THE Worthington Cup third round draw will be made on Sky Sports One tomorrow at 3.15pm and a completely new format will be used.

With 32 teams remaining, they will be split into two sections of 16 and fans will be able to plot future opponents as in the World Cup finals or the Wimbledon Tennis Championships.

A draw will still have to be held each time, however, to determine home advantage.

The eventual winners of each 'half' of the draw will meet in the final at Wembley.

THE stats provided by the Opta Index, the official analysts to the Nationwide League, make fascinating reading.

Did you know, for example, that only three First Division teams are more accurate than Rovers with their shooting so far?

Brian Kidd's side have a shooting accuracy rating of 53 per cent, bettered only by Fulham (59 per cent), Charlton (56) and Barnsley (54).

Opta work out their figures using data such as average goals per game, goals to shots ratio and shots on target.

Defensively, there isn't a single team in the division at this stage which tackles better than Rovers.

Along with Portsmouth, they share the top tackle success rate of 54 per cent.

LIGHTNING does strike twice as Helen Brennan (Blackburn) proved at the Portsmouth game. She was the winner of the £500 Rovers Return prize (number 012414) for the second time this year.

Helen was also the Rovers Return winner at the Sheffield Wednesday game.

The autographed ball on Wednesday went to Simon Duxbury (Blackburn), number 010569.

BOTH Academy teams were at home to Coventry today (kick-off 12 noon). Next Saturday, October 2, both under-17 and under-19 sides are at home again with Sheffield Wednesday the visitors. Kick-off times are 11am.

THE Reserves are back in action next Wednesday, September 29, when they visit Bradford City at Valley Parade (7pm).

LATEST Double Your Money Club £500 winner is J Nestor (Blackburn), number 728A.

SEATS for Rovers fans at Swindon on Tuesday (kick-off 7.45pm) are in the Arkell's Stand upper tier, along the side of the pitch.

Prices are £18 adults, £11 senior citizens and students (on production of valid NUS card) and just £2 for juniors when purchased with an adult ticket.

HAVING acquired some new sets of goalposts for use at Brockhall, Rovers have ensured the old ones don't go to waste.

They have been donated to local junior club Blackburn United.

"We had five sets of the portable goalposts to spare and wanted to make the best use of them in the community," said Ewood's Mel Highmore.

Blackburn United run a senior and several junior teams in local leagues.

TICKETS for next Saturday's game against QPR at Loftus Road are now on open sale priced £16 adults, £8 juniors and senior citizens.

The seats are situated in the School End lower tier, which is behind one of the goals.

Rovers strongly advise fans intending to travel to purchase tickets in advance. The club cannot guarantee that tickets will be available from QPR on the day of the game.

ROVERS are doing their bit for the British Heart Foundation.

The club have had a bright red 'Clothing Bank' installed just outside the ground between the Darwen End and Walkersteel Stands, just past the health club.

Any unwanted items of clothing, textiles or books will be welcomed by the charity.

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