Evening Standard 8 August 2018 Answers two questions above: Blackburn have ended their pursuit of Charlton defender Patrick Bauer. Bauer has been pushing for a move away from Charlton but Blackburn manager Tony Mowbray says Rovers have “moved on” after being told the German was not for sale. Charlton have rejected several bids for Bauer from Blackburn, with the latest thought to be £500,000. Bauer issued a statement on Twitter on Sunday to say he will not sign an extension to his contract which expires at the end of the season. But Charlton manager Lee Bowyer has blocked his exit from The Valley and Blackburn boss Mowbray said: “I have spoken to Lee and if he [Bauer] is not for sale then he is not for sale. “That is fine, we did a similar thing when other clubs tried to sign some of our players last season. That is football. You are allowed to bid for players and they are allowed to say no. We have to move on and that is what we have done.”

In other words, you would firmly stick with Mowbray in the circumstances and no you wouldn't fancy being a Barnsley or Burton supporter. Let's see if Sunderland make it.

Crazy stuff on this thread. Boy you guys were slow to get going when there was real shit at this club but once goaded you never stop. Yes PNE and Wigan were awful and cost Mowbray a huge amount of goodwill he needed for the rest of this run. But to be debating whether he should get sacked after what he has achieved at Rovers is just bonkers. Especially when you look at the recent list of managers: Kean Berg Appleton Bowyer Lambert Coyle (displacing a good as appointed Warnock let's not forget) Questions for you guys: - be serious, is anybody going to chose any of the above as better than Mowbray? - you are treating promotion from League 1 as an easy peasy splash in a toddler's paddle pool. Swap places with any of Barnsley, Burton or Sunderland just now? - Between 0 and 100%, your level of confidence, Venky's to select a significantly better manager than Mowbray?

The advantage Mowbray has is the problems are obvious and fixable. The disadvantage is he is clearly culpable if not sorted.

Seems to be a consensus we need a tall commanding centre half. Probably need a fitness coach too. But it has to be an organising centre half. After we had scored the free kick there was no talking or geeing up between the team to hold we had- yesterday. Incidentally Dack was easily the most skillful player on the park yesterday. If he goes we are in deep trouble because teams against us currently have to be ready for him beating two or three players on the odd occasion we actually pass the ball to him. As for the sack cloth and ashes stuff- all clubs usually go through a bad spell. It was the Preston and Wigan defeats which mark this spell out as particularly bad. We are no going to play 1st and 2nd in consecutive games again.

Definitely a legitimate goal for Ben there- every time I see it

We need an animal of a centre half in January. Won't be surprised if we now go and win at Bramall Lane.

To concede 50% of all goals in the last 20 minutes points to serious character and fitness flaws in the squad.

Leeds very very lucky

Fantastic to get the equaliser. Brilliant Mulgrew. Evans please get to the pace of the game.

That Williams OG is horribly bad.

Won't work on the Mac again. Having to watch on the mobile.

Don't see us winning any of the next four games and see a high probability of letting in at least four in at least one of them (probably WBA at home). BUT We beat Leeds by taking the game to them in front of a large Leeds following at Ewood. Elland Road crowds can be silenced. Here's hoping.

Merry Christmas all!

Of course Mowbray is going to say that. If his confidence is through the floor (anybody any good at body language?) the boss is going to either big him up or send him to The Priory .

I always believe in getting your best eleven players on the field. On that basis, you would transform the side by simply starting with Rodwell, Rothwell and Davenport (when fit). Imagining a side including those players then you would need a giant beast of a centre half and a winger who can terrify and Rovers would be serious promotion contenders. Bauer and Chapman have massive ??? over fitness and ability at this level. I know Ipswich are total rubbish but I would be looking at Edwards again come the summer.

So we need a 3 goal half time lead to secure a draw....

Watching it on my phone.

Refreshed- still nothing. I am in Malta so no need for VPN.

ifollow is the usual blank screen at kick off.

Great contribution by the Norwich fan in the Roverseas preview. Best opponent's supporter I have heard this season. https://blackburnroverseas.com/category/match-previews/

From a Norwich perspective, if they are going up, this should be a no nonsense regulation win. I looked at their squad before the season started and thought "close but no cigar". I obviously reckoned without Farke doing what he has done. Big marker game for Mowbray this one.

Grant Hanley who has just signed a 5 year deal, is their skipper and the only ex-Rover certain to start is lately of these parts. Norwich have scraped a few wins recently. Villa, Forrest, Millwall, Rotherham, Bolton are all games they have come back to win from losing positions since mid-October and they scrambled a very late draw at Ashton Gate last week. Could be a good moment for their fortune to run out if Rovers take charge and close them out. However, everybody but everybody will expect a Canary 89th minute equaliser and 95th minute winner... and so do I if I am really really honest.

Three of the four English club ties look tasty and could go either way. City should have too much for Schalke. Atletico v Juve probably pick of the round. Porto v Roma will provide the team everyone wants in the last eight.

Great preview! Odds have to be in Leeds favour to get one back on us but if we properly turn up for 90 minutes pus injury time, there is no reason why we shouldn't get something from this game.