Brian

https://sportwitness.co.uk/blackburn-rovers-offer-larger-than-rival-tomassons-side-attempting-late-coup-player-keen-on-move/ It doesn't appear to be about fees, but it's a strange one whatever's going on. Blackburn are now looking to beat Orlando City to another signing, this time a centre-back.

Poor performance. Dreadful game of football. Fantastic result.

FDB by some distance. For all his talent, I've found him frustrating up to now in that he seems to take forever to decide what to do with the ball after doing so much great work in driving past players or holding them off to get into excellent positions. Different story today, though. His play was more mature and sharper, and his finishing was sublime. I hope this is a sign of things to come.

Yeah, I'm sure Paterson will go, too. I was disappointed that he didn't have a better season. His 'housery seemed like just what was needed in League 1. He covered a lot of positions and worked hard, to be fair. I think we can hold on to Gregory and Hunt if that's the plan. They won't get much better offers at their respective ages. Luongo will surely go. He's a fantastic player, but he could easily miss another half a season going by his track record with us. Sick to death of losing key players to injury. Not expecting any of the loanees back. Still don't fancy Dawson, although he may surprise me after his success at Exeter. Surely we will indeed sign a left-back! It would be great to sign a few prospects on permanent deals. Not sure if we have any youth players who can step up next season. Hopefully Fizz will progress. He does brilliantly driving forward and holding on to the ball, yet he rarely seems to know what to do with it in the end. It'll be interesting to see if Moore will go back to 4-2-3-1 next season or stick with 3-5-2.

We huffed and puffed, but Sunderland were better over the two games. That doesn't negate everything that was good about the second half of the season. After all the capitulations last year, I'm proud of the effort Moore and the players put in, regardless of the bitter disappointment I'm feeling right now. As for next season, I'm a bit concerned about the age profile of the squad. Other than that, for every good loan signing there was one that didn't work out. I think we can do better in that market in the summer. We can even pay the odd modest fee for a player. And we can't have much worse luck on the injury front. On the whole, I'm optimistic that we can do better next time around. It's easy to think that all our rivals will now pass us out, but not many thought Wigan would finish first or that Ipswich wouldn't even make the playoffs this year, so it's never that predictable.

I agree. I listened to a lot of previews ahead of the game and there were so many comments about how easily matched the two teams were going into this game. Losing is disappointing, but with their form, their home record, and that crowd tonight, there's no shame in a 1-0 defeat. I'd only be truly disappointed if we didn't take it to them and show them what we've go on Monday.

I don't know if I'd 100% take that result, but otherwise I think you're dead right! Ask Franchise FC how easy the away fixture is in the playoffs.

Absolutely. Sunderland ended up settling for one goal at the end, despite being at home, even going so far as to bring on a defender in injury time. It was a pain in the backside listening to their fans roaring all night, but I can't wait to hear our fans giving it right back on Monday!

A very fair assessment. I saw every game last season and there were so many capitulations. That was very hard-working performance from us tonight and we did really well to get back into it. I don't remember us fighting back anything like that last year. Our fans were outstanding against Portsmouth and I have no doubt we'll create an even more intimidating atmosphere on Monday. A disappointing result tonight, but I believe in us to give as good as got on Monday.

I was thinking the same thing. We've been much better at defending set pieces and there were some great blocks by the likes of Dean and Berahino. I think the players are working really hard. I'm proud of them for the effort they're putting in. I only hope a one-goal deficit is worst we do tonight, but I'm keeping the faith regardless!

I thought we were actually doing well at containing them. With their form and that crowd, it was never going to be easy to take control of the game. I just wish we'd just go for no nonsense clearances instead of trying to be too clever in our own half at times. I'd take a one goal deficit, but I won't give up hope on getting back into it. Come on Wednesday!

He's an impressive speaker. He has the vibe of a future coach or manager about him. That was a frank assessment of these last two results. I just hope we actually do find a way to beat the Accringtons and Gillinghams of this world, ideally before the season is over!

