I don't know what you were on MattyM but I was there at Wembley that day and it was a remarkably comfortable win for the Rovers with very few alarms in our penalty area.- for which I was very grateful as I don't think my nerves could have stood yet another play-off reverse.

So that's what happened to the dingles they found when repairing the Darwen End loos.

A lengthy preview from Squarefootball. Take a bow Paul.

Away wins for Leicester at Reading and Charlton make them look very handy opponents. We have never beaten Leicester in the FA Cup. I remain very apprehensive about this game. I have a feeling there is going to be an upset. Moore is a more than useful acquisition for the Foxes. On a happier note, Dickov dreaming in the Independent. Dickov Fox hunting in the Guardian

Gordon Strachan bemoans the results. As always he makes some very good points. Premiership results were a mixed bag but in the Italy v Spain confrontations, Italy seems well on top. End for the galacticos? Real face the problems- maybe? What has gone unnoticed in the focus on Owen's bench warming has been Gravesen being close to an ever-present starter and finisher of games for Real since he moved from Everton.

AESF- excellent post. The link between long ball in Div 1 and bannishment from Europe is a very good one- it was also the time that the likes of Brighton, Oxford, Watford, Luton, Wimbledon, Notts County and Oldham all graced the top division with greater or lesser distinction. One problem though- Chelsea have publicly stated they do not want to join the G14. Presumably because Abramovich is the G1. Sheppard of course is the G1t.

Colin Hendry has said he wants to take Ciaran Donnelly back on loan at Blackpool. The relegation battle at the bottom of the Coca Cola can is hotting up. The Gills have had some good wins and Forest are on a real charge. Our opponents on Sunday probably see the loaning of Douglas and McEveley to the Gills as the start of hostilities! The dingles won't be too happy either.

Don't try walking on the beach in Iceland without a stick when the great skuas are nesting. The trick is to hold the stick above your head like an umbrella and they attack the top of the stick. Forget the stick and they are capable of breaking your skull on one of their fly pasts.

It wasn't nice but it seems that Mourinho knew exactly what he was doing in out psyching Barcelona in the Champions League. Interesting quote from him to the effect that he built a side this season designed to win the Premiership. His best side will be in three year's time. Even so, with Robben back, I would say Chelsea would be evens to beat AC Milan or Juventus. They probably have too much for any of the other clubs left in the Champions League. Chelsea's transfer moves this summer will be interesting to say the least. Will he continue his policy of January of picking up a relatively unknown with massive potential or will he go for Gerard and Ronaldinho for a combined £100m? I wonder if he is entirely satisfied with Drogba? Outgoings will be tricky as virtually no other club can afford the wages Chelsea pay.

Thanks. An interesting perspective on RFW's future. Glad to see Martin O'Neill is leading in the betting to replace him.

The Spanish sides are out and Arsenal paid for their horror in Munich. More defending like that when Arsenal come to Ewood would be much appreciated. Liverpool have surprised a lot of people- don't think anybody would have thought they would have romped to a 6-2 aggregate win. Then again Lyons were going through a run of defeats in the Championat when they suddenly stuck 7 past Bremen. I wonder if a German side has conceded 7 in Europe since Eintrach Frankfurt did in Glasgow when Real Madrid won the 1960 Final 7-3? Anyone know when the second leg of Inter v Porto is? Pesky Italians who cannot build enough stadia.

Rovers to flop big time in front of the cameras and empty seats. 0-0 if we are lucky.

A significant part of the UEFA ranking co-efficient derives from the performance of the League's clubs in European competition. So Rovers benefitted by being seeded in the UEFA Cup and drawing some nice easy to beat opposition from Ankara..... Back to tonight, PSV are winning so as good as through and Liverpool have scored a quick brace in Neverkusen. If Arsenal ever get going, could be a bleak night for the Bundesleague.

