HarryfromBath assesses the mood in the opposition camp ahead of Saturday's game by delving into their forums.

"We are what we are, a mid-table team", "We are heading for 12th at best this season if we carry on this way. Some might be content with that. I think it's a huge underperformance", "It seems that this will be a continuation of last season, which is very disappointing for those with play-off hopes."

Rovers arrive at Portman Road having played erratically before the international break and with just one win in their last five games. Their 1-0 win at Fulham was followed by a 2-2 home draw against Watford, a 2-0 reverse at Rotherham and a scoreless draw at home to Huddersfield.

The supporters' mood is decidedly glum. Hopes were high in August with the team having had an excellent unbeaten run at the end of last season. Rovers now are solidly mid-table, but fans fear that the play-off places are drifting out of sight. They have kept just two clean sheets in 12 games.

"Our players appear to have the beating of no team in this division, which should be a major concern", "We could be in a right scrap by December", "This ambling towards nothing is no good. We're a ship without a sail and we have no identity in our style of play or management".

A Lack of Leadership

"Bowyer has signed some talented players, but no fighters", "This team has no identity. You couldn't pick a redeeming feature and say 'they do this well'", "Players thought Rotherham would be a stroll, but they were bullied out of the game by a very physical, hard-working side."

The defeat to the Millers was a particular blow and a harsh reality check. "If Rotherham can outplay, out-pass and out think you, then you have problems", "What an awful, awful result", "We're losing all our battles", "Most teams aren't much better than us. They just seem fitter and more organised."

"The bottom line was that Rotherham's work ethic was far greater than that of some of our players, who seem to think that they are better than they are", "They were more intense, better organised, worked harder out of possession, closed us down quicker and were better coached."

Gary Bowyer

"Bowyer definitely loves the club, but we need a manager and not a coach. We need someone who will motivate and bollock the team when needed, take off under-performing players and man-manage the squad to get the best out of them", "We're complacent, with no desire or ruthlessness."

Many fans believe that Bowyer is "not capable of getting this club promoted". He is consistently criticised for the lack of a cutting edge in the team's play, its inability to strike the right balance between defence and attack and his inability to change tactics during games.

"We are so predictable, playing with a no tempo, low intensity style that plays into the hands of hard-pressing Championship teams", "The players know they can get away with things because 'nice guy' Bowyer is in charge", "I don't give a damn how nice he is. Results matter and ours haven't been good enough."

A poll on one website asking if Rovers "have faith in Bowyer" has 59% saying 'no' and the tide may be turning against him. "Last night [at Rotherham] was the first time I sensed real anger towards Bowyer instead of the usual rumblings", "There were chants of 'Are you Steve Kean in disguise?'."

Bowyer is seen by his critics as a likeable man who is out of his depth. "I really like the guy. He comes across as decent and honest, but as a manager, unfortunately no", "He did well stopping the rot last season, but time has moved on and the club is going nowhere. He has taken us as far as he can."

The Owners

"Venky's have never appointed a proper manager", "If Bowyer was to go, then they come back into the picture and we all know they could do anything. We could be sat here at Christmas saying how well Bowyer has turned things around or sat waiting for Ron Atkinson to get his first win."

Frustrated as Rovers are with their current manager, they have no confidence that their owners would bring in a strong replacement, and are concerned that they haven't the funding now to mount a sustained promotion challenge in any case. "We would just end up with another novice."

Few expect a change of management in the near future. "We're well and truly back to square one. The magnifying glass will once again be put on the owners to make a change and I know they will support Bowyer", "The problem we have is that the chicken farmers won't ditch him."

Life On Easy Street

"The first half against Watford was like a training session, with no real tempo or urgency, lots of sideways and backwards passing with no one attempting to make anything happen", "They are completely soft lads who go into their shell when anything goes against them."

"When Huddersfield were in possession, there was very little third man running and few options for the man off the ball. I was appalled." There has also been repeated criticism of Rovers' lethargic start to games: "We need to start putting kick-offs back to 4pm as we rarely turn up until then."

"Did they look up for it in the defeats at Rotherham, Wolves or Norwich? Anyone can put in a shift for half a game at home. It's the away games that support the men from the boys", "Spineless, heartless, no leadership on or off the pitch - these words run through Rovers like a stick of rock."

Defence

Rovers have little confidence in a defence which has conceded 18 goals in 11 games this season. "Rotherham broke quickly and we defended like headless chickens", "Every time a team attacks us, they seem to create something", "There always seems to be a defensive mistake around the corner."