I'm cautiously optimistic that we'll scrape the last play-off place. I've seen enough from our fantastic recent run to keep my hopes up. However, that draw against Accrington was very, very poor and I expected Plymouth to beat them comfortably today. Gillingham's form has improved a lot under Harris, but they were ravaged by injuries for today's game and they're where they are for a reason. Another unsurprising story for me from today, after Plymouth, was Oxford getting an injury-time equaliser against Ipswich. As poor as they can be defensively, they've pulled off several great come-backs this season. Outside of MK Dons at home, how many times have we scored crucial late goals? I'm looking at that run coming up where we have 4/5 games away - including matches at Bolton, MK Dons, and Wycombe - and it makes me nervous. So, yes, I believe promotion is possible, but I don't think I'll be able to relax (aka "calm the fizz down") for the rest of the season no matter how much cooler heads try and put our set-backs into perspective!

All the high balls into that Land of Giants that is their defence and midfield are driving me crazy. I'm not confident that we have a Plan B for the second half.

I get the same impression. He's a class act.

True. Well, we've had enough players coming back to haunt us over the last year or so already (Fletcher, Joao, Winnall), and that's another reason why I'm relieved he's not playing tonight!

No Will Keane for Wigan tonight. 14 goals and 5 assists this season. That's a plus.

11 goals conceded in 4 games. How anyone thought one centre-back would be enough during this transfer window is beyond me. Hutchinson, Dunkley, and Iorfa are all good defenders, but it seems like we'll never have more than one of them available on any given match day between now and the end of the season, so we need all the re--enforcements we can get. Palmer and Johnson have deputised valiantly,, I just want to see actual centre-backs in our back three at this stage.

I agree, but it's just so hard to see how we'll develop any consistency at this rate. With 5 home games in the next 6, it's as good an opportunity as we'll get

From being twice in front to almost sleepwalking to defeat. Winnall has followed on from Fletcher and Joao last season in coming back to haunt us. Our own team really knows how to kick us in the teeth.

One thing in particular that stood out about the Plymouth game was that we didn't lose our nerve or fall apart after conceding. I hope we can show that kind of character again in the second half. There was a lot to like about we've played so far, despite that kick in the teeth in injury time.

Oxford away looks a tough one to start with, regardless of their current form. I'd love if we took at least a point off them, not just because of what it would mean for the play-offs, but because their brand of gamesmanship last time out was infuriatingly cynical and yet they were handsomely rewarded for it. After Oxford, 5 of the following 6 games are at home, which is particularly good timing given the crazy amount of games coming in the next few weeks. Any extra rest and recuperation time will be especially welcome during that run.

I know, I get it. However, Grayson and Wellens are promotion winners and look how things have gone for them this season. Whoever might come in - and there doesn't look to be too many enticing realistic options - will still have to deal with lots of key players missing, a soft embargo, and all the baggage that remains after the last few seasons. After last year, I just want to see some stability and see a manager get at least a full season. Ultimately, I think you'll be proved right, but I'm standing by my original position. Perhaps following Wednesday for 30 years has turned me into a complete masochist!

I think Moore deserves a chance to put things right in the January window. I can't remember the last time we had two fit senior centre-backs. We've had a rotten season with injuries and the timing and effects of Covid. To be fair to him, he refused to let Covid be used as an excuse after Sunderland. I've seen a lot of awful performances from us so far and part of me is getting frustrated with him, but think back to the state we were in back in May. It was always going to take time. I get why fans are angry, I just think he deserves a full season given the amount of players that had to be integrated and the number of key players that have only played a handful of games.

That's very true. They missed that absolute sitter and had one or two great opportunities afterwards. Not one of our attempts looked even close to going in. We still wouldn't have scored even if we had another ninety. Shrewsbury's concentration and dogged determination were admirable, to be fair to them. They weren't going to gift us anything. We rarely see anything like that.