We aren't good enough or consistent enough to be able to count on winning games against the teams in and around us (even on the back of the performance last night). History would indicate that we need 70-75 points to get into the playoffs. So we need 22+ points from our remaining 14 matches, but realistically probably 25 or more. That means we need to pick up at least another 5 wins (more likely 6/7). If we are going to hit that target then we absolutely have to beat the bottom feeders. We have to win at least 4/6 matches against Plymouth, Derby, Stoke, Luton, Portsmouth, and Cardiff. We should really be winning 5 or 6. If we don't pick up 13-15 points from those matches then we are going to find things tough. Yes, we could spring the odd surprise. Yes, we could get lucky and have Sheffield United celebrating promotion on the final day and not really care (like Leicester* last year), but we have to get the majority of our points against the bad teams. Why is this match particularly important? Not only because it would give us good momentum in spite of the managerial issues, but it would also maintain, and potentially grow, the advantage that we have over 7/8/9. If we win this weekend then there is a very good chance that the gap over at least one of those teams will grow. Psychologically that will be huge.

I called this one must-win earlier in the season and I was laughed at. It's must-win now. Plymouth have definitely improved post-Rooney, but they're still a poor side and we have no excuses when it comes to this one. Win and the playoffs remain firmly within our sights and control. Anything other than a win and things start to look very slippery. There will probably be a temptation to keep the same side that we saw against WBA, but it would be nice to start integrating some of the new signings. Kargbo's pace looks a real threat - although I was slightly concerned by his lack of interest in tracking back in the final stages at the Hawthornes.

I'm not going to give him the Stoke win, so his record last season was (I think) Won 3, Drew 8, Lost 5. It was OK, but we were never in the drop zone and the continuation of some fairly mediocre form saw us get dragged further into a relegation fight and then 'saved'. He also benefited from Szmodics scoring 10 of the 15 goals under his watch. Without that purple patch we would have gone down. That wasn't due to his tactics, that was a single player hitting form. The beginning of this season is where he really impressed, but he lost the plot over the last few weeks. We were in a slide and any hopes of the playoffs were fading fast. I still think we will miss out as our squad is thin and lacks quality in key areas, but a new manager will at least give us a chance. Based on the way some speak about him on here you would imagine he was one of our best ever managers. He was OK. In many ways, his stint is eerily similar to JDT - although JDT delivered a quality of football that Eustace failed to match. The lows were not as low as under JDT, nor were the highs anywhere near as high. Also, 'the odd hiccup' is a very generous way of describing the Bristol City debacle, but I understand where you are coming from. I'm 'meh' about him leaving. I think we can do better and I think a manager might give this squad the lift that they need to challenge fro the playoffs. But the reasons why he left depress me and make me feel worse about the club.

Tonight will have made it that little bit easier to find a few interested candidates. Our club is a mess, but there will be plenty of talented managers thinking that they can get a song out of us for 14 matches and buy a ticket to the playoffs.

He would have to go uncapped and then go and live in Spain for 5 years. I wouldn't see much wrong with that.

What's the fuss about? That's basically just Wales asking for standard naturalisation laws to be able to apply to British citizens within the UK. It's more down to the odd scenario where we split up into countries that don't legally exist, meaning there's no ability for an English person to become Welsh, but a French person could become Welsh. Logical to me and it will happen so rarely that it isn't worth getting upset over.

These markets have such little liquidity that you can move them very easily. It would only take a couple of hundred pounds to move someone from double figures to near odds on. There will be fairly low max stake limits with most bookies, so it's not as big of an indicator as you might think.

I'll say again. I wasn't his biggest fan to begin with and I disliked how he contributed to the lowering of standards last season. He won me over with what he achieved in the first half of this season and he should feel rightfully let down - although not surprised - by our transfer policy. But that doesn't mean that he has the right to walk all over us on his way out of the door. Some of the responses on here are like watching an abused wife say 'well, this one doesn't hit me, he only cheats on me'. Have some respect for the club. Not only do we deserve better owners, better CEOs, better leadership, but we also deserve better than a manager who turns his back on us after less than 12 months when the situation hasn't changed.

Never been employed. Hoping for my first job by the time I know 40. Know anyone?

No, he took a job with a very known quantity because he needed the job and the money. Then he supposedly decided that he wanted to go elsewhere, but, instead of resigning, threw his hat in the ring for several jobs and then tried to leverage one of those jobs as soon as he got a bite. We'll get some hardos on here asking me for my sources, but the timeline and delays make it clear that he probably would have stayed had the club turned up on Monday morning with a new contract and some empty promises. He had a chance to either start to expose the club for what it was (like JDT) or to shut up and get on with his job. He chose neither. He even talked up some of the signings, had input into a couple of them (average at best), and publicly droned on about togetherness - all whilst flashing his eyes at anyone who even hinted at flirting with him.

They're only out of the drop zone on goal difference and they've played 2 more games than all the sides below them, and more games than the sides immediately above them. They're in real trouble. Any boost that his spell here has given his reputation (and I think we vastly overrate it because we follow it on a daily basis) will be undone by a relegation.

