Strong rumours in South London Palace are about to pot Viera and appoint Kompany. Seems very unlikely to me but there you go.

A little issue of a winning goal to get and then defend. With the best will in the world, even the best players usually take a minute or two to get into the game when coming off the subs bench and we didn't have that luxury last night.

February and March fixtures looked daunting when I was looking at them at Christmas. We have come through them far better than I dared hope.

Last night has placed a play-off place destiny firmly in Rovers' hands especially as 5 play off rivals have to play us. Get the same number of points as Norwich less 4, West Brom minus 5, Coventry and Watford less 6, Preston less 7 and Sunderland we can give an 8 point head start to and we can add at least two fixtures to the season end. Below that gets to conceding more than a point a game at which point we should be singing Tony Mowbray's Blue and White Army if we finish below Bristol City... The 9 last games divide up currently into 5 Play-off 6 pointers - Luton and Millwall are so late in the season they maybe just play-off rehearsals - Norwich, Coventry and North End are likely to be absolute MUST WINS.. for our opponents which could make for red card and injury risks. Given how we have counter attacked recently, could be fun games to watch. 2 against Birmingham and Hull who could slip into a bit of relegation bother so will be keen to make themselves absolutely safe Huddersfield who are in heaps of relegation bother and fighting for their existence And then them lot which is best viewed as null points but a free hit. Not going to predict individual results but it is going to take injuries, and/or a regression to slow football by Rovers, and/or at least two other clubs going on a long run of wins to see us finish 7th or lower.

I believe he and GB wouldn't be here in the first place if they didn't have a commitment for us to be continue to be supported up to the FFP ceiling.

This is a complete toss-up. Possibly our first game this season where two good sides really turn up. The travelling support should neutralise home advantage. Extra time and penalties- how are your nerves, folks?

We haven't done anything yet as we get to the culmination of this season but JDT is a brilliant boss. I have seen and heard enough to be feeling very very good about having him at Rovers. Deeply grateful for the Mowbray era which took Rovers from a laughing stock to a serious football club again. JDT can take us on to the next level against all the parachute payments stacked against us if we get even breaks from lady luck.

Watch the replay of that first half shot- there was late bend and dip which needed great reactions and iron muscles to keep it out. Obviously Pears didn't get as fortunate with the goal and shouldn't have been beaten where he was diving from but again look where it bounced and how hard it was struck. The Italian kid is a loanee from Chelsea. Adam Wharton had been found out to an extent after that explosive start and hopefully is doing great work with the physio and video analysis. He will be a fabulous player. As will Tyler Morton whom we forget is physically very slight yet is mostly holding his own in the bear pit that is the Championship midfield. You don't get a 5 year contract from Klop if you are not a bit special and in his quiet way he is showing he is if you care to look.

3 stops by the keeper, Szmodics hit the post, Carter, Gallagher narrowly over as well as the Ben goal all come to mind as countable first half attempts on goal. Numbers go bonkers if blocks count.

Phew! Gallagher sublime backheel setting up Hedges winner was full compensation for all his misses, miscontrols and being in the wrong place for balls across the box. That 5 points gap to Norwich looks lovely and they had Marquinhos straight redas an added bonus. Incidentally I have often thought I watched a different match to the official statistics reporters. At half time Rovers had 1 chance and 0 crosses. Probably woke up for the second half but the match numbers are probably those for the second half only ...

Something that JDT is unafraid to do is drop a player after a stinker and he has done that to Dolan tonight.

Reading absolutely battered us at the Used Car Stadium. Yes they have injuries and yes Ince was a disaster managing at Ewood but given what he has had to work with, he is one of the Managers of the season for Reading to have done what they have. Carol could easily bully us and Joao always scores against Rovers. Travis and Thomas have to watch themselves for bookings tonight as well. Is it a card happy ref tonight?- if so we could be crippled for Norwich and Huddersfield irrespective of players recovering from injury by then. I am more than half expecting JDT to surprise us with line up and formation. Whatever he does, JDT has the buy in and faith of the players and that counts for an enormous amount in this dog eat dog league. Fingers and toes crossed for 3 points but Reading won't be lying down this evening.

Every club except the dingles have dropped silly points on paper. We are still in 6th and that would buy a ticket to the lottery.

Dreading Travis getting a booking tonight. If Thomas gets one as well.... Otherwise I am not as worried about the midfield as some on here. Szmodics can probably do a deeper lying job as an option.

Morton has had his poor games and goal conceding moments but is a class player who has been showing more grit recently. Tonight is not a must win but will make more future games must wins if we don't. Plus drive anxiety levels skywards so 3 points please lads.

So you are in favour of him walking away for free without a contract?

Any news on his injury? Hope he is OK but it looked nasty so fearing the worst.

Blackburn Rovers @Rovers · 53s https://abs-0.twimg.com/emoji/v2/svg/1f6d1.svg Our additional allocation for the upcoming #EmiratesFACup quarter-final has now 𝗦𝗢𝗟𝗗 𝗢𝗨𝗧! 5,700 #Rovers fans will be cheering on the boys at Bramall Lane on Sunday. A phenomenal effort! https://abs-0.twimg.com/emoji/v2/svg/1f44f.svg

Very sad news about Ben Fyles doing his ACL. Hope he fully recovers.

Don't care how we get them- JDT can pick Rovers ladies for all I care- but 3 points please.

Very welcome Sunderland win keeps Norwich in 7th 3 points behind us and Sunderland interested in the play-offs- important looking at who they play in their next 6 fixtures. Thank you Tony.

Had Gally had that ridiculous booking by then? That could be the only reason for not stopping the guy by the corner flag. A positive was the injection of the three subs made a big positive difference. JDT showed faith in his eleven at half time but they didn't repay him.

Looking at todays fixtures, I cannot see any other club in the top 10 dropping points. Will be a bonus if any do.

Really expected us to lose that one with nobody available from the over sized squad taken to Stoke. Great result. Now need to secure our PL2L1 place.

Yes. Need to make sure Reading don't become the second.. Hope Buckley is not badly injured but fear the worst from the close ups when he was being treated. Collectively we left all our good habits behind from the tenth minute. Dolan in particular is going to hate seeing the video analysis of his performance. Did any 20 yard + forwards pass find their intended Rovers target. It seemed every forward ball in the first half gathered pace off the pitch and the front players didn't reach anything. There was a nervous rubbish keeper in the Stoke net and there was only Travis shot from distance. The Stoke positions denied clear space but instead of quickening play around and through them we slowed down. Totally unexpectedly we got back within a goal but even then there was no throwing the kitchen sink to grab an equaliser. And as for that ref. The lack of Rovers competing made for an easy game for him but he was hopeless. Missed two blatant penalties at the end of the first half he was looking straight at. He must have realised he bottled that Hyam trip when a few seconds later he didn't give the Gayle hand ball.