One complaint I do have from today (in addition to my platitudes from earlier) is our set pieces. Understand that we need to think outside the box (literally) when we're playing bigger teams than us, but today's were woeful. Not to mention the wasted journey upfield for our CBs. Need to do better.

Agreed. I’ve seen a few comments saying that our performance was poor (but the result was good), which I don’t agree with at all. In away games like that, you actively submit possession, soak up the pressure and try to take the chances you get. Textbook away performance and result for me.

Agreed Moran didn’t do much, but what he did he did well. Showed more in that cameo than Dolan has in several games so far this season. And agreed on Gally. Honestly think he could score 15 if he’s a regular this season. But we still need another body up there, obviously.

Fantastic result. Fancied to us to win 1-0, but had the scorer wrong. Credit to Pears, one top drawer save today and generally good. The goal was an incredible piece of skill. Thought Moran and Gally looked good when they came on. Hyam, Carter and Brittain also really good as well. Really pleased with that.

Decent half imo, against a decent side at this level. Hyam and Brittain have been really good, but Dolan has again been a waste of a shirt, unfortunately. Hopefully Sigurdsson isn’t too far away. Wharton has flitted between wasteful and brilliant, which is to be expected at this level. Get Moran and Gallagher on for Dolan and Leonard and we can win this one.

SkyBet gave me a free £5 for a Request a Bet, so popped it on this. Approx 0% chance of it coming in - and in truth, I meant to put over 1.5 goals (not under), but popping it here in the remote chance it comes in. * Don't condone gambling / please don't take this as a tip / etc / etc.

I’m not a fan of Pears being our number 1, though I do think he’s a sound enough stand in. He was definitely at fault for goal number 2; I’ve played as a GK myself long enough to know that - and I’m sure Pears would acknowledge that on watching back. But in the interests of balance/fairness, he made 2-3 excellent stops in the first half to keep the tie at 0-0.

My thoughts also. Head says defeat, but I’ve seen enough from the opening few games to hold some optimism.

No, I had to watch on telly today (work commitments). When the note reached Hyam, he was holding 3 fingers up and telling the other defenders that they would play with 3 CBs at various points of play. He didn't even appear to look in JDT's direction (the note was passed from player to player).

In fairness, GB did his job in identifying the right players and agreeing terms with them. The club's total inability to then get the deals over the line was not his failing.

For as long as they don't allow equal rights for women and imprison (or outright murder) those who happen to be homosexual, a country like Saudi will never be taken seriously and will always be several decades behind the rest of the civilised world.

He was shit for their second, but other than that he had a very good game. The saves early on were superb. And I'm not particularly a fan of his.

Gutted to lose, obviously, but really pleased with that performance. They were on top before the red, but we defended well for the majority of the match and even after they equalised, we should have gone 2-1 up just before they scored their second. Even with 10 men we created plenty today. Couple of additions and I think we'll do alright this season.

1-0 - Hyam. 7 points from the first 3 games 💪

Both Russia and China have tried it (albeit to a lesser degree) in the recent past and I expect the Saudi project to follow a similar path - ie fade into obscurity. I haven’t met a single person who is interested in watching the Saudi league, irrespective of who is playing in it, so it will effectively become a rich men’s plaything and little else.

That team wins this match, simple as that 👍

No matter how old you are, 30 years ago is flipping miles in the past 😄

The final corner, at the death, frustrated the hell out of me. We were past time added on and the whistle was being blown the second the ball left the very top end of the pitch. Expected a box full (including Pears), a big corner and let chaos ensue.

I couldn't get there today due to work commitments - is this a general comment, or specific things today?

Agree with this. I intentionally stayed away from here during the match, as I didn't want to depress myself even further at 0-2. But over the course of the 99 minutes, SS redeemed himself totally, fair play to him. Some of the other players could learn a lot from his attitude.

I thought we started well and if it wasn't for SS' error, Rotherham weren't scoring. The red was a joke, obviously, possibly even more daft than Buckley's last season. But, the rules are the rules I guess. Would have liked to have seen their GK given a yellow for the excessive time wasting from midway in the first half. Felt for SS, everything was going against him until the 2 goals for us. Thought JRC made the difference (again) when moving into midfield - we have to consider switching him here permanently? Ennis was bright when he came on as well, which was encouraging. And Brittain did well again, he must be pushing for a start soon.

Agreed - such a strange mentality to think additional fans is a bad thing. I didn't exist in the 'bad old days' and was only old enough to start going in the Prem days - that's not glory hunting. We need as many fans as we can get, I couldn't care less if they've supported us for 50 years or 50 minutes, as long as their arse is on a seat at Ewood.

Whilst there’s a risk involved (throwing a kid in), I really like the idea of the element of surprise. I don’t want to keep digging Dolan out, but he’s been consistently poor for a while now (presses well, but little end product). Suspect teams sussed him out some time ago. Gilsenan has given a couple of good recent showings in friendlies and the cup; give him a shot.

I saw this elsewhere - I couldn't make it tonight (work commitments), so not sure if legit or not. But if it is, this is the kind of food we need to be serving at Ewood, rather than stale Rollover hot dogs and sad-looking currys.

Gilsenan goal and assist on his debut. Bucko goal and assist. Ennis goal on his debut. 2 x assists for Hedges. Decent attendance as well, good night all round.