He put in a shift, drove forward occasionally with confidence, successfully completed simple passes, had a couple of powerful and accurate shots, did not get sent off/booked regularly for petulance. I'd prefer Baker to Buckley in my team.

By 'compensation' you mean 'insult to injury', right?!

This shouldn't be as big a blow as it is, and feels, due to our context. But Travis' injury, Baker being a current first team regular, our already paper-thin squad options in midfield (and elsewhere), and our apparent inability/unwillingness to buy anyone, means this is a further sizable problem. Our midfield options now appear to be Sondre, Buckley and Garrett?!? We're going to get ripped apart in there. As if the window wasn't panning out predictably infuriatingly enough, already...

Steady on. I like Eustace but I'm not sure he'd have that effect on me. Very happy (and confused) to be proved wrong.

So excitedterrified for this one! Wish I was at Ewood. Come on, Rovers!!

We have a real fighter of a manager and much more fight within the team than I've seen in many years. Good result.

Right changes. Hedges is a waste of a shirt, let's be honest.

Fallen apart here. Unrecognisable from first half in terms of shape, discipline, aggression, control. This feels like it is gone already

Agree with all of this. A very impressive half. Need a second goal, I suspect, with Sunderland being very accustomed to recovering a losing position. A win here would be immense and, so far, well deserved.

'Your parking space' website is useful. I've parked at Asda and walked from there, before. Worked well but not available on the site today. The Premier Inn suggestion made by Blackpool Rover is available on the site now and looks a good shout. Enjoy! Wish I could be there today. (Ewood, not the Premier Inn!)

Don't go giving ideas to people in Pune.

The bit in the article relating to the court case being Venkys' appealing against the Indian government rules on matching funding going abroad, got me thinking. Is the case which is due to be heard tomorrow (possibly, perhaps) purely a 'yes/no' on this point? Or is it about anything beyond that? We all understand there is some form of ongoing investigation in India. Is the outcome of that investigation required for the court case to be be heard and decided, at all, or is it something that is directly within the remit of the court case? If the former, then I imagine we might well be gearing up for a potential further adjournment and stasis likely going into the January transfer window? Sorry, I might have just lost track of all this over the many months!

Thanks for that link. It was a good read. Aside from a few errors, I thought it summed up the situation quite well. As you say, very sobering and another reminder that our club is just clinging onto life that is slipping away, rather than making, or even aiming for, any real progress/prosperity. Until Venkys leave. IF, they ever do...

Is gueye playing right wing?!?! We are throwing this, right?

Since last season. Literally is a handicap to us every time he plays. Nightmare, this.

JRC dozy fucking twat.

Meite immediately making our centre backs look like kids

Good performance in that first half. We should have scored again when they were totally on the ropes. Will need a second but, so far, Rovers would deserve the win. PS Is Pears really as stupid and as useless at kicking a football as he seems?!

Agreed, really well written and adds realism and balance to some of the absolute bullshit put out by the club via the Telegraph.

I'm not going to let this bother me as I would honestly be amazed if we converted a penalty awarded our way.

I'm actually wondering if this is some kind of identity scam, thing. Or a terrible mistake, like when that taxi driver turned up at the BBC and found himself being accidentally interviewed on live TV. Surely he isn't an actual professional footballer? Surely. I'm embarrassed by, and for, him.

I don't do religion. But if I were a praying man I'd be pleading with whichever God might influence a court outcome that leads to Venkys having no option but to sell the club. Is there such an outcome that would best bring about that scenario? And can anyone recommend a God with a good track record in influencing such things?!

Perhaps oddly, considering early season results and current league position, I can't see any way this isn't going to be a relegation, or relegation-threatened, season. A significant and increased lack of quality in all/most areas of the pitch, familiar mentality frailties, and a manager who seems most determined to set the team up to (usually unsuccessfully) avoid defeat. There's a long way to go. But I'm dreading it, to be honest...

OK. But what breaks haven't we had? Apart from Ohashi's slip, I've only seen our shit "strikers" typically unable to capitalise on some good attacking play - almost exclusively by Cantwell, self-inflicted defensive errors for the millionth time, a goalkeeper who we know is very good have a really good game, which happens, and a formation set up once again to leave a (average, at best) lone striker isolated, whilst two holding midfielders sit in front of one of the worst back 4s in the league. We were set up for this and it has happened several times. That isn't much about breaks. It's decisions.

Sorry mate, but that's not right. We played well at times but have been ineffective in attack and sloppy in defence. Just like virtually every bloody match. What you get in life isn't just about what breaks come your way. We are getting what we deserve due to the decisions of our owners and this manager.