I am more concerned about Szmodics not getting a yellow tomorrow than I am about him scoring. With him in our side against Leeds, Rovers would be competitive regardless of the injury list (assuming no bad news after the visit to Hillsborough). Without Szmodics, it will be a long lunchtime facing Leeds.

Leicester are further ahead of Leeds and Southampton than those two are ahead of Rovers. That is a big lead for a club as good as Leicester to squander so I am not expecting anything except a Leicester procession to the title. Ipswich are defying everyone by keeping going - big ask for them to keep it up for another 28 games though but they already have enough points to be looking a lock in for a play off place. I am not convinced by either Leeds or Southampton beyond their headline grabbing players. You could make as strong a case for West Brom now that they have a decent manager getting performances out of Wallace and Swift. Hull may take some shifting to push them out of 6th- it is a stronger looking field for the play offs than last season.

Looks like a February return.

Hopefully Jack Vale now has the confidence to kick on after that goal and really develops his hold up play at the lower level. At the very least a goal scorer in League 1 has a transfer value.

He can provide the music even if he doesn't score...

He produced Hollywood passes in both of the last two games- only Szmodics v Birmingham turned one into a goal. Looking forward to Adam getting within 30 yards of goal and passing one of these into the net.

Wednesday have scored 9 goals in their 18 Championship games to date.

Ball technology has changed dramatically in recent seasons.

Fortunately the club can see ticket sales in real time and no doubt JDT will be saying the right words to the players who should be responding to the crowd on the day. If home sales are pushing towards 20,000, either the Blackburn End Upper Tier or half the Darwen End should be opened rather than refusing to sell tickets. Watford have one of the lowest away followings so even if the ticket price encourages a few more, they are unlikely to top 1,500.

Both goals actually. He over anticipates needing to dive low going either side of him and in so doing made himself too small to stop a shot going high. But it is percentages- Brum punted so many shots high and over that I think Leo was right to bet on them driving it low and hard when they had a clear sight of netting particularly seeing videos of recent goals they have scored. The second had to be absolutely precise to get it up over and down from the edge of the area - commentary said it took a slight deflection to cause the dip. Having said that, It was another improving performance from Wahlstedt and the save from Janokovicz was exceptionally sharp.

True but I was referring to games I have been to- wasn't at the 5-0. Would be lovely to repeat that!

Was of the same opinion but saw enough of Harry Leonard last night to see a player emerging capable of leading the line AND scoring his chances including ones he makes for himself.

Having enjoyed a number of wins at Hillsborough including two 3-0s, here is looking forward to Rovers returning with all 3 points on Saturday afternoon. For all the Wednesday corpse' Lazarus qualities against Leicester and Rotherham recently I think deep down we know three things all have to happen for Rovers not to record a 5th consecutive win on the road. - Wednesday have to play the best they are capable of - Rovers have to be sloppy - Rovers have to miss chances, probably a lot of missed chances Ok, so now I am worried... The probability is the Wednesday defense will offer more early Christmas presents than Rovers will. We have to make sure we are duly appreciative and thoroughly unwrap them. With 10 senior players unavailable I will still be more than happy with the eleven who finished against Birmingham and Garrett and Markanday are very decent options off the bench. Fingers crossed for Scott Wharton to be available and even more so for Dolan's scan. It looked a nasty one last night. Here is hoping Leonard, Szmodics and company score enough to give JDT the option to blood a youngster or two off the bench. Sooner or later, Adam Wharton and Tronstad will score, even a Pickering goal? And Sigurddson is over due adding to his 4 to date.

It used to be pleasant reading BRFCS after a win...

Sweet victory. Szmodics goal machine on the end of two excellent moves. Most pleased by Leonard who looks to have strengthened and contributed far more all round in addition to his well taken goal.

The mighty Darwen beat Leeds on penalties and now play Rovers in the next round of the Cup. A change of sexes and go back two centuries and we's be getting ready for a full scale riot...

I am being optimistic and telling you there are at least 2 January incomings. Also watch for attempts at loans to buy.

JRC and Barnes plus Whitehall and Cirino who would have through but for...

RIP el Tel. What a character and boss. The only non-Rovers game I have been to which was an absolute privilege to be at was England 4 Netherlands 1 in 1996- and my companions that night were all Dutch! As for the trough in England youngsters. How old are Cole Palmer, Saka and the oldest teenager in the world, Bellingham?

Agree with this completely. Stoke were a big side and their subs looked even bigger on TV. In that crazy few minutes before Scott Wharton's injury, it looked like they were successfully bullying us- particularly Dolan, Moran and Tronstedt had already taken some robust treatment to put it mildly. No idea what JDT did with the lads in that brief huddle before Trav came on but t transformed the game and the out muscling by Stoke was nullified. Trav of course was stuck straight in physically and verbally. Ref was an interesting one, kept cards in his pocket at times things could have got out of hand through not booking players but thought he managed the game well overall. Don't often feel a ref's previous decision hasn't influenced the next one but that ref seemed to judge each incident purely on its own merits and played advantage well. Rovers strangling all Stoke forward momentum and Stoke's acceptance that they weren't going to do much more than go sideways in the central third made the game less incendiary than it might have been.

Brum struggled against Sheffield Wednesday first half with the Owls repeatedly catching them in possession with a good press but found some form to prevail 2-1 second half and give Rooney his first win. Bacuna can really strike the ball well for Brum and scored a stunning volley from a defended corner. Under Eustace, this was a fixture I looked at a few weeks ago and thought we'd have to play really well to win given how well the bluenoses played at Ewood last season. But now.. Let's make sure of the 3 points but I am getting greedy and looking at this and the Sheffield Wednesday game which follows on Saturday as opportunities to close that goal difference gap. Rovers style of play should open up both these opponents. The chances will undoubtedly be made- I would give Leonard the start over Dolan as he is more likely to be in place to snap them up. Yesterday shortly before our second, Moran sent a peach of a pass across the box for a tap in but Dolan wasn't there even to pressurise the full back outside the back post let alone get in front of him.- Dolan is playing much better now but he is no poacher.

What a player this lad is. Fabulous addition and I cannot wait for him to unleash the 30 yard screamer he has in his locker. Berger rugby tackled him before we were going to see it today.

It is hard to compute but the dingles have combined Run away Championship Champions With £120m + transfer spend To produce A team with no spunk or spine And a 128 year old run of losses equalled And counting

W8 d1 L8 ought to not be a cause for optimism but the way JDT has this squad set up, we have every right to feel we are on the up.

We eventually either were going to stop creating chances or start taking them... finally. Great to see Sammy put away the most difficult of the three run throughs onto the Keeper. Really wasn't optimistic about this one but we handled the game so well. I would be apoplectic as a Stoke supporter having an advantage in height strength pace and experience all over the park and witnessing a semi-comatose unimaginative load of sideways and backwards passes. But I am not, just one very happy optimistic Rover tonight.