Laivasse

well that is BS for a start, given magnificantly saved a bullet header from saha and then did the same again when warnock tried his best to score an own goal, both clearly on target and both against us. Calm down. I was simply quoting stats from the BBC. Smells like half-arsed stat-gathering on their part. Collins header, Bent's header, Hutton's shot into orbit and Gabby's shots are the only efforts I think we had at all and only 1 was on target. Alby had another attempt but it was blocked. 4 on target, no chance.

It had better be for Bent, because if it's for Gabby or Ireland we'll lose what little attacking sharpness we have. EDIT: although as the man says, Ireland will probably come off anyway due to that knock.

Are you referring to Warnock's header?

Um. Did anybody else hear that? Just as the first half montage came on, it sounded like the mic picked up something it shouldn't... sounded like someone saying '...we put together the worst ten passes...?' Someone on the production team grouching about how bad the match is and how they can make highlights out of it? I'm not even joking. Am I going mad?

I don't think Bent has looked sharp at all. He's been supplied the ball on the edge of their area a couple of times and wasted it.

Gabby finally gets into the game in the 41st minute and we have a shot on target. When he fails to perform, the entire team fails.

Ultimate responsibility falls to McLeish. If he can't change the way the players play then what is his purpose at all? Just pick the names on the team sheet? But he can't even get that right. What exactly are we turning him into a millionaire for if he's supposedly impotent in the face of these performances?

This is fairly accurate, but if we're going to weigh up all the negatives of our defenders, then it should probably be noted that Dunne was guilty of our first hoof up to nobody on 3 minutes.

Hutton fouling Saha, very lucky not to be sent off and have a pen awarded. Warnock trying to score for them. Unbelievable.

Good save. Everton are looking much more threatening than us.

Collins caught out. Honestly I thought that was an unbelievable miss from Cahill. Dodged a bullet.

On a stupid tangent: is his name really pronounced goo-zan? I know it obviously seems like it must be since the commentary always says it that way, but they are clueless most of the time and I also knew of someone with the name Guzan who pronounced their name 'Guzzan' (to rhyme with 'cousin').

Depends how long he's dropped for. There's no reason to keep him benched for the rest of the season, but for 2-3 games McLeish could easily spin it as 'wanting to make sure you're match ready' or similar for Given.

He's performed well and apart from one iffy kick has made no errors. If we are so skint that our idea of transfer activity is getting Robbie Keane in for 2 months, then I think we should gamble on a few more games with Guzan as a gesture to him that he's trusted and has a part to play for Villa going forward. Bringing Given straight back in tells Brad that he only plays on sufferance. It's little decisions like this which could be the difference between losing a solid backup keeper this summer or not losing him.

When a good or promising player transforms into a crap player due to lack of confidence, usually there are still signs that the quality is in there somewhere waiting to be reawoken (I got that sense from Ireland, for example). You'll see a good touch here and there, fleeting glimpses of talent which are then cancelled out by bad decisions. From what I saw of Delph while MON was still here, I had a lot of hope for him. He seemed to have assurance and great close control, plus a lot of determination. Since that knee injury of his, however, he's given nothing to base any more hope on. His touch is now terrible and his forward passing is shambolic. Defensively he offers little. Overall he's like a John Hogg with more dangerous, less effective tackling. In fact his tackling is worse than ever which sadly suggests he hasn't learnt anything since arriving here, and leaves a strong possibility he'll pick up another long injury. A loan could be the best thing for him. I just don't think he has a role with us. Clark and even Herd (who I think is shaky) are better at DM, and the queue for attacking midfield positions is long enough for Delph not to deserve a look-in.

Kompany's wasn't a red and Johnson's was imo. As has been mentioned the key part of the rules cite 'excessive force' and 'endangering safety'. To my viewing, Kompany's lunge was not out of his control or excessive. His legs were somewhat spread in an attempt to only utilise one leg in getting the ball, with the other reacting mainly to trap it. He changes speed and direction just before the lunge to get the timing right and travels in with less momentum than Johnson. It's somewhat dangerous, yes, but whether it was excessive or significantly more dangerous than any other full-blooded fair tackle is a question I'd answer with 'no'. Johnson's challenge was more like a wrestling dropkick targeted at the ball. He gets there a split second ahead of Lescott and only because he's off the floor, at full speed, full stretch with both feet. The smallest error in judgement would smash Lescott's ankle. Red all day, errday.

Yeah, classy showing from a guy who was defended by the Montenegro defender he got banned for lashing out at. Utter twunt.

The reality of the game is that players often go in 'two-footed', by some definition of the term, but the key to whether a tackle is bannable should come down to how dangerous the tackler is with his 'trailing' leg. Giving a red for Kompany's tackle isn't a decision that's fits the spirit of the rule for me. For a start the tackle itself is not dangerous, he wins it cleanly, his legs were quite spread (which stretches the definition of 'two-footed'); the second leg was in zero danger of touching the player in possession, and was used not to give Kompany extra reach or momentum, but to trap the ball as the other leg won it cleanly. Disappointing call, for me it's an example of officiousness that misses the point of officiating. Wow, Kolarov.

Oh my god, Dunne.

Fantastic goal, Gabby.

Commentator quote: "Agbonlahor is still moving in a rather ginger-ish fashion." *camera cuts to McLeish* Case of mistaken identity imo.

Agreed, but I think Swindon are a tier above Rovers. I was really impressed with them earlier. There was a period of about 5-10 minutes in the first half when they kept possession well and put about 6 lethal crosses into Wigan's box from both sides, the last of which produced their equaliser. I am happy we're not playing them right now.

Commentators were talking about Bent trying to avoid injury for unspoken reasons, as well as Keane's arrival. There's always something depressing to think about, even when we are winning.

WTF, is that a Garden Centre/Hardware store courtyard beside the corner flag?

Warnock's been doing really well imo. A couple of balls-ups are to be expected, but if they come in Rovers' third of the pitch I don't give a shit.