TICKETS for the Rovers should carry a health warning at present.

Those suffering from health problems or who are of a nervous disposition would be well advised to steer well clear.

Frustrating doesn't even begin to describe it.

During the last campaign I highlighted a lack of consistency over the season as being our major downfall.

Back then we effectively amassed our points total from two-thirds of the games, losing 10 matches out of 12 in the middle of the campaign.

The problem this season has been failing to maintain a consistent performance level over the whole 90 minutes of a game.

After chucking points away against Boro, Chelsea and City, more points went begging on Sunday against Spurs.

The problem quite simply was that we failed to turn up until about five past four and the match kicked off at three. You can't do that at this level and expect to get away with a positive result.

If we were half asleep throughout the first period we were comatose during the opening ten minutes after which we were lucky not to be two goals down.

Prior to the game I wondered if anyone had realised that with three points we could go fourth.

By about half past three I was wondering if anyone apart from Damien Duff had even realised there was a game on.

Thankfully, to coin that ancient clich, it was a game of two halves.

After what was presumably an almighty rollicking, Spurs were swept aside in the second half on the back of some glorious football.

The equaliser came and raised the unlikely possibility that the Egil has finally landed at Ewood coming into the fourth and final year of his contract.

Chances were created and spurned at both ends.

An unlucky offside decision robbed us of a 2-1 victory and to rub salt into the wound Spurs went up the other end to score a last minute fluke.

While defeat was harsh, I couldn't help but think we got roughly what we deserved.

I was puzzled as to the reason. No one would begrudge the team feeling tired after three tough games in six days and a trip to Eastern Europe to boot.

However, if that first half was genuinely down to fatigue, the second would surely have followed suit.

The problem seemed to be one of not being mentally tuned in for the first 45 minutes. Hopefully that can be eradicated if, as hoped, we progress through further rounds in Europe.

Sunday was a disappointing end to what was otherwise one of the better weeks in our history.

The club redeemed themselves in my eyes through their altogether more professional approach to the return leg in Sofia, and were rewarded for an hour with as good a display as there's probably ever been seen from a Rovers side.

Then the consistency problem kicked in again as our discipline and concentration went and we nearly managed to blow a seemingly unassailable position.

However, while the collapse was disappointing we'd have settled for a 3-3 draw and being in the hat for round two before the start.

Our young side can only learn from playing in such a cauldron and hopefully it's the first of many memorable European nights in the famous blue and white halves for most of them.

Most importantly, at least the team has the talent to go to a place like that and get to 3-0 up in the first place.

Mental discipline can hopefully be learned, but basic ability cannot.

No-one ever said it was an easy ride being a Blackburn Rovers fan!