His cross falls to Dack but he miskicks. Reed tries an acrobatic volley but it’s blocked for a corner. As in the Forest game, it’s taken 30 minutes for Reed to earn a positive rating. Oh blimey….now he’s just fluffed the corner! 32. Awful ball into the box by Armstrong. 34. Lovely ball by Reed to Bennett on the edge of the box, he squares to Dack but he scuffs his shot and it’s deflected. Williams gets his head to the corner, Smallwood squares to Evans but his attempted chip is well over. 36. Bennett slips as he tries to clear and it’s dangerous but never fear, Lenihan’s here with an effective challenge. In midfield and again Smallwood and Evans put in weak tackles and the Utd man runs on. 38. Sheffield Corner and O’Connell outjumps Lenihan comprehensively. Raya blocks on the line. Williams clears. Under the cosh here. 40. Bell and Dack lose the ball, McGoldrick unleashes a curling shot from the edge of the box, Raya tips it over! Graham gets his head to the corner but Fleck’s shot comes in from the edge of the box. Raya saves again. 45. Mulgrew on. Evans wins the ball well and Williams crosses to Armstrong who heads on to Dack but his header is over the bar. 48. Same old. Sheffield cut us to pieces on the right wing. Eventually Reed and Bennett block Fleck’s goal bound shot. From the corner O’Connell outjumps Lenihan and Evans again to head over the bar. 57. Nice flick into the corner by Bennett and Brereton beats 2 men and returns the ball for Bennett to cross. A good aggressive challenge for the ball by Bell under pressure but his header is wide. Bell claiming he was held. 62. Good run down the wing by Armstrong and a neat pass to Bell on the edge of the box. Bell returns to Armstrong but is shot is blocked and he was just offside anyway. 64. Bell receives the ball on the edge of the box and shows good skills to turn and feed Brereton who shoots from the edge of the box but a challenge takes all the sting out of it and the goalie collects easily. 65. Duffy skips past Williams and Reed, nutmegs Evans to Fleck who slips the ball to McGoldrick in the box. Bennett fails to stop the cross……………Sharp is running in, Williams blocks him but Sharp gets to the rebound first to score. 69. Good run and great cross from Williams to Brereton at the near post but he heads wide. He should have scored. 71. I like it. An input of energy from Rothwell as he bursts across the field passing to Dack. He runs to the edge of the box but his shot is not one of his best and is deflected for a corner. 74. Terrible backpass by Brereton sends Sheffield pouring forward again. Williams puts in a good challenge. 77. Sharp pulls away from Mulgrew and as the cross comes in there’s no one to challenge and he heads in from I yard. 79. Rothwell drives forward past 3 men and lets fly from outside the box. Well wide……..but still! 84. Good grief…….Rothwell runs past 5 men but is dispossessed by the 6th. It’s OK to pass sometimes Joe! 84. Beautiful long ball along the floor in to the edge of the box by Williams to Armstrong but his first time shot is straight at the keeper. He was never gonna beat him from there. 88. Hmm, Dack wasn’t interested in challenging for that one. Williams isn’t tracking back and the ball is played into the box for an unmarked United man but Raya is there again! It’s not safe though, in it comes again and Williams heads clear to Dack but he is dispossessed. Final whistle. Well they have won 4 away games now….that is impressive.

