arbitro

Usually in away matches we allow the home team to dictate the tempo and we react accordingly. Our tactics sometimes reflect this by affording them more possession in certain areas and other aspects Generally this is the norm for most Championship games. In the majority of our home games we haven't really done this but allowed the visitors to dictate how the game is played with the QPR game being a good example. We allowed them to play a really slow tempo and seemed happy to match it. We have to play home games on our terms and let the opponents come up with a way to combat this and then have another way of playing according to how the game is going.

The referee for the abandoned match was Stephen Martin. For Tuesday's match he is the fourth official as he was for Ipswich's match on Friday night. Given Ismael said he wasn't consulted about the abandonment but the official line was that he was it seems daft to me to have Martin stood in the technical area for nigh on two hours. Poor appointing in my view.

On the plus side Wrexham do a park and ride about a mile from the ground. It's free to park and £1 return. Quite a few Rovers fans had done the same research as me and used it. A wider point for me is that more clubs should be encouraged to adopt a park and ride with local councils.

Truthfully the club has grown quickly from a football point of view but the infrastructure is still lower league. There aren't enough turnstiles, the 'concourse' was so small it was dangerously overcrowded. The toilets were ridiculously small too. Hundreds of Rovers fans couldn't actually get in as there was a problem scanning barcodes on android phones. We were waiting outside for around 15 minutes for paper tickets to be printed and brought around the ground so we could get in. Eventually the problem was sorted but outside the ground fans were getting frustrated. This was the view from my seat. I am going to write to Wrexham asking why we weren't advised of the restricted view.

It could be but that is speculation. What both Cantwell and the manager said is fact and they contradicted each other. Time will tell but whichever way something doesn't feel right.

There is an expectation John that the linesman will operate to reflect how the game is being refereed and the referee (who I thought was decent) allowed a lot of physicality which is how the vast majority of fans, players and managers want to see the game managed. The free kick awarded against Hedges was so soft and completely out of kilter with how the match was being refereed. I saw a comment that the Wrexham player involved told someone from Rovers that it wasn't a foul. Significantly Hedges (who strikes me as a decent, honest guy) was still complaining as the players were going down the tunnel several minutes after the game had finished. Oh, and this is the same linesman who flagged Dolan offside at that lots ground last season when he was clearly onside. He is well known in the refereeing world for being erratic.

Cantwell says the injury was caused by a hyperextension but Ismael has said the injury was caused by a kick. Normally a kick can be painful and might result in some bruising but the vagaries between the player and the managers explanation is quite alarming.

It was such a strange feeling immediately after the full time whistle. Of course the majority (and me) would have taken a draw at 3 o'clock but their late equaliser, for a short time made it feel like a defeat. Once again our away form has totally eclipsed our home form as we played really well and kept a one dimensional Wrexham team to virtually nothing until the last ten or so minutes. And if Ohashi had made a better decision when clean through we could have been in the box seat. The performance was energetic, pacy and purposeful as we looked comfortable. The excellent finish from Gudjohnsen was deserved I thought as with a bit more composure and care could have gone in at half time further ahead. Wrexham were better in the second half but really huffed and puffed and I felt quite comfortable defending the one goal lead. That was until the linesman wanted to make a name for himself by giving a ridiculous decision against us as Hedges was far to strong for the Wrexham player. In fairness the referee allowed a fair level of physicality so the linesman was completely out of kilter with how the game was being refereed. Poor from him. The only criticism I can offer is that we looked tired in the last ten minutes and lost a little but of shape but that aside I was really happy. Forshaw was great. The biggest compliment I can pay him is that he was almost at Tronstad levels for large parts. The changes we made were needed due to some fatigue but it shows how weak we are as a squad looking at some of the players coming on. All in all I'm happy with our days work.

I watched Oxford beat Ipswich last night and I have to say their game plan was executed so well. They had a high, energetic press which brought about the first goal and also a couple of other chances. Ipswich just couldn't get their passing game going. Ipswich came back into it in the second half and equalised as they played a bit higher up the pitch. Oxford countered this with some clever substitutions and this culminated in the winning goal. Oxford were everything we aren't at home and despite them clawing back a few points on us it was pleasing to see a manager with a clear plan and players carrying this out. I hope Mr Aloof was watching and took note with Tuesday in mind.

He won't get near the first team even if it is in League One. There are at least four, possibly five ahead of him. There was a theory on here when it was previously discussed that he was signed to make up the numbers in training.

True but they have seen an opportunity to fleece 7000 Wrexham fans because its an easy hit. It's live on Sky, early kick off and New Years Day. I seriously doubt whether those three have been factored in when they came to this decision. When we play Sheffield Wednesday next week their prices are £33 for an adult, the same as the Blackburn End but if you buy a ticket from Ewood there is a £2 surcharge. On the link below Sheffield Wednesday there is no mention of a surcharge for buying tickets in person which begs the question why Rovers fans who buy paper tickets are being charged more than the away fans who do the same. https://www.swfc.co.uk/news/2025/november/22/ticket-details--blackburn-v-wednesday/

Even if he was on £500 a week it's wasted money. He was awful when he first came and didn't get any better and if the coaches (or whoever) couldn't see that then they should pack up. We are stuck with him this season and next. He has no saleable value so to get rid we will have to pay him off. In terms of wasted money it's probably the top of the iceberg but it's all relative.

He was on the bench because Tranmere opted to play 44 year old Joe Murphy ahead of him. Again the question from me is why on earth he got a deal until June 27 with the option to another year after that.

I wholly agree about his arrogance. I could live with that if he was getting results but at home we are a million miles off it. His comments about Carter and Gueye plus threatening to walk out of a press conference because he was asked about relegation are not the traits of humility.

Rovers under 21 match against Coventry at Ewood tomorrow has been called off with no reason given.