Spot on Bob! The Manchester Evening News have just noted that Rovers are unbeaten in our last four games against the Mancs.

...and your suggestion for making sure we sell 23,000 tickets for a game which will be televised live on a Wednesday evening is?

Presumably Mancs get all the Darwen End. So if we sell the 23,000 in the rest of the Ground, its a 31,000 capacity sell out. One very simple marketing tool for the Rovers- if we (IF) get to Cardiff, the club will give priority to people with stubs from the semi-final. So, Season ticket holders with semi-final stubs can by two final tickets, those without can buy one, open sale for semi-final stub holders two days before completely open sale etc. Incidentally, I won't be betting against Wigan knocking out Arsenal- with Arsenal likely to be making FA Cup progress, in urgent need of getting into the Prem top four and Real Madrid just around the corner, Wenger is already indicating he will stick with the kids.

How we do in the league game is a function of injury recoveries. From what I can see, Boro will have some back and we won't have Bellamy. Sounded like Dickov was a real problem for the Boro defence and will be badly missed. If Bellamy has broken down again, I'd bring Jansen in- his work rate is more like Dickov's than Bentley.

Surely, we'll get a full house at Ewood for this. Really looking forwards to us doing the Mancs. Big incentive to get out and buy someone before the semi-final. I won't be surprised if Wigan upset Arsenal- Wigan WILL have strengthened before the SF.

1-1

But you obviously would prefer tobacco and alcohol to be illegal in an ideal world judging by that reply.

So you would ban tobacco and alcohol as well?

Not waving but drowning...

Two quite astonishing contributions to the Guardian's request for comments on the Government's approach to drugs: "The government is serious about reducing problem drug use and its many harms. There is no room for complacency, but the progress being made, particularly on drug treatment, is probably one of the government's best-kept secrets. There is record spending on drug treatment, with a 40% increase next year. The target of doubling numbers in treatment may be met two years ahead of schedule, but much more needs to be done to improve treatment quality and effectiveness. "The upward trend in drug use has stabilised, with promising signs of falling use among children and young people, particularly for cannabis and some class A drugs. The government has introduced restrictions on bail for drug-related offences, compulsory drug testing on arrest and, should the test be positive, a requirement to undergo an assessment. The aim is to get more offenders, or potential offenders, into treatment. Cannabis reclassification was not a "soft" response, but based on evidence of its relative harm and the strategy to concentrate on even more harmful drugs such as heroin, cocaine and crack. The predicted increase in cannabis use has not happened. Indeed, the reverse has happened. "Danny Kushlick Director, Transform "On page six of the UK updated Drug Strategy 2002 it says: "We will maintain prohibition. . ." In 2003, the prime minister's strategy unit produced a report for the cabinet that showed that, far from tackling drugs, its policy of enforcing the drug laws was actually creating many of our drug problems. As a result of supply-side drug law enforcement, heroin and cocaine are worth more than their weight in gold and, consequently, organised criminals run the market. We have some of the toughest drug laws in Europe, the highest levels of drug use in Europe, the highest per capita prison population in Europe. Nearly a fifth of UK prisoners are drug law offenders, and more than half are there as a result of committing acquisitive crime to support a habit. "The crime costs associated with prohibition are estimated at £16bn a year. Prohibition creates crime and criminal opportunities, increases public ill-health and drug-related dangers (especially for young people), wastes billions of pounds, contributes to political instability in producer countries, and infringes human rights. We should plan an exit strategy from the global "war on drugs" and replace it with a more effective system of legal control and regulation. "Edward Garnier Shadow home affairs minister" So the British Conservative Party agrees with me!

Injuries, suspensions, Christmas spirit... Another good preview or previews. These two are in the any result possible category. Who are our penalty takers? We'll need them as I cannot see an obvious winner between the likely two starting XIs tomorrow night unless both Bellamy and Nelsen are on a miracle cure. Think Boro will shade the League game with a big crowd behind them and Neill suspended.

Supporters' Trusts ownerships of clubs.

Troy Archibald-Henville has scored an o.g. to give the Rovers the lead in the Youth Cup tie against Spurs at Ewood (and I typed that without a hint of a chuckle).

Strongest team for tonight's PA Youth tie at Ewood.

Hughes on Jansen (Correct link this time?) So no loan, no departure and no strarting place! He's one of Rovers' four forwards- Bellamy, Kuqui, Dickov, Bentley, Johnson and Jansen.

Oh yes we do!

Whilst we are talking about Chelsea and Bentley, this comment by Richard Williams in The Guardian this morning is aposite: "Not for the first time it seemed appropriate to reflect on Wenger's apparent distaste for the home-bred products of his own academy. Whereas Jose Mourinho has taken three talented Englishmen and made them into even better players, Wenger has shown no similar inclination. "It is instructive to contrast the unsteady progress of David Bentley, a 21-year-old playmaker now on a season's loan at Blackburn Rovers, with that of Cole, once a player of similarly precocious gifts. Yesterday the Chelsea man demonstrated Mourinho's success in persuading him to blend his exquisite technique with a ravenous appetite for hard work." Hopefully, Mark Hughes and David Bentley both read that and accept the challenge.

Go on, let's have a vote on it!

Unfortunately, we are not going to get good crowds this season for any game this season. Look at when the "big" games are (Mancs on a Wednesday evening) and the TV schedules (announced and likely to be announced).

Not doing well with the "easier" fixtures are we? And with Dickov, Neill, Bellamy and Nelsen in all probability out of the Boxing Day trip to Boro, that's another defeat to be expected. Having a good run of wins Sunderland, Wigan, Pompey suddenly looks rather important if a top half finish is to be achieved.

Doh, it is a one year loan isn't it?

Regardless of allocating blame, we are seeing Souness-esque defending again. Positives at the back: Neill still inconsistent and occasionally homicidal but his inconsistency now ranges between OK and fantastic with dire cut out of the repertoire. Zura was pure class until recently. Brad needs stability and organisation in front of him. To be honest is not looking as vulnerable as he did towards the end of Souness' time at Ewood. Negatives at the back: Nelsen still good but not as commanding as last season. Lets hope it was injury niggles and not being sussed by Prozone that is the problem. Todd back to the Todd of three seasons ago- a bit of a soft touch for teams willing to be creative and quick combined with moments of psychopathy. Zura of the last three games- this is why the Gers only asked for £150K. Gray is vulnerable to pace and what do all Premiership clubs have in spades? pace. His restored confidence is visibly ebbing away- Matteo's recall is looking inevitable.

He just turned round an ran back to the centre circle. Are you confusing Dunn with Duff?

So Bruce changed his formation twice using two of his subs in the first 35 minutes. The man's a genius. You've got to admire his ice-cool nerves of steel.

Good stuffing for Brum today. The BBC are reporting Dunn was substituted after 35 minutes for tactical reasons. I wonder what that is about?