This time I’ve done separate ratings for each half (That’s the best I can do tom!) Ratings Raya |*** Nyambe(58) ***********|*** Lenihan ***************|******** Downing(58) ***********|******* Bell ***************|******** Reed ************|********** Smallwood *********|********* Evans(74) ******|*** Bennett ***********|*********** Dack ************|********** Graham ************|********** Rodwell(58) |******** Armstrong(58) |********* Rothwell(74) |*****

OAn assessment of player performance v Forest Each player was judged on the following criteria: Instance of excellent play * Instance of decent/good play * Instance of disappointing/poor play * Instance of terrible play * E&OE Ratings Raya *** Nyambe(58) ************** Lenihan ************************ Downing(58) ****************** Bell *********************** Reed *********************** Smallwood ****************** Evans(74) ********* Bennett ********************** Dack ********************** Graham ********************** Rodwell(58) ******** Armstrong(58) ********* Rothwell(74) ***** Highlights and Lowlights (A justification for the main ratings above) 4. A bit of Forest pressure and Nyambe runs it away from the box but he is dispossessed. Here they come again. Good pressing all round relieves the pressure. 6. Again Nyambe loses possession on the wing and we lose momentum. 7. Forest corner. Lenihan and Hefele go up at the far post. Lenihan was pulling his shirt and the ref gives a penalty. MISS! We get lucky……. Flipping heck Darragh, I love your commitment but this is ridiculous! 12. Dowling dithers on the halfway line and is robbed. Grabban has a straight run into the box but there’s good old Lenihan with a successful challenge but it’s a corner. 14. Good hold up play by Graham, Dack sweeps the ball to Nyambe on the wing……but he is dispossessed again by Lolley. The nice move breaks down. 19. Bennett chases back as always and wins the ball. Evans dithers and is dispossessed but it goes for a Rovers throw. 20. AGAIN a Rovers player dithers on the ball and is dispossessed. This time it’s Bell on the wing and we’re lucky that the Forest ball into the box is too far from Grabban! Sloppy work all over the pitch! 23. I’ve just realised……I’ve read a lot of praise for Reed on the forums. He hasn’t touched the ball yet! (well once!) 25. Well, well. The first decent move of the game. Graham chests down a long ball expertly to Dack……then it’s good quick passing between Reed, Evans, Nyambe and Dack launches the ball into the box for Graham who does really well, under pressure, to volley the ball coming over his shoulder on target. Goalie saves. 28. This is more like it! Nice ball into the box by Bennett, met by Dack 10m out but his header is straight at the keeper. Dack ghosted in there but the finish wasn’t up to his usual standards. 29. Beautiful head on by Graham into the box but the goalie gets there just before Reed. 30. Great chance. Reed showing his worth here. Robs the defender and the ball is picked up by Smallwood who lays a beautiful ball into the box for Graham…..he only has the goalie to beat….he waits for him to commit and then pushes the ball past him. But that hesitation allows Colback to appear from nowhere and somehow head the ball off the line for a corner! The commentators are giving Danny advice here but that’s harsh. Unbelievable clearance. 39. Nice throw in from Bell into the box to Bennett who controls with his chest then does an overhead kick, Reed gets a foot in and the ball comes to Dack near the penalty spot. He hits the bar! Rovers well on top here but they need to score! 45+1 One more simple, sloppy pass again nearly proves disastrous! Nyambe and Smallwood are involved. Forest attack but VERY luckily the final cross is over Grabban’s head. The goal kick comes back; Downing beats Grabban to the header but it’s not far and Grabban pulls away from Downing as the ball loops back. Grabban puts it in the net but he’s offside. Just! 45+2 One of those satisfying, crunching tackles by Lenihan breaks up another dangerous attack after Downing had slipped. Bell pumps the ball forward and (while everyone else is thinking about their cup of tea) there’s Bennett charging down the field making the goalie miskick for a throw. 46 Terrible pass by Smallwood in his own half…..straight to the Forest man but Forest can’t capitalise. The sort of pass that can lose a game! Why is no one challenging for that Forest throw? A dangerous ball comes into the box but it’s well cleared by Downing. Another special moment by Graham, holding up the ball under pressure. The only way they’re going to get that ball is by fouling him. So it’s a free kick! 49. A blocked clearance from Lenihan finds Cash who drives forward and pumps the ball towards an unmarked Lolley in the box, Bell isn’t close enough. Fortunately the cross isn’t perfect and Raya is well-positioned to dive and collect. 