Scottish football is half decent if you take it for what it is. Of course it's nothing like English football, but I fail to see how one of two teams being in line to win anything is very different at all to Man City/Chelsea/Liverpool being odds on to do a clean sweep of the three trophies down here.

7pm tonight on BBC Two for the Third Round draw, we're ball number 5. Nationwide railway strikes are planned for that Fri/Sat so watch us get a brilliant away day now...!

League One and everyone below are carrying on as per usual.

Off-topic but part of the draw nonetheless, it pissed me off when the lass presenting said 'Southampton, or should I say Nathan Jones' Southampton...' No you shouldn't. So disrespectful of the club, their fans and heritage and whatever else to essentially tag it on like someone's just waltzed in and saved their life. Same with Lampard's Everton, Gerrard's Villa, Kompany's Burnley... Fuck off.

I can remember us getting done 6-4 at Villa Park in the second leg of a League Cup Semi when the BBC had broadcasting rights, I seem to recall the weather was dismal up here at the time. Manchester Derby was the 'half' of that draw I think. January 2010 or 2011?

Sky now streaming on Youtube. Encouragingly it's counting down to half 10... They could have had it done by now 😑 Carabao Cup Fourth Round Draw! 🏆 - YouTube

Is it (legally) being streamed online anywhere? Edit - or radio? Don't have Sky Sports!

Thanks. Just seen the draw is tomorrow night so a little while to wait yet sadly.

Right, when's the draw for and date of the next round?

Fucking have it!

All the makings of 11-10, Pears missing the decider hasn't it?

Who's the co-commentator on Radio Lancs? Can't say I listen that often!

I was taught about that headline in A-level English down here, safe to say it's gotten about a bit!

MK Dons for one are emptier (average league attendance this season is 8,261 in 30,500 seats; Rovers are 13,661 in 31,367); but yes I believe we are the 'emptiest' in the top two tiers. But yeah, £30 for what might be an earlier start than you'd like in December to go and sit in the likely freezing cold, all in the midst of a cost of living crisis is some commercial strategy...

Yeah there's no trains. I had similar coming back from Cardiff away - the best I could find is the X41 bus from outside Chorlton Street Coach Station to Accrington Bus Station, the 6/6a bus to Blackburn (edit - 7 or 7a coming back), then if you feel like it the 1 or 2 bus to Ewood. A day ticket is £12 I think. The X41 used to run direct to Blackburn but hasn't for a while now. You could also tram to Bury / bus to Rawtenstall then come across on the bus (I forget the number) but from memory that stops a little too early in the evening to do in reverse after the game.

Different scenario altogether what with the number of fans, policing, logistics and what have you involved, but I have always thought all three divisions of the National League's approach of playing a 'nearby' team on Boxing Day then having the reverse fixture on New Years Day is a nice touch. Nothing daft like Notts County v. Chesterfield, but this time for example you have Altrincham with Halifax and Southport v. Curzon Ashton and what have you. Allows easier and cheaper days out for all concerned and gives a little bit of intensity to the festive fixtures.

Might be a kiss of death if we play this at Coventry - aren't we presently the last team to play Bury at Gigg Lane too?!

I can't help but just want to say I own all three of the current books and they are superb. Well recommended even if you aren't one for Scottish football: they are well worth it for the photography and nostalgia alone!

Had to double check these as I was relatively young at the time but away at Man City and West Brom in the league in 05/06. Drew 0-0 and lost 2-0 respectively but I don't think we had a meaningful attack in either. Obviously neither have the gravitas of Millwall for Wembley or Spurs or Wigan in our last days in the PL but both were an awakening for younger me as to how, let's be honest, shit it can be on occasion.

This 1927 IPA Cardiff are selling on the concourse is absolute dynamite. I'll give it ten mins upstairs and if nothing's happening I'll come back down and just get back on this instead.

Off to Whitehaven v. Newcastle in the RFL Championship today, nothing at stake for either side but hoping for a decent game at what looks a good ground, and a couple of nice pubs in a town I never thought I'd visit. Off to a couple of games in the World Cup too I hope.

Might use my free Saturday to go to Wigan and scout out pubs for next time...

Indeed, rugby league appears to be going ahead tomorrow if not tonight (though there's only two games at professional level), as does professional ice hockey. All NI and most Scottish football now off, Wales yet to declare as far as I can see.

No age at all. RIP.

God this makes me feel old.