One thing to note for this game is that every team in the top 10 (Watford) are playing each other excluding Burnley (vs Sunderland) and Rovers (vs big club). This round of fixtures literally couldn't be any better. Focus on ourselves and if we get 3 points it will see us making up good ground on the teams around us or increasing the gap between us and 7th. It's a golden opportunity. Edit: Coventry are playing Stoke but where they're in such good form my brain accidentally included them in top bunch of teams.

Whether we like it or not, I think we're in a better the devil you know position with Venkys right now. We have an outrageous amount of debt owed to them, which makes any sale very difficult to navigate and comes with a lot of unknowns. If we look at their entire tenure it's been horrendous which has all been their fault. The bar couldn't have been set any lower. That low bar has gradually risen. Through luck at first, primarily with Mowbray. He brought about a new problem as they finally saw somebody they could trust and was handed the keys to the kingdom, which is no way to run a professional football club. He was a step up from what came before though. Where we are now, is the beginnings of how I'd like to see the club run, but deadline day did highlight there are still incompetent people hanging on in there. Nevertheless this seasons setup is a significant raising of the bar. The issue we always have with Venkys is we are one decent employee leaving, away from meltdown as there has never been succession planning. If Broughton were to leave I can't see us being swift in filling his void. We're also yet to see if JDT would be bulletproof like Mowbray was and Venkys fluctuating levels of investment are always a worry. All in all though, if new owners were to come in, this is the type of setup I'd want to see. The learning process has been slow, but there is evidence it has happened and evidence they have slowly worked out how to find competent footballing people who they're willing to trust. It doesn't mean we forget the past and the damage done, but for me they actually represent the option which offers hope of progression with the least amount of risk right now.

My perception is that it reflects badly on the EFL should clubs fall into administration. I'm sure Sheffield United could avoid that next season if they're not promoted but only with a fire sale on players. As it stands, they have cheated this year. They've spent money they didn't have and have defaulted on money owed. That in itself should be worthy of a points deduction. As a means of saving face, my feeling is the EFL are pushing the issue as far down the line as possible in the hope Sheffield United are promoted, or have the ability to sell assets in the summer. It's crooked as anything.

I thought this too. Ndiaye and McAtee were their most influential players with Doyle smashing the winner. Two of those are loanees. From what I can see it is win or a huge restart this year for Sheffield United. Probably not on the scale Huddersfield have seen but a reliance on loans whilst in an embargo is a risky position to be in. They have 3 major assets of their own in Amelhodzic, Ndiaye and Berger. Surely 1 or 2 of those would have to be sold. The part that sticks in the throat is that Amedhodzic being sold would see them turn a large profit, when they didn't have the funds to buy him in the first place. Well done EFL. The rules make no sense in that only administration sees a club docked points whereas simply not paying your debts doesn't. It's effectively a loan that if spent wisely is a quick way to either make profit or win the lottery of promotion. ----- As for us. On the one hand it's very encouraging that one of our lesser players is our only loan. On the other hand, if we'd played the loan market better, either at the start of the season, or in January we'd be in an even stronger position. Add wisely and play the loan market well in the summer and we'll be looking very promising for promotion. Personally I'd love McAtee. He missed some sitters but he was by far the best player on the pitch after Ndiaye yesterday.

Thought we deserved to win. The Fodderingham double save, Hedges hitting the post, Gallagher having a total lack of awareness to get onto the end of a ball across the 6 yard box. On the ref, he totally bottled sending Robinson off. That changes the game completely. Twice now in the past month we've seen Shef United inexplicably not having a man sent off against us. It was also a stone wall penalty. Thier player did a Schmeichel starfish. On our performance we were good, though worryingly open at the back at times. If McAtee knew how to finish he'd be some player. I'm not going to give Jdt pelters for his subs. Multiple times this season he's switched to a back 5 and we've seen the game out. Conceding 90 seconds after the subs completely scuppered us. I felt their equaliser was more a case of a few players getting sucked into a little scrap and it fell to their fella on the floor who was able to scoop it out. The winner, regardless of laws of the game, Morton should hang his head in shame. He was fine and his rolling around cost us the game. I hope Boro get top 2. I think we can beat Sheffield United in the playoffs. And it would be sweet revenge. Though I'd rather they slip into admin and get docked points. That would be lovely for such a shithouse team who haven't even paid for half their players. Gutted we didn't win, but the game has come at a good time. We can still take confidence from our performance and most the players have a nice break now. Come back firing on all cylinders and the playoffs are truly there for the taking, especially after yesterday's favourable results. Many teams around us are due to play each other in the next few weeks. Birmingham, then Norwich, then Huddersfield and we will be half way there. Disappointing day, but onwards and upwards we march. We'll still be going to Wembley this year.