I wouldn't, but I wouldn't have in the first place. This was no secret. How they treated JDT, how they froze Mowbray out and didn't even discuss his contract, how they treated Berg or Appleton despite their incompetence, how they treated Bowyer... It's a very long list. It was public knowledge. Had I made that monumental of a mistake in selecting my job then I would have undoubtedly started looking for something else, but my public messaging would have been different and I'm not sure I would have left for another sinking ship.

I might, but then I'd change my public tune. I've worked for bosses who I didn't like or trust. I didn't quit, I needed a job, but I also knew I had a responsibility to my team and certainly didn't mislead people when it came to my intentions.

I don't know, maybe I'm just speculating on a messageboard? Stick to the Times or BBC if you want cold hard facts. Otherwise, give it a rest and grow up. Disagree if you want, but if you're just waiting for someone to be talking on provable facts at all times then you're in the wrong place. It's such a tiresome little response from one of the usual suspects.

I think it is all becoming clear why this is the case. He didn't really want to go, or at least, not to Derby. Not now. This was a leverage move and he expected to come out on top. Yes, he wanted to leave, but not for a club fighting relegation. This was a chance for a bit of a raise and maybe a few more promises for the summer. He didn't care about the promises, he wanted the extra money and the extra security if they decided to sack him. He may have actually learned from the JDT experience and saw how quickly things can turn sour. Playoffs today. Relegation battle tomorrow. Take the money and run, John. But, you know, you've shown your true colours. Even the lads can see it.

This is not me defending the club, but anyone on here that is claiming that Eustace is blameless in all of this is either being intentionally naive or simply doesn't believe that there can be multiple wrongs in the same story. The club failed Eustace, as they have failed every manager before him, and continue to fail every supporter and member of staff of this club. Their wrongs and failures are more egregious and significant than anything that anyone else has done during their torrid time at the club - that involves Anderson, Kean, everyone. The club will only begin to have a sense of dignity and decency when they have left. But... They failed Eustace in a very predictable way and one that he should have been able to predict. Why? For the very reasons that I have laid out above. For him to turn his back on this club, his players, and our supporters after only 12 months is, quite frankly, unacceptable. To have done so after preaching togetherness, toughness, and resilience makes him a liar. There are no two ways about it. To do so after potentially having applied for every job under the sun over the last few months...well...that makes him a scumbag. He has convinced players to sign for this club during that time. He has advocated for, and seemingly pleaded with, players to get new contracts. He's almost lucky that our club is such a shambles that no one was offered an acceptable one. What makes this significant? He proves them right. He has only strengthened the position of Waggott and Gestede and everyone else at the top. Because they now get to turn to our uninterested owners and tell them that 'see, only we stick with you'. This is why you can't give managers any power. This is why you can't listen to anyone else. Only we are here through thick and thin. Only we have any loyalty. They're all just after the next payday. If you don't think that this is any way damaging and reinforces the awful structure that we have within this club, then you are a fool. At least JDT had the decency to fire off a few warning shots before he left. The only saving grace in all of this is that it is such a massive shambles that it is garnering (some) national attention. Will that be enough to change anything? I highly doubt it. But this is another sad day in the history of Blackburn Rovers. The owners are mostly to blame, Waggott and his crew are also responsible, but Eustace leaves with blood on his hands.

I hope they go down and we somehow pull off a miracle and make our way through the playoffs. And I hope it haunts Eustace for the rest of his life as his managerial career fades into obscurity. Our promotion is a longshot, but I do hope they go down, he's sacked 12-18 months from now, and then struggles to find a job. He's done well this season, but I'd barely begun to forgive him for operational lower the standards last season. Better off without him.

Don't think I'm a tad confused. I'm well aware of our losses and we have people on here who do an excellent job combing through the accounts each year and point out every relevant detail. But we have owners who will put in the bare minimum to keep the lights on and the transfer dealings will supplement those minimal efforts and allow us to make the handful of signings we deem necessary to survive.

Calm yourself. I'm a stranger on the internet.

More games. Liverpool also probably have the smallest squad out of the big 4 (which I'll just consider to be City, Arsenal, Liverpool, and Chelsea for the sake of simplicity). But even with City we have seen how you're often only one or two injuries away from a crisis.

Plenty are. I could literally share hundreds. I would actually guess that the majority of Liverpool supporters see it as something of a blessing in disguise. It clearly wasn't a priority and that was reflected in their team selection. You often live in your own world, Jim.

Yes, Jim, us winning the League Cup (as a Premier League side) and having decent cup runs as a good Premier League side are comparable to Plymouth winning a 5th round tie against Liverpool B and getting an extra fixture to work into their relegation battle. An extra fixture that they will likely lose. We've had some good cup runs in recent seasons, they've been enjoyable and a decent distraction, but I would rather not stretch our thin and overworked squad with extra cup games in a competition that we stand zero chance of winning. The last non-Premier League winner of the FA Cup? Oh wait. Never happened. But the last non-first division winner was in 1980. A Championship side hasn't even made the final since 2008. In other words? We stood no chance.

Yep. I'm sure Plymouth supporters will remember that one forever. It will really soften the blow of relegation to League One. What did I enjoy more? Blake scoring at Liverpool or Jansen scoring at Preston? Tough one.