The replay is the perfect opportunity to do another Oxford £10 with the added bonus of reciprocating Newcastle's pricing. With only four replays and the only one with a Premier League club travelling, it is certain to be televised so pricing promotion is essential. I would go further AND If the winner has a fourth round home tie after tonight's draw - link buying for the replay to an electronic voucher for a discount if we get into Round 4 (if we get opposition likely to bring fans in numbers, we can legitimately charge £20 or £30 but the replay discount would reduce prices for our fans paying £10 at the replay to £10 again for Round 4; obviously we couldn't do this if we get the dingles at home) AND I would have a limited time remainder of the season ticket offer for people going to the replay.

£20m budget this January??? Sure in our dreams if we are challenging for promotion or struggling to avoid relegation. But January is not the window for splurging. Let's go back to reality- there is a three window strategic transfer plan which Mowbray and Waggott are working to. There is nothing about being 15th and 12 points above the drop which would convince anyone to change that strategy. The three window budget MIGHT be £20m fees plus WAGES. I expect the strategy for this window is: - Defensive strengthening signing - an increase in loan players by a net one (Palmer might be genuinely ill but he genuinely isn't cup tied for going elsewhere on loan) - loan players with option to buy if we can swing such deals (lack of visible action suggests there are tricky negotiations happening) - opportunistic signing of Reed permanently if we can

Bum rolling and simply amazingly quick feet

I believe that is right. We are usually number 5 when done alphabetically. I know I predicted 14 v 10 but 14 v 6 would be a hoot. Back to the third round and I am as much a traditionalist as anyone but essentially breaking the 32 ties into four groups of 8 has been a fantastic success and has massively increased interest in following the ties. Previously with 32 kicking off at the same time, more than half got completely ignored.

yes great players but two were right backs.

14 v 10 You just know it.

Heck we were playing Premier League opponents so closing down, positioning and mobility were of a different level. Yes Travis had a magnificent pass completion rate v Sheff U and WBA of 85% I think it was. But I'd be very surprised if he was at less than 70% tonight. Oh and Stewart and HowieFiveOh, Raya's kicking and distribution in general are hugely improved this season as is his aerial handling and positioning for catches and punches. I feel very secure with Raya between the sticks and know he is likely to get much better yet.

Word to the travelling support- you were magnificent! Heard you loud and clear out-singing the Newcastle supporters. "Going down with the Dingles"?

He tried me for sure. Woohoo, Google just texted the Newcastle v Rovers game starts soon.

More from Blackburn manager Tony Mowbray on VAR: "I'm for it, as long as they know what's happening. I'm learning as I go and I think everyone else is too. It didn't spoil today's game. "The hardest thing in football is to score a goal and you have to be right. If it goes in then you have to check it." Asked if Charlie Mulgrew is trying to score from corners, Mowbray looked deadly serious when he replied: "He's got an amazing left foot and we've worked hard on Charlie trying to score from corners and free-kicks. He's such a talent and hits the target so often that we say 'why don't you shoot more often?' "It's difficult to stop when you've got a left-footed laser coming in the way it does." Blackburn manager Tony Mowbray told BBC Sport: "We gave an amazing effort. That's what we give every week. There's a camaraderie amongst the players and we worked hard to get a result. "I couldn't see Newcastle scoring so the penalty was a blow. It was soft, and I think it was a penalty, but we live to fight another day. It'll be interesting to see what side they play in the replay now. "It was a great header from Bradley Dack and he worked his socks off. We told the players to test themselves against a Premier League side and Bradley should want to test himself against Premier League footballers. "He took his goal well and worked really hard today. It's his first season in the Championship and he's bedding in well."

From the BBC- we were targeting their keeper????? And they weren't looking to stick it on Raya? 'A replay is bad news' FT: Newcastle 1-1 Blackburn Newcastle United Newcastle manager Rafael Benitez is a fan of VAR, saying 'we need it for every game'. He added: "We have to take some positives. The reaction of the players was good, they were pushing till the last minutes. "Some players haven't had a chance to play 90 minutes so it was an opportunity for them to show what they have and I think they worked hard." Asked if Blackburn targeted goalkeeper Freddie Woodman, he replied: "The referee knows that in the second half, the approach was different. "I think sometimes we forget the rules when the ball goes into the six-yard box. We had to protect him in the second half. "A replay is bad news because we have to play another game but we will try to play in the best way possible."

Late on when it was a case of getting in the way to hold up Newcastle, two blocks and one horrible pass went AWOL but other than that Travis was pretty well immaculate. Great thing about him is his command of the ball, vision and range of passing means that whenever Travis is on the ball there is a calmness about the rest of the players who get into position to keep the move going rather than taking insurance positions in case the ball is lost. Dack is shere class. Yes he doesn't keep every ball and not every pass finds its target but look how far up the field he is playing.

Shelvey is a class player and yes he did make a difference but I thought we handled him well overall. Evans was simply unlucky but it was a penalty. Ball ricocheted luckily back to the Newcastle player and because it was a fluke Evans was clumsy in what he was doing. He tripped the player with left and then right foot and gave the ref an easy decision. Overall Rovers were very good value for at least a draw. Newcastle have a trip to Chelsea for the evening game on Saturday 12th before they come to Ewood for the replay. Dingles play Fulham and Cardiff play Huddersfield in 3 o'clock kick offs the same day so Chances are Newcastle will be down in 17th three points below 16th and two above Southampton in 18th. Newcastle's next game after the replay is Cardiff home in a monster relegation six pointer. So the chances are Benitez will put an even weaker side out for the replay.

Wallsall to win at Bolton. Luton to give a good account of themselves at Hillsborough. Bristol City to beat Huddersfield. Portsmouth to win at Norwich. Dingles will have to be careful with Barnsley and Everton cannot be too gungho picking a side to play Lincoln but those might be half time shocks but not at full time. Only Wallsall let me down. Hope Mercer had money on my tips...

Again draw is a good result but we should have won. Hopefully a good crowd on at Ewood for the replay and we progress.

Nooo Williams on for Dack

Evans clumsy- was a penalty

Rovers slightly shading possession but this one is wide open. Travis is clearly showing Premier League class as is Dack even though he is not playing at his best. Hope Nyambe is fit enough to come on in place of Bennett.

That is one heck of a bench for Newcastle!

I could put up with getting Hudson-Odoi on a loan swap.

Eight changes by Rafa. Probably full strength from players available picked by Mowbray.

Did anyone predict Gillingham to beat Cardiff?

A Blackpool fan has climbed onto the roof of the Arsenal team bus to protest against the Oystons. BBC saying kick off potentially delayed. Can't they get another bus or taxis or hitch a lift with the Old Bill? Walk?

Gates of 75K at Old Triffid and 55K at the Olympic Stadium but the dingles only manage 11K and I bet half of those were from Barnsley. Attendance today is anyone's guess.

Thanks- a lovely read.