The scoreless draw at home to the Terriers was achieved by protecting the defence at the expense of their attacking threat. "This was the obvious conclusion to try and stop leaking goals. The full-backs stayed back and the wide men tucked in. We were poor in attack and went long too often."

"Our defence has been much maligned but (1) our first choice left-back (Tommy Spurr) is injured, (2) our captain (Hanley) is totally out of confidence and form, (3) we have a brand new centre-back (Duffy) and (4) no recognised right-back. Add in a new keeper and it's no surprise we can't defend."

The new keeper referred to is Jason Steele, the 24-year-old now on loan from Middlesbrough for the season. "The jury's still out", "He doesn't fill me with confidence but it's early days yet", "He punches crosses well, but his kicking is ropey and his handling is soap ball on occasions."

Steele has been blamed for his part in two recent goals. "He looks good, but misjudged Watford's freekick and didn't try for it", "He seemed to think that it was going in the other side", "That was a horrendous mix-up with Tunnicliffe for Rotherham's second goal, making it two in two games."

"Marcus Olsson is consistently one of our better players in all the game I have seen this season." The 26-year-old former Halmstads BK left-back and Sweden international "works hard and defends okay. He looks a threat going forward", "He has definitely been our best defender in the first 11 matches."

He struggles against pace. "Olsson was up against a quick winger against Watford and got a few roastings but he got better as the game wore on", "He's a better crosser of a ball than his brother Martin [now with the Canaries]", "As good as Marcus has been, he leaves the defence wide open."

Former Blackpool centre-back and Bolton loan signing Alex Baptiste played at right-back before Ben Marshall moved there against Watford. "Baptiste's a weak link on the right, making life difficult for all the centre-backs." The 28-year-old "is slow at full-back and offers little going forward".

"Shane Duffy looks a decent and confident player." The 22-year-old ex-Everton centre-back [who played for Yeovil last season] "is a beast in the air", "His height is useful at set-pieces", "He's not the finished article and looks a little edgy at times but I do like his forays forward."

"Duffy was great in the air against Huddersfield, but one moment typified his game. The ball came to him and under no pressure he blindly volleyed it skyward and forward", "He struggled with Rotherham's physicality", "Communication between him and Hanley can at times be terrible."

Grant Hanley

"Hanley continues to be an accident waiting to happen", "His positional play if awful and I have never seen a player in the modern era run so slowly." The 22-year-old youth product "gets booked in most games for being a clumsy, brash oaf", "He looks nervous when opponents run at him."

"We are defensively shocking and the worst culprit is Hanley", "He continues to be an accident waiting to happen", "He is a big factor in why we are conceding so many goals this season. He's disorganised, rash and clearly lacking confidence", "He has had a terrible start to the season."

His withdrawal from Scotland's squad with a knee injury is being seen as a possible blessing in disguise. "It is bad news for him but it's about the only way he would be left out and he needs to be", "You have to wonder why so many people think he plays better for Scotland than for Rovers."

Ben Marshall

"We greatly improved in the second half against Watford with two attacking full-backs in Marshall and Olsson providing the width", "It was a stroke of genius from Bowyer moving Marshall from the left-wing to right-back. From then on we totally battered Watford [coming back from 2-0 down]."

"It's not something you want to see, one of your best attacking players used as a square peg, but fair enough if it's short term and we get a result", "Marshall coming from deep gives him more freedom and makes him more effective, but it does leave us a little more exposed defensively."

Supporters had been criticising Bowyer for playing the 23-year-old former Leicester winger on the left of midfield before this positional switch. "He has a great right foot, so why do we play him on the left?" "I was tearing my hair out as he cut in from the left and lost the ball every time."

Central Midfield

With 34-year-old veteran David Dunn a peripheral figure, Rovers' midfield has lacked his personality and presence. "We miss someone in midfield who is strong and who can drive us forward", "I had hoped that our box-to-box midfielders would give the defensive stability we have lacked."

Many fans want the midfield strengthened with a third man in the centre. "We cannot play 4-4-2 in this division. We have got to play 4-5-1 especially away from home", "We kept a lot of clean sheets last season, so maybe a 4-5-1 formation could be the way forward."

"Watford played through us like we weren't there", "We don't have the drive to beat less talented teams who seem to beat us just by being more up for it", "Instead of trying to play our way through the opposition we have lapsed into the lazy option of just lumping the ball forward."