As Rovers fans, one thing we can't stomach is a lack of effort. 90th minute and Morton rolling around on the floor, one game away from playing at Wembley. The lad had all the time and space in the world to let fly from exactly where Morton should have been. The subs disjointed us, but make it to extra time and we could reset. Mortons a player I won't remember fondly when he's gone.

Yes it does. You commented that if Markanday were not pulling up trees in our u21's he'd have no hope in Aberdeens first team. The majority of Rovers fans will have seen little to zero of Aberdeen, so I've simply given a very recent reference point for people to gauge the quality of their squad, in the form of Clarkson.

As a gauge of Aberdeens quality, Leighton Clarkson actually has 5 goals and 5 assists in 24 starts for them this season.

Absolutely huge win last night. The manner of it, getting a late winner will do wonders for the atmosphere in the squad. Coventry, Norwich and West Brom all drawing was so important, finally creating a bit of a buffer for us. I'd take finishing 6th in an instant, so they're the main results I'm concerned with right now. To know that we'll be in the top 6 going into the international break is a big, big boost. Now we can go and enjoy the FA Cup game and come back firing against Birmingham in April. It really feels as though we come through a portion of the season, take a little mental break from the league and aim to come back firing. Regardless of how this season ends, we and JDT have done a phenomenal job. We're now 3 points better off than we were at this point last year and most importantly have momentum rather than being in freefall.

Is anybody able to clarify when the cut off point for 10 bookings is? I tried searching for it a week or so back and found nothing. Losing either Travis or Thomas for 2 games would be an enormous blow.

Preview from a Reading perspective. I believe they picked up a few additional injuries in their last game https://thetilehurstend.sbnation.com/2023/3/15/23639405/blackburn-rovers-vs-reading-match-preview-2022-23-tomasson-ince

I think Mowbray is a decent but flawed person, like most people in the world. Mowbray played a big part in Rovers history leading us out of league 1 at the first opportunity. I'll be forever grateful for that. His last two seasons were weird. Some atrocious runs and some big highs. He shouldn't have survived all of that in what is an unbelievably cut throat industry. But he did thanks to his job being bulletproof under Venkys lack of leadership, which led to his biggest character flaws being there for all to see. He can't stand criticism, gets very defensive and quite insular, cutting himself off to protect his fragile ego. A lot of people do this. It doesn't make him a bad bloke, but it's the last thing you want from a leader and it also makes critical self reflection difficult. As a result his teams will always see major dips in form. Its nice to no longer have to listen to his endless waffle and excuses, but he did turn around a dying club, so I wish him the best. JDT is a different gravy as a leader. I just hope that tactically, he can continue to progress both in himself and for us as a team.

I agree that internally the club should just be focused on our own performances, taking it one game at a time, but our squad is not streets ahead of those around us. Millwall and Luton maybe punching, but the gap in quality between us Norwich, Coventry and a good few others in the league is minimal. Focus on ourselves, yes. But we're not going to win every game. We don't have the quality. As a fan, it means I'll always be keeping my eye on other results.

Looks like all the results tonight are going against us (I'm not fussed about Boro as I can't see us finishing above them). It's mad how we've had 1 defeat since mid January and as it stands are in 6th with only a 2 point buffer. The form of the teams chasing the playoffs is frightening.

5 of Stokes starting line up tonight are there on loan. Including 2 of the midfielders Pearson and Smallbone. I do agree though, I'm rather envious of a couple of their players right now. There's a couple of them who would have added a lot to our promotion push.