51. A Rovers free kick is headed clear and Forest stream forward. Nyambe is done by Lolley, the cross comes in, it’s headed back across goal and Grabban nets! Excellent, counter-attacking goal. 54. Smallwood misjudges his header when the Forest goalkick is fired forward. It skids off his head and, all of a sudden it’s danger time as Lolley turns Nyambe inside out (he’s got to know that Lolley is all left foot so he has to be more aware). Downing is perfectly positioned in the box to head the cross for a throw in. 55. Again, that one moment of sloppiness courting disaster! Downing clears up nicely in the box to Nyambe who tries to be too clever, slips and is dispossessed. Eventually the ball comes to Lolley, who beats Nyambe again but there’s Downing again, in the box to clear up. Hmm, Downing’s not as bad as people suggested now that he’s warmed up a bit. Oh wait! Smallwood just passed straight to a Forest man outside the box but his shot whistles past the post! 56. For crying out loud! Now Bell has just done a Nyambe; trying to play too much football near the box. There’s Lenihan again, last man standing! It’s Downing off, Armstrong on. But Nyambe is distressed and doesn’t make it clear that he too needs to come off! TM has to send Rodwell on. No choice! 60. Rodwell’s first action. He goes up for a header, it looks simple but he fluffs it. He chases back though and wins the ball but then slices into touch. A bit rusty? 61. Forest knocking it about nicely. The ball comes into the box, Rodwell can only deflect it but Smallwood clears up. 63. Commentators both moaning. Bell throws in field directly to a Forest man! It’s Lolley driving forward through an empty midfield but there’s that man Lenihan on the edge of the box with an effective challenge. Eventually Rodwell clears. Armstrong, daydreaming is dispossessed in midfield but the Forest man’s shot from distance is weak and straight at Raya. Great long, crossfield ball by Bennett to Dack who controls well and lays off to Armstrong in the corner of the box, who first time curls the ball over one of the tallest goalies in the league and into the top corner of the net. “Goal of the season” says the commentator. What do you mean he didn’t mean it? He gets * anyway! Ewood is awake! 66. Another fantastic, forward, crossfield ball by Bennett to Dack in the box. He controls superbly and turns 2 defenders inside out. Colback runs in to help and Dack’s shot is blocked but Colback has taken Dack thigh-high. It sure looked like a penalty to me! 68. Good free kick from Dack from 25m. Goalie helps it round the post. Reed takes the corner and Lenihan’s header has power but it’s directly above the goalie’s head and he saves. Graham flicks on the next corner but it hits a defender and bounces clear. 70. More great football from Rovers. Bennett, Graham, Smallwood and Armstrong do well and finally a bobbling ball in the box is headed towards goal by Dack but there’s no power and it’s into the goalie’s arms. 72. Fantastic, long, through ball by Armstrong to Graham in the box. He goes for goal, it’s past the goalie but there’s no power and the defender easily gets back to collect. Dack was available square! 73. It’s still on! Bell through to Graham again in the box but this time he does cut it square perfectly and Dack nets from 1m. Commentator: “No reason why we can’t get double promotion this year. No team in this league scares me” The place is rocking! 76. Lenihan wins yet another header and Dack is on the ball on the halfway line. He turns the defenders inside out and lays a gorgeous through ball into the box for Armstrong. The goalie comes and Armstrong bottles it, he pulls out of the challenge. What a chance! 78. Forest throw in and Dack looks knackered; he doesn’t challenge or chase. Nice ball into the box for Lolley; Rodway rushes in but Lolley is past him. Rodway leaves a foot trailing…….. just enough for the Forest man to dive over it. PENALTY. Raya dives the right way but it’s a goal! 83. Free kick across field but it’s a loose pass by Bennett near their box and it’s enough! Forest punt forward and Lolley drives into the box and unleashes a powerful shot from a tight angle. Raya has to make a good save. Lenihan had been tempted upfield for the free kick so our reliable “last man standing” was missing. No one else does that job quite like him! He’s giving somebody a rollocking! 84. Bell is exposed as Dias runs at him. Reed doesn’t see the danger of an unmarked Lolley and doesn’t move to cover him. Lolley then dribbles past Reed easily but Rodwell gets his foot to the very dangerous cross. It’s fired in again…..over Rodwell’s head but Grabban heads wide. Free header for goodness sake! 86. Reed dispossessed in our own half but Rothwell comes in with a tackle. 88. Dack too tired to reach Smallwood’s pass. Defending very deep now. Forest corner. Crowd quiet. The ball falls near the penalty spot. Rodwell blocks the shot but it’s driven back in. Hefele deflects the ball inches past the post. Very very lucky! 91. Unnecessarily risky throw by Bennett right across the edge of our box! Rodwell scoops clear. 92. Lolley given the freedom of Ewood again. He lobs in the ball into the box. The usual extra-time panic ping pong ensues. Goal saving challenge by Bennett. I honestly thought he’d scored! Corner headed away by Graham, another corner though. 93. Well, that should have been Goodnight Irene! From the Forest left, the corner comes in. There are ZERO defensive players on this side of the box, except Bennett on the post! Guedioura comes strolling into the middle of the box and has a totally free header. How he put it past the post I’ll never know. He bursts into tears. We definitely don’t deserve to win this! Graham was nearest to him but it seems harsh to blame only him!

Armstrong: “I didn’t mean it. It was one of them where I’ve just tried to put it into a dangerous area and it’s looped over the goalkeeper. I’ll take it," the 21-year-old said to iFollow Rovers after the game”