"Lee Williamson is slow of mind and slow of foot." The 32-year-old former Pompey man "is a trier, but his ball control and distribution are nothing short of a disgrace", "Ponderous", "After an hour, the Huddersfield game passed him by. His first two or three-yard speed is awful for a midfielder."

"If Williamson is not facing the right way and isn't given much time, his game is very limited", "He's just too slow", "He looks like a player whose legs are letting him down. You can see it when the ball comes to him. His brain sends a signal but his legs don't do as they are told."

"I recall the return of Corry Evans being lauded as the second coming of Claude Makelele when he was injured last season. What a laugh that was." The 24-year-old former Hull City man and Northern Ireland international was booked in the defeat to the Millers and missed the Huddersfield game.

"Every pass Evans made was of the hospital variety. The lad's had a shocker", "He is far too slow and physically unimpressive to play the enforcer role", "He looked more of a player with Tunnicliffe beside him", "They could form a good partnership, with Evans playing the tidy holding role."

Tom Cairney

"Why won't Bowyer play Cairney in the centre?" "He does a good job as a right midfielder but is more important to the team in the centre." Many Rovers believe that the 23-year-old former Hull City midfielder could be a more effective link to a lone striker, rather than playing out wide.

"He's our best ball player", "Nine times out of 10 he finds someone with a forward pass", "He has good anticipation and vision, and likes to strike from distance", "Playing him on the opposite flank is ridiculous. He often has to stop and turn, pass or cut inside on to his left foot."

Not everyone is enamoured with the Scot. "Cairney never seems to have an out ball when he has got it out wide. He drifts inside, taking away our width and congesting the midfield", "He wants to grow some balls and make a tackle", "He never really influences games and can be completely overrun."

Ryan Tunnicliffe

"We need an experienced leader in midfield, one who will kick some backsides and keep the rest working hard and focused", "I agree, but Bowyer brought in Tunnicliffe." The 21-year-old former Ipswich loan signing "is okay, but not the midfield saviour we had hoped for."

Tunnicliffe was signed on a season-long loan from Fulham on transfer deadline day, and fans had high hopes for him. "If he's half as good as we hope, he should play", "I hope we will actually impose our game plan with Ryan coming in and imposing himself and addressing a major area of weakness."

"I'm glad Tunnicliffe has arrived. Our central midfielders cannot tackle which is a worry." He scored on his third appearance from the bench against Watford, but blundered on his first start at the Millers. "He made a huge mistake with a poor back-pass to Steele, who kicked it against Becchio."

He is being given the benefit of the doubt. "He changed the game against Watford, brought energy and aggression to our play and was the catalyst to our getting on the front foot and changing the game", "He's a box-to-box-mould of midfielder, but is hardly the attacking threat that Cairney is."

Wide Midfield

"We have wingers on the wrong wings and the service is meat and drink for the opposition defence nine times out of 10", "We need the wide men to run down the wings instead of cutting in", "We fail to hit the by-line and are constantly funnelled into a packed central area."

"Chris Taylor is a grafter. He's not the cleverest or trickiest, but you know he's out there." The 27-year-old ex-Millwall man "works his backside off, gets up and down, helps out his full-back and gives us an option out wide as well as in the middle", "He huffs and puffs but doesn't make an impact."

"Craig Conway looks a shadow of the player he was last season", "He's has been taking his man on and whipping in crosses at the first opportunity. There has been a lot more turning back inside or short passing to a nearest team mate. I'd wager he's been asked to play a little less boldly."

Fans have been left bemused by the dip in form of the 29-year-old former Cardiff winger. "It's astonishing how quickly Conway's form has dropped. He's doing okay, but hasn't achieved anything like last season's blistering form", "He is exceptional on his day, but looks like he needs a rest."

Joshua King

"Apart from Joshua King, we lack real pace." The 22-year-old ex-Manchester United winger and Norway international "worked hard against Huddersfield and looked a threat. He forced them to defend deep, but as usual the end product wasn't there", "He tries but deary me, he's no striker."

"King looks good in flashes, but he couldn't score an open goal from two yards if his life depended on it", "Despite his thought processes moving slower than his feet, King does present our most potent attacking force", "What has King got as a striker? Let me see, pace, a strong lad, and, er…"

"His strengths and weaknesses were exemplified in the opening minute against Huddersfield. He burst through their defence and made them look like statues to get clear on goal. He then took the touch of an elephant and ran the ball out of play", "The lad's a sprinter and not a footballer."

