Match Thread Carabao Cup - Blackburn v Bradford City Tues Aug 12th @ 7.45pm

Wont the concussion protocol kick in……A big loss if so?

 

Really? Was their level that different to ours? They made 8 changes and a lot of the lads they've brought into the starting 11 had not much experience before. Teenage keeper on debut, young lads at the back, young lad in central midfield was on loan at Chorley last season. I think we've got a good level of squad where even the 6 changes we had, they were massive drops in levels compared to Blackburn.

It was a great pressing performance for sure.

 

The qty and quality of travelling support was right up there too, especially as it was only the first round!

 

Dunno how it all works really. Do they have to do the concussion test there and then? Strap some ice to his head and that lad would still head everything out with only one eye open.

 

Hope not. If it's swelling around the cut that caused the problem then we might be alright. I'm no expert but if it's a facial injury then it's less likely to be concussion. We need him on Saturday!

 

Agreed. I don’t think the officials can have seen it. The Blackburn player came up to Baldwin from behind, off the ball, and knocked him over. Looked like an unprovoked straight red incident to me.

 

Baldwin threw himself on the floor. Let's be honest about what happened. Their guy should have got a yellow for trying to instigate some confrontation.

 

I would definitely be starting Swan on Saturday up top. Switch Humphrys to the left and Pointon or Sarcevic on the right.

 

He needed to do better with the ball in the second half. He was trying a lot of flick-ons and lay-offs and none were connecting to others and the ball kept coming back which was partly why we came under so much pressure.

What we needed was something like what Touray did, running up the line and winning a free kick. If he could do more of that then we get higher field position and spend less time defending when we're trying to close out a game.

He doesn't need to be a big hold up guy like Cook. There were many times he had the ball at his feet but was almost rushing to pass it and try and score a third. Some times it just needs a calmer head, hold possession, win a foul and take the pressure off.

 

Luckily got to Ewood Park on time but a decent number got there further to us being 2 up. Gotta say, the atmosphere last night was excellent and the togetherness on and off the pitch is a real joy.

Up the chickens

 

Taking nothing away from the performance because it was fantastic, but I think some are allowing themselves to get a little bit carried away. Same with Metcalfe, yes it was a brilliant debut but let's see how he does week in week out before getting ahead of ourselves thinking he's going to make us millions.

 

If it's 2 weeks then that's 3 games...ridiculous....

 

I hope you are (w)right ?

 

That’s my worry Tony.

 

Re Metcalf
He was like that everytime I saw him in the Chesterfield shirt . His vision was outstanding , his curling long ball after spotting Touray wide left, enticing the volley , case in point ? I still don’t quite understand how we managed to sign him tbh. I suggest the fee might have been bigger than many of us suspect?.

I did notice at one stage he was too close to Power leaving gaps for them to play through , however I think both will develop a real partnership, leaving Tommy to be the bench man , despite his decent start in his new position.

What a nice problem to have …. Someone said he reminded them of Cullen, they may have a point?

 

I'll be honest Kev, I hadn't seen him play before other than in the game against us and I'm reluctant to get carried away with players based on one performance these days after making that mistake with Odusina. Carry on as he did last night over the next few weeks though and then I'll start to get excited! As for the fee, I wonder if it's similar to the one we had with POC where we didn't pay a huge amount but Leeds had a massive sell on clause?

 

How does Pattison fit into the team with Power, Leigh, Metcalfe now - great dilemma to have

Would like to see him in a more advanced role

 

Thing is he did look confident and comfortable in his role, I think there's a lot yet to come from this lad....