We were very poor last night. I hate football when we've actually performing well. I often think I'm one of those that is passionate but has the ability to not let it ruin the day. In reality as a Rovers fan I've just become accustomed to expect failure. Being able to let things go really goes out the window when you start to belive. It's the hope that kills you. I was so wound up last night, firstly by our performance and then by the spineless referee. After some time to calm down, Alex Neill did a number on us. They let us have the ball at the back and their press suffocated us whenever we tried to go forwards. We became unsettled and constantly misplaced passes. The quick switches of play also destroyed us. Dolan was terrible for not tracking back, but I also think Pickering twice followed his man more centrally leaving so much space. We didn't deserve a thing from the game. I'm hopeful that under JDT we have a habit of bouncing back. Top 6 is the aim. A win at Reading and playoffs are still a possibility.

Oh fuck off referee. The ball was in play for about 90 seconds of that 5 mins added time. Spends his entire time pointing at his watch and blows on 5 minutes. Absolute twat. Its no wonder so many games are such a shit watch when the referees are such spineless fuckheads.

I think that was the time that QPR were finishing towards the top of the Premier League for a couple of seasons, with an absolutely impeccable home record on their plastic pitch.

Again you're just picking players to suit your argument. Let me counter with David Bentley, Stephen Warnock, Yakubu and Brad Friedel. 4 players all with Premier League experience who were excellent for us, that I've thought of in a second. Just to demonstrate that you're being selective to try to back up your point, let's transfer the stance you're taking to the European Market. Duds, Radoslav Petrovic, Corrado Grabbi and Vince Grella vs Mccarthy, Santa Cruz and Samba who were brilliant buys. In my original post I wrote if we were promoted it would be good to look at a couple of top championship players supplemented by players from the European market and a bit of Premier League experience, so I don't see why you've taken such opposition to what was 1/3 of the post. Pre-venkys Rovers made it part of their identity picking up unpolished diamonds. Like I've stated above you're literally picking players to suit your own argument so I feel like I'm wasting my breath. And it's not even a particularly staunch stance of mine as shown by the fact it was a point which made up 1/3 of my original post.

I think we have very different definitions of the word experience. You seem to be perceiving it as a player in his mid 30's, possibly looking for one last pay day. The Premier League is so awash with money that clubs are often looking at what is new and shiny with plenty of competent players still in their 20's struggling for game time. Players who have wracked up a decent amount of Premier League minutes in their careers.

In a word, no. There are so many examples of experience being invaluable. To solely pick out the worst of the absolute dross we signed under Kean to suit an argument is silly.

We should have beaten Stoke earlier this season, but we conceded the first goal and they shut us out. Our difficulty in coming back from losing positions could likely rear it's head again. My feeling is that so long as we get the first goal, we stand a very good chance. I agree it's going to be a low scoring game.

Looking at the table statistically helps me temper my expectations. In my opinion 2nd felt out of our reach anyway, especially when looking at the average amount of points needed although Sheffield United are currently 2 points worse off than Bournemouth were at this point last season. The average of 86 points would need one insane run of form between now and the end of the season and the wheels to completely fall off for both Boro and Sheffield United. I can't see it happening. ----- 74 points for the playoffs still requires what I would consider an excellent end to the season though again Millwall are 2 points worse off than 7th place was at this point last season. All the teams in and around us have been winning lately. For me we really need a buffer going into our last 5 games. I think JDT being level headed will be vital. Take things game by game and don't worry too much about what is going on around us. Each win is one small step towards where we want to be.

If we're still in the championship then a couple of strikers are a must, Sorba Thomas has been a great addition, a centre mid and possibly a left back. Emphasis on quality over quantity. ------ If we got promoted I'd absolutely love us to make an attempt for Victor Gyokeres. Proving his value season after season for Coventry. I'd be quite open to a combination of top Championship level players (would O'brien still consider us) a couple of overseas recruits and any proven Premier league players who are out of favour. Be shrewd in our recruitment. It would be an almighty scrap to stay in the Prem and if we were relegated, we'd be well set to bounce back.

Maybe the old saying "but can he do it on a rainy night in Stoke" is fully ingrained into people's consciousness.