Strikers

Former Leeds striker Luke Varney has made a number of appearances from the bench. The 32-year-old "never looked like scoring against Rotherham. His link-up play and running routes were very poor. He struggled again", "He's like a dog chasing a ball at best and that is me being nice."

Rudy Gestede

Rovers' misery at Rotherham was compounded by the loss of the 25-year-old former Cardiff striker and he is a huge doubt for Saturday's game. "Rudy has gone off with a pulled hamstring. That's our season gone. Goodnight all", "When he went off, we looked lost."

"Let's be honest, our game completely revolves around hoofing the ball up to Rudy", "Bowyer's only method of getting a ball in the last third is totally reliant on his aerial strength", "The wide men have nobody to aim at", "Promotion will be more of a pipe dream with a six-week lay-off for the big fella."

Gestede was badly missed against the Terriers. "The Huddersfield game was poor, it was dire, it was shocking, it was dull and it was one of those games where we wouldn't have scored if it had gone on for another three hours", "Our attacking play and counter-attacks were ridiculously slow."

Jordan Rhodes

"Jordan Rhodes really has got his first confidence crisis. He didn't look confident stepping up for the penalty against Huddersfield", "He looked devastated when he missed it. He just needs a goal", "When I heard that Rhodes had missed a penalty, it summed up Rovers' all week."

The 24-year-old former Blue and Huddersfield striker scored Rovers' winner at Fulham, but has struggled in the last three games and missed a penalty against his former club. "The 'but he scores' argument is wearing thin as Gestede scores frequently and contributes so much more."

"If Rhodes had a more rounded game, nobody would care. Because his whole game is putting the ball in the net, there's more emphasis on his place when he misses", "He has scored 25+ goals for the last two seasons and there are still question marks", "He cannot hold it up as a target man."

"We play with two strikers to accommodate him. He gives us lots of goals but causes us problems in other ways", "The midfield can't play him in via the channels because he lacks pace", "There was more than one decent ball against Watford that a quicker player would have made more of."

"I fully agree about dropping Rhodes. Away from home we should be playing one up front and flooding the midfield to protect the back four", "We cannot carry one man up front who cannot hold on to the ball. He's a luxury." "We should have ripped off Hull City for the £12 million they offered."

Rovers' Thoughts on ITFC and the Game

"We have two weeks to dwell on this mediocrity before we go to Ipswich. We'll lose that and be more than six points off the pace", "I'll say it now. We'll lose comfortably at Ipswich", "We are nailed on to lose at Ipswich", "We are sure to lose at Ipswich."

"I've got no hope for this one. It will be an easy 3-0 home win for Ipswich", "I think we will come away with our tails between our legs", "They are at home, with better players and a better manager. We could be on the wrong end of a thrashing here", "I reckon we'll get battered."

Supporters are deeply pessimistic about the game, with a 3-0 defeat being regularly forecast. "We're going to get trounced. I expect something in the region of four or five-nil. This game will show us just how far we are from being a promotion contender."

There is considerable praise for Mick. "It's so disappointing that we didn't hire Mick McCarthy when we had the chance. I'm not even sure he was looked at by the geniuses in charge", "McCarthy is the difference", "They have a proper manager with a game plan - 4-1 to Ipswich."

"We are tailor made at the minute for a physical rigid Ipswich side to let us do our slow going nowhere passing/long ball nowhere strategy whilst they gobble it up easily. A draw here would be a good effort but I only see a routine victory for them with two set piece goals."

"Ipswich are a big, strong high tempo playing side and one of our major problems is we struggle against this style of football. Mick McCarthy and Terry Connor have far too much in their lockers for Bowyer", "Ipswich might be dark horses this year...."

Websites

The busiest Rovers message board is the BRFC Supporters Internet Site and some interesting useful comments can also be found on Rovers Talk.