Three fabulous games last night- especially at Stamford Bridge which was football as close to being as good as it gets. Would that game have been as good or as special had it been a European super league encounter as opposed to a knock out? Very much doubt it. My gut feel is that the club competition balance is about right at the moment except for FIFA/Sven getting in the way. Other than games in London where every club has its own away following (including 9,000 "from" Barcelona last night who shared about 1,500 airline seats between them) a Euro Super League would be a sterile TV concoction and largely devoid of away following. The aspect which is killing the domestic game is the predatory transfer policies of the "big clubs". The last thing they want is for middle ranking clubs to come through and damage their hold on the £15m a year Champions League gravy train. Hence, clubs that are threats are raided of their talent- Duff from Rovers, Parker from Charlton, Rooney/Gravesen from Everton and this summer Gerard from Liverpool. It is this aspect as much as the financial divide that is ruining the modern game.

Chelsea 4-2 Terry from a Duff corner. Have to hold on for 15 minutes. The Mancs have missed their chances and are going out.

Chelski in the shitski

Duff 3-0 Good lad! Ronaldinho pulls one back with a pen so Chelski just a goal away from going out.

Andy Gray's verdict. Glad he rated Mokoena.

The cat is in amongst the Catalan pigeons- Eider duck Gudjonsson for Chelski scored after 8 minutes.

Yes, it is true. You can expect a lot of scousers in the away end for the next round if Liverpool get past Leverkusen tomorrow! ..and it has happened before. Real Madrid came fifth in La Liga when they last won the Champions League. Real Zaragoza had to make do with a place in the UEFA for coming 4th. Back to discussing Sunday's line-up on the wrong thread, don't forget Dickov and Savage as ex-Leicester players will be particularly "up" for this one. I'd expect 4-4-2 with Flitty and The Axe loosing out. However, I'd be very surprised if we don't play 4-5-1 again at Anfield with The Axe back in. Will be interesting to see if Stead does well enough to be the 1 against Liverpool.

I am eternally grateful Mark Hughes is in charge and not you lot.

AESF, it would have been a shorter and more entertaining read if you'd listed the footballers you like.

All Hughes' comments are indicating that he is open minded about his squad and so he should be with ten league games and at least one cup game to go before the season end. The only things we can say with reasonable certainty: He is looking for a striker, Amoruso, Short, Tugay and Flitcroft are unlikely to receive contract extensions but I think Short is the only contract expiry this summer from that list, Bothroyd is unlikely to be purchased from Perugia, Hughes will attempt to transfer out Gray if he can find a Coca Cola bottle big enough for his wages. Douglas might also be sold if a reasonable offer is received. I suspect there might be a big clear out of younger players from the Academy/Reserves to clear the decks for a new intake. I also think the situation with Nissa and Jansen reflects a new reality of economics for top level football clubs- I wouldn't be surprised to see Nissa offered a new deal at Ewood after his agent has had a chance to look around for alternatives and Jansen might get a month by month contract to give him a chance to re-establish himself once he has overcome the latest injury set back.

With Spit the Diouff scoring at Eastlands and a quick look at the table and fixtures list, I will be a touch disappointed if we don't finish 11th this season- anything above that will be a huge bonus.

Mark Hughes- an appreciation. I've said it before but Sparky is massively over-achieving what I had expected/hoped of him. Getting the players fit and sorting out the tactics was the least we could have expected after the embarassments of Souness in his declining months but I would not have expected that Hughes and his team would have: - made the Rovers as lean as butcher's dogs and twice as fit - turned Rovers into the tightest and meanest defence outside the billionaires club - so quickly turned into a tactical mastermind (particularly as he wasn't in the Wales job) - become a whizz in the transfer market (including the scrapings and droppings) - created a fantastic team spirit. Truly Mark Hughes is a brilliant appointment. Long may RFW not overdo the scotch, Glazer keep his hands off the Mancs, Bruce keep smarming to Crerand (or whoever he needs to crawl to for the Manc job), may Boro win the UEFA Cup to make RFW's old number two a contender, and the Blackburn public get their backsides down to Ewood on Sunday to show our Manager that he is a gem and we treasure him and his team.