The report also said he had appalling timekeeping and surrounded himself with an entourage of "friends". Sounds perfect Separately Bruce at Big Club is reported saying that he accepts that he might have to let Dunn go - only 18 months left on his contract and they might need to sell to get some value from him.

Presumably these are going to be a much harder sell this year as by Christmas we will have played all the north west clubs at home (except Liverpool) and Chelsea, Spurs and Newcastle. Last year it was the other way round with most of the bigger clubs still to come to Ewood. Also fans may well expect some good discount offers on some of the lesser games, making the value of a half season ticket less.

Whilst the club have made no announcement on the website about extra tickets, they have got some and are busy distributing them. I applied on Saturday and got a phone call yesterday (Thursday) saying I had 3. The extra tickets don't arrive until Sunday so we're picking them up at the Spurs match. Anyone who can't get to the ground to pick them up will probably struggle now. I've no idea whether they have allocated all the extra tickets, or indeed how many they got.

i only applied on Saturday and have just had a call that we have three of the extra allocation of tickets. Don't know how many more tickets we have been given and there is no change to the message on the official site.

I have rung up and all they can offer is that I put in applications and I may get tickets but they can't promise, because of the outstanding forms they have to process. As you have to have booked travel to put the forms in I run the risk of travel and no tickets, not a risk i am prepared to take.

I've no problem with the priority order, as I said on my message. The fact is, though, that plenty of non-season ticket holders who have also not been to either Salzburg or Krakow, already have the promise of tickets - just look up the thread a bit. Rovers took application forms in and it appears have given everyone who applied in advance tickets, no matter what their status. They have all either lied about their travel plans or have taken the risk that they will get tickets and booked travel - presumably many were happy to go anyway if they didn't get tickets just for a few days in Amsterdam. I wasn't prepared to risk losing money on travel and so waited until yesterday, when tickets were supposed to go on sale to season ticket holders, and now find it unlikely that I can get any. The process would have been fine and I would have no complaints if all the tickets go to those who have been to Europe this season and season ticket holders, but from reading messages on this thread that isn't the case.

Not sure you will. I'm in a similar situation - not booked yet and not been to either Salzburg or Krakow, but we are season ticket holders. I rang up this morning as I didn't want to book travel and hotel without a promise of tickets and they said that I could put the forms in but they could not guarantee I would get tickets, as they had a lot of applications to process. I can't afford to spend £350 for two people without being sure of getting tickets so it looks at the moment like we're not going. It seems a bit frustrating that as season ticket holders we won't go and yet plenty of non-season ticket holders already have tickets, presumably because they were willing to gamble that they would get tickets and booked travel and completed forms early. I don't have any problem with those who went to Salzburg or Krakow having priority but there weren't 2,500 of them.

I was pointing out that it would be a factor for some people on a cold night with the match on the TV, not condoning it. I was there, as I will be for all home UEFA matches (and hopefully some away ones as well).

Three points to bear in mind on the attendance: - 1. Remember that, although it only cost £7.50 for a season ticket holder last night, that was £7.50 more than it cost for the Salzburg game. 2. If you take out the away support for both matches there were probably more home fans there last night than came to watch the champions Chelsea last week. 3. The attendance was about 50% more than Middlesborough had for their home group games last year.

Paul, Clearly you and I were at the same match anyway - see my comments on page 12. The only area I would disagree would be in Gray's performance. I don't doubt that he gives all he's got - at this level though it's just not good enough.

I thought it was a cracking game of football. My view of the first half was that Basel came at us strongly and it was at least as much their good play as our poor play. Having said that we did play some good passing football and showed some patience, Unlike many of the crowd who seemed just to want us to hoof it into the 8 defenders in the box. It was a pleaseure to see a team come with the rather old fashioned notion of trying to beat us by playing good football - quite refreshing after the diving, kicking, time wasting, arguing and downright unpleasantness we have had in the last two home games. The end score flattered us but they seemed to go to pieces after the first goal. Excellent games for Ooijer, Zurab, Friedel, Pedersen and of course Tugay. Savage was never in the game whilst he was on, Neil never really got going and Gray's performance should surely have convinced even the most myopic fan that he needs to go. Unlike others I also thought Bentley did not have his best match tonight.

Eddie, I think you'll find it's on British Eurosport, but not on continental european, so if you're in Paris you could be unlucky.

Many of the comments on this thread seem to be trying to work out how those that wish to stand and those that don't can co-exist in the same stand. It's fairly obvious to me that they can't, but surely most clubs can segregate an area of the ground for standing use? Then all those who want to stand and sing can be together with their mates (and therefore probably make more noise and improve the general atmosphere for everyone, as long as they refrain from the two quid an hour chants or some of the racist stuff we've heard in recent weeks). Everyone else who wants to sit down for the majority of the match then won't have their view obscured at crucial times.

Bennie had the support of the referee, which presumably was the clincher, as the player was vigorously denying it. As you say perhaps someone can move on to the racists in our midst.

Clearly I must have, although other comments above on Jay's performance are probably nearer my view than yours. I wouldn't have him in my first choice team but I'd be fairly relaxed about him being on the bench if needed. He would certainly be ahead of Gray in my opinion, but then I at 53 might be ahead of him as well...

I thought McEveley had a reasonable game. Yes he was beaten by Robben a few times in the first half (not every time and not easily) but are we saying that Neil or Gray would have done significantly better? He's not perfect but he's still comfortably ahead of Gray in my opinion who could be reiled uponn to make a few silly defensive mistakes and whose distribution is particularly poor. He's not for a regular place in the team but he can do a job if needed (like when Lucas is suspended as he will be before the season's out).

Did anyone else hear John Williams being interviewed on Five Live last night just after 7.00? We caught it on the way to the match. He was asked primarily about Rovers's efforts to reduce prices and encourage fans. He made all the right noises for me about trying everything they can to encourage attendances whilst making the point that Rovers must look after their season ticket holders as the first priority. He indicated that more offers would come later in the season, which suggested that they must be at least comfortable with the response to Sunday and last night.

Hughes on Radio Rovers suggested that it didn't look too bad, just a swelling but I don't suppose he really knows yet.

I thought he had a good game, although perhaps not our best player. I'd have given it to Nonda or maybe Emerton.

I was down at the ticket office yesterday buying 13 tickets (3 for Chelsea, 2 for West Ham and 4 for each Euro match) and I was surprised by how quickly I was dealt with, given there were different numbers for each match and I had a child and a young adult in the mix - I was ready for a long stretch. There were 4 windows open and there was a steady stream of custom so i guess they're just really stretched at the minute. PS 11 home tickets for £75 and 2 West Ham for £64!!!

My understanding was that Blackpool wanted him but Hughes preferred that he go to a better footballing side so he's gone to Crewe. A little ironic then that Blackpool beat Crewe on Saturday.

Looks like Rovers got it spot on. Fortune was booked for time wasting, wellying the ball back past Jussi after he had messed around with the ball boy. He wasn't booked for the penalty. Nolan was booked for arguing then got a staright red for something he said to the ref after the second penalty. Hunt was booked for a foul immediately after Fortune's booking.

Thought he has an excelent game yesterday - the pick of our forwards. He is less gifted than Bennie but his work rate is tremendous and he was causing havoc in what is one of the Premiership's best defences.

If you live in Chorley, Paul, you need to try a different way home - I was back in Penwortham at 5.35, 20 minutes after getting in the car.

This is the report from The Independent, containing the comment that, given that Rovers had four legitimate claims for penalties and a perfectly good goal disallowed, it was incredulous that the complaints about the ref came from the winning manager. http://sport.independent.co.uk/football/pr...icle1919317.ece