Photo: Action Images

cookra added 10:15 - Oct 17 sounds like their going through a bit of a crisis according to the fans. I can see town getting their 4-5 goal game a season on sat COYB
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StuartBrett8 added 10:19 - Oct 17 We are feared by other teams..... I love you Mick! :) Top work Harry
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dirtyboy added 10:49 - Oct 17 Nailed on loss for us isn't it? MotM curse, Mings will have a mare, them all glum and miserable, Rhodes in poor form and now playing his former club. It's in the stars. I hate this kind of build up. Fingers crossed everyone!
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dubblue added 10:56 - Oct 17 Lots of doom and gloom at Rovers! Should be an easy win, 2 or 3 nil but football is a funny game. Just our luck if Rhodes gets his mojo back.
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Tractorog added 12:20 - Oct 17 When you think of the money spent on their squad over the last 5 years. I'm worried about the omens, like Dirtyboy... but I'd rather be worried about the omens and confident in the manager and the squad, than the other way round. The other way round is called grasping at straws. PS. It's odd how with both Bent and Rhodes two of our ex-youth-system strikers are seen in the same light.

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TotalBlue added 12:29 - Oct 17 I do fear for this one any team who has a bad run have to break it at some point but in Mick we trust. Good read though Harry and I get DeJavu reading it sounds very much like town 3 Years ago
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Paulblue62 added 12:32 - Oct 17 Great work HarryFromBath. A lot has gone into that, so thanks. We are a team that is feared in this league. That makes me feel good. Mick has really turned us around and we are now serious playoff contenders ( if not top 2 ). Going for a 2-1 Town win.
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mojo added 12:33 - Oct 17 Funny how the away supporters thoughts have gone from ' will win easily' or 'expecting a draw' to 'expecting a defeat'. The tide is turning at last. Well done Harry, as always.
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ntoms97 added 13:12 - Oct 17 We'll win the MotM Curse is a myth COYB. 3-0 for me a win at least. Mick McCarthy's Barmy Army ITFC <3
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StowTractorBoy added 14:17 - Oct 17 Despite the doom from Blackburn no game in our division is easy and they could cause a surprise. They have decent players and Rhodes will be all out to score against us as he does. They could well flood the midfield tomorrow reading Harrys notes, and we will have to counteract that. We have enough to beat them but I stay cautiously optimistic.
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NoCanariesAllowed added 17:11 - Oct 17 Wow. that really surprises me, actually. From the outside I thought Blackburn were confident of doing pretty well this season and, recent form aside, still have good prospects of making the top six. Goes to show how opinions differ on the inside, both rationally and irrationally. Heavy defeat though? I'd be surprised. Confidence crisis or not, Rhodes will probably still find a way to score against us. Just hoping Gestede doesn't play and we can get ourselves a couple without the contribution of Murphy.

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backwaywhen added 17:59 - Oct 17 Hatch , Chickens , Count , just don't do it ! a little worried about this one . COYB.
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HarryfromBath added 18:38 - Oct 17 Like many commentators above, I was surprised by the downbeat nature of so many of the Rovers supporters comments. I wonder how much of this glumness was coloured by unfulfilled expectations rather than the team's actual performances. I agree with backwaywhen and NoCanariesAllowed on the counting chickens front. Rovers will be a proposition, especially if Dunn and Gestede are able to play and with our missing Murphy. Gestede in particular has done much to help the balance of the team by taking pressure of the midfield and defence and supporting Rhodes. As dirtyboy says, I am uncomfortable this type of optimistic build-up (although it is refreshingly novel!). I also agree with Tractorog with what he says the omens, but I would not swap places with Rovers either tomorrow or at any point in the near future. We have a clear and confident direction of travel, and it great to see an opponent viewing a trip to Portman Road with trepidation.

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BlueandTruesince82 added 20:18 - Oct 17 Tough. Certainly winnable but to be respected. Gestade out would be v heartening come 3pm sat.
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shoopdelang added 21:51 - Oct 17 Its great that the supporters of teams are now fearing playing us. We are a different animal all together this season. A force to be reckoned with. Although saying that I do think Blackburn are capable of giving us a game tomorrow
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BuckieBlue added 11:30 - Oct 18 Great to hear opposing fans positvity about Town (ok it is partly also -veity about their own side but let's be +ve!) But with Rhodes and Tunny coming back there is always that ex-player coming back to haunt us situation, and they've got, on paper, some decent players. Could be an especially productive day if we do get a win becos a lot of sides around us have difficult away fixs. COYB.

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Palestine added 13:50 - Oct 18 Another great write-up by Harry. How many clubs/fanzines have what Harry does? It's amazing! Like many above, it is these 'should win' home games where teams often come unstuck, including Town. Let's hope that we can keep enough of the good form going in to this game to get a win. Don't think it will be handsome, or pretty! But hoping for 3 points.
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