Agreed. He's clearly struggling for confidence right now, but if we go with a back 5, he'll have more freedom down the left to get forward. I feel that JDT likes him and sees him as coachable, so LB will not be a priority for us compared to other positions.

I'm genuinely amazed that anyone takes any notice of his guff. It's been long established that he's full of shit. If he had any credibility at all, he wouldn't freelance for a red top.

To be fair, we didn't spend £7m on him - even at this stage, it's still around half that amount. But we do need consider Forest's sell-on fee. Anyway, pleased with Hyam - looks an upgrade on Lenihan.

Best debut from an Academy player since probably Jones. In fact, best debut for some time full stop. Really liked the look of him and, based on yesterday's performance alone, looked streets ahead of the likes of Buckley. His forward passing between the channels both accurate and timely - he and Hedges made a big difference in that second half.

It's not - and the stats suggest that he's a genuine upgrade on Lenihan.

I remember JRC being highly regarded as an attacking midfielder at the Academy and he was on United's books before he came to us. He's found himself being played at fullback when it's clearly not a position he has much talent for. I'm sure he's trying to help and accommodate what his managers have asked of him by playing there, but I can't imagine that Pike wouldn't be several shades better, in Brittain's absence. I don't like to overly criticise our own players, as it's nothing but counter-productive, but today he was beyond awful. Honestly think I'd have done a better job there and I haven't played regular RB since my Roman Road U14 days (which were a looooonnnng time - and several stone - ago).

Whether anyone likes Big Sam or not, I don't think anybody can deny his ability to keep a club of our size and resources in the middle of the Premier League. I absolutely loved us grinding out those 1-0 wins, big Samba causing havoc in the opposition areas. Couldn't give the slightest shit for one-touch fancy football that gets us nowhere. Football is a competitive sport first, entertainment second.

Agree with this - Pickering was ok today, not particularly good or bad. I did feel that he was hesitant to get forward, but did make a goal-saving block quite early in the first half. I feel he's the go-to boo boy at the minute, even when he's not particularly bad. Also don't agree on Morton. Didn't too much, but saw a lot of the ball. Looked a lot happier alongside Wharton and I feel that they'll end up being the first choice CMs very quickly.

Fair point, I probably should have gone with 'organised and hard to beat'. We're Blackburn Rovers, we have no history or culture for playing pretty football. We won the Premier League by being as direct as you can be. We won the League Cup by being organised, hard to score against and hitting a couple of goals on the counter (and Brad being superhuman). As per our motto, we want a combination of skill and hard work. We want to see players being warriors on the pitch and showing some passion first and foremost. We can accept being beaten if we can see the effort. Pretty flowing football is way down the priority list.

I’d take Big Sam tactics (ie winning) over what we’ve seen so far this season, every single day of the week.

Well that was shit. First half beyond woeful - they don’t like - and can’t handle - being pressed and some basic passes going astray. Not sure what’s happened to Buckley, but only Kaminski and Ayala came out of that half with any credit. 2nd much better, I think Adam Wharton looks a superstar in the making and really made a difference in terms of forward passing. Phillips did ok, Trav did his best and I thought Hedges at least gave us something different. But so many wasted chances in the second. If Dolan had shot instead of dribbling a couple of times, we’d have scored. if we’d had Diaz instead of Brereton, we’d have scored and Dack was unlucky with his one proper chance, to be fair. Huff and puff in the second, but just not good enough. We need reinforcements, and quick.

That’s probably the least likely thing I’d ever expect to see on a Blackburn Rovers forum, but there you go. More importantly, today is a game we really have to win. I don’t really care what their manager situation is, we are Rovers and at home so I expect a win. Dack and Morton are must-starts IMO.

Somebody within the club (can’t remember who) has advised that we have a contingency in place to replace BBD. Plenty of time left in the window, let’s see if they’re as good as their word…

I’m sure he’ll bear that in mind… Anyway, would be a decent signing for us, for this level. Let’s get this one in (for nowhere near the £2.5m quoted by the rags), then focus on the next couple 👍🏻

Sacked 2 days before the game - all prep undertaken this week now potentially out of the window. A couple of days isn’t really sufficient to come up with a whole new game plan/approach and that’s presuming that whoever is caretaker manager has a clue what he’s doing. Sounds ideal timing to play them, to me.

Let’s wait to see how the rest of the window pans out. However unlikely it seems right now, several players might be lined up ready to sign. Things can change very quickly in football and it’d be premature to make conclusive statements when the transfer window is still open.

Was just reading a Stoke fans perspective on a match preview that popped up on FB. Majority are shitting themselves for Saturday, some even hoping for a big defeat so that they might get rid of their manager.

It's a fair point. I'm sure I'd heard at the time that Spurs were planning on taking him in the transfer window, around the time of his injury. Shame for him, but I still think he can be one of the best players in this league.

I wouldn't say so, only being Wednesday. Considering how we managed to keep our other signings under wraps until they were (pretty much) complete, wouldn't surprise me at all to see one or two join this week. Then a free for all around the transfer window deadline...

It’s a must-win game for me and it’s imperative that we approach it positively - play on the front foot and be aggressive off the ball. Last nights result broke the consecutive defeats, but if we want to do anything of note this season, we have to be beating teams like Stoke at home. Kaminski Brittain Ayala Wharton Pickering Morton Travis Markanday Dack BBD Gallagher

To be fair, they might have planned to have done that - but we didn’t let them have the ball.

Unfortunately he appears to be made of glass, so is less reliable than Mr Ayala. However, under Ben Rosen and team, a new fitness regime may benefit him longer term. Dack seems to be befitting from whatever they're doing - leanest he's ever looked (whilst with us anyway).

They both do look genuine talents, Wharton especially. And I couldn't agree more with the 'under TM, we lose this game'. Properly pleased for those young lads (and Dacky) tonight.

Really happy with that, especially in the circumstances. Big performance from some very, very young players. Needed a win and we deserved it.

I've only seen the goals, but I'd be interested to know how Morton got on at CB. Hopefully we kill this one off now, looks as though we've dominated from start to finish - which I expected, with the likes of Dack against League 2 opposition.