Brereton on for Rothwell after a clash of heads.

Much better performance so far. Unlucky to concede but it was a moment of magic from Carney. He will do that a few times this season. Something in this for Rovers if they stick at it.

Wonder if Lenihan is injured or there is unrest after Mulgrew being allowed to go and no replacement brought in. Are we about to witness it all massively unravelling for TM? Also, I guess Bennett is captain today then....

Think we will play better against a better side than last weeks debacle...but it won't be enough and expect us to go down 3-1. 2 nil down at half time, we'll pull a goal back, get well on top and then get hit on the break.... Standard really. Gallagher to score our goal. Tom Carney almost certainly going to bag against us because of course he is. Expecting Mitrovic to net a couple too. My team would be: Walton Nyambe, Big Tosin, Lenihan, Downing Travis, Johnson Armstrong, Dack, Rothwell Gallagher Hope we get to see Brereton on the pitch at some point.

Don't forget Nyambe. I'm sure TM sees him as a CB now, leaving the RB spot between Bennett and JRC...

Something has clearly gone on behind the scenes with Mulgrew to Wigan coming from out of absolutely nowhere. If for whatever reason Wigan failed to beat the deadline and he stays with Rovers I don't think we'll be seeing him play for the club again. Sad end if that's the case. I loved Charlie in that league one season but since February he's been a walking defensive disaster. I would not be at all surprised if we bring in a free transfer CB in the coming weeks. Lynch seems most likely if he was in for talks. Providing that's backup and we give Tosin the gig alongside Lenihan then I'd be OK with that. On Tosin, if Pep rates him that's good enough for me. So he got mixed reviews at WBA, but it sounds like he was moved around a bit positionally, which never helps when bedding a player into the team.

Cunningham coming in would mean Bell as backup and Williams officially moved to CB I guess. CB's as it stands are Lenihan, Tosin, Williams and Nyambe based on where he played in the African Nations. Definitely looks like we are missing someone in there.

I've never known a manager to be so reluctant to play new signings. It's bizarre.

So that's nobody coming in then. What. A. Surprise. Always fine margins with transfer windows. We are a couple of upgrades away from it being a good window, but without those additions it's a pretty bad one.

Joel Lynch seems to be generally considered trash by QPR fans, so that's exciting. Seems like a signing of pure desperation if it happens and not much (if any) upgrade on what we have. Hope the Cunningham link is true but I'd be surprised, mainly cos he's a decent player and a defender... Those two factors don't seem to be a thing we look for in new signings.

Based on the post match interview, I'd say we are gonna be stuck with the same defenders until January at the earliest. Would not be at all surprised if the only signing we make is an ageing GK on a free. Can't see us suddenly picking up the pace to sort some deals out to address the defensive issues. I always appreciate the effort of Benno, and during the league one season he was probably my favourite player for sheer work rate....but he's now well on his way to being the new Jason Lowe because the manager values versatility over quality.

Prediction: we will sign an ageing free transfer keeper, possibly sell Smallwood and that'll be it. I can't see Rovers beating the deadline to more than that given the pace at which our other deals were done.

They also lost their second game 3 nil. I used Sheff Utd as an example to be hopeful after our bad start in league one but I'm not sure lightning will strike twice.

If Williams is due back next week and Tosin isn't ready then I'd go for a back line of Nyambe, Lenihan, Williams and Downing. If Tosin is good to go then I'd put him in alongside Lenihan. Mulgrew is done at this level, same for Bennett.

Well that was shocking. I try to back TM but I can't support his decisions for today. No more Bennett, no more Mulgrew, move downing to left back and put rothwell in. Sign a damn decent, experienced defender for the love of all things sacred. Substitutions where actually insane. Gallagher is even less of a wide player than Brero. His subs basically allowed the game to get away from us. Also, it's my birthday today and rovers have now spoilt it a touch lol. Gonna be a loooong hard season if he doesn't budge on the clear and obvious issues in this team.

Don't get me wrong, I'm a fan of his for sure...perhaps dour was a poor word to use.

It's a pretty spicy take from Mowbray to flog our goalkeeper and replace with a loan. If we are looking at bringing in an experienced keeper as well you have to wonder why... I doubt Brighton would've agreed to a loan if Walton wasnt gonna be number 1. If it's to bring an older GK in to mentor Walton and Fisher then I could understand it, but then you naturally have to ask what our GK coach is actually doing ?. Anyway, I'm not disappointed with the deals so far but I'm not resoundingly delighted either. I'm hopeful that the young city last isn't the only defensive outfield player on the way but if it is then I'd be pretty darn concerned. I am incredibly thankful to TM for getting us back in the championship at the first attempt and despite his dour persona I think he's been great for us when we were on our knees after Coyle....BUT, if we don't bring those defenders in that he said were coming then he's gonna look a bit silly. I really appreciated him being so honest when he said the defence hadn't been good enough. I just hope the club does the right thing and strengthens at the back as this window is looking like a bit of a make or break scenario for TM with the deals done so far.

Couldn't agree more. The kits will be done, so just release them. Although I did enjoy doing the concepts lol.

Yeah I wasn't sure how it'd look at first but it kinda works. Having done that concept for the away shirt I'm not sure I'm a fan of the grey if that is what we are going with.

Sure thing. Also here's an away concept as well, based on the grey rumours that were floating around...

Thought I'd have a bit of fun mocking up a home shirt design that I'd personally love to see. For me it has to be royal blue with a red and navy trim. Any feedback is welcome

Very pleasing performance and result, delighted to see Rothwell score. The daft thing is we have a combination of players that have the ability to play to that level on a regular basis, which just makes the last 2 months of results all the more baffling when you look at some of the teams we've put out. Our last 2 wins have now both been fairly convincing and both had Travis and Reed in the middle, Benno not in an attacking role and Rothwell on the pitch alongside Dack (think he came on as sub vs Wigan?). There is a good team in there but TM needs to swallow that loyalty to some of last seasons regulars and accept that they aren't cut out for starting in the championship.

I'd expect us to end up with someone like Grayson tbh, which doesn't really have me enthralled based on his last couple of jobs.

I think a lineup against Derby that's similar to yesterday will be the tipping point for many. Would love to see this lineup: Raya Nyambe, Lenihan, Rodwell, Bell Travis, Reed Chapman, Dack, Rothwell Graham Aside from the 2nd half implosion against Brentford I think Lenihan and Rodwell are the best pairing we can go with for now...while Graham will be continuously starved of service until we actually put some creativity into those 3 midfielders that need to support him.

I suppose the thing that concerns me the most is the stubbornness over changing things up. The fact is we can't be doing any worse than we already are... Bottom of the form table based on the last 10 games or so, so why stick with what we all know isn't working anymore. All players have the ceiling heights and a huge part of being a great manager is to have the know-how to reinvent things when it all goes stale. Bennett is one of my favourite players in the last couple of years but I also can't deny he doesn't deserve a starting place anymore. My concern is how deep TM's loyalties go...because if it means Evans and Snallwood in the middle next year, then we are getting relegated.