WHILE the majority of the first team squad no doubt spent most of last week sweating upon the identity of the winner of The Breeders Cup in Dubai, the blank weekend gave supporters the opportunity to study form of a different kind.

At first glance wins for Bolton, Everton and Middlesbrough didn't seem very encouraging. On reflection it wasn't as bad as it looked.

Bolton a point ahead of us having played a game more. There was a fair chance one out of Derby and Everton would win. Ipswich failed to win (or score) at home. An 88th minute equaliser for Southampton kept Sunderland deep in the mire.

On Sunday a sixth straight defeat for Fulham left them looking just as vulnerable.

Tottenham's first win for quite a while probably takes them safe.

All the clubs beneath them, starting with Middlesbrough in tenth place with 38 points, will feel there is work still to be done.

Given a consistent run of form from now to the end of the season there is no real reason why we couldn't occupy that mid table berth currently occupied by the men from the Riverside.

However, given the unpredictable nature of our league form this year, I'm sure most supporters would happily settle for the current 17th spot.

Then we could put this year down to experience and look forward to European battle wiser and stronger.

To me the table accurately reflects the lack of quality of much of the division.

Pre season most people would probably have predicted some combination of Man United, Arsenal, Liverpool, Leeds and Chelsea as their top five.

Newcastle have been the surprise package this season but I remain to be convinced by them. The remaining 14 clubs are led by Aston Villa and Charlton and I reckon the first-time neutral would be hard pressed to separate any of them apart from Leicester with a flypaper.

Back to reality, the next two games against Leicester and Southampton are absolutely crucial.

The Easter programme has always been seen as crucial in deciding promotion and relegation issues. This season is likely to be no exception.

Leicester are not mathematically relegated, but, with a maximum possible total of 40 points are as good as. Although Southampton have been performing with credit under Gordon Strachan, Rovers' absolute minimum haul from these two games has to be four points and we could really do with six to put us within sight of safety.

With no match this week the other main talking point has been the ITV Sport fiasco.

I know Football League chairmen are often accused (with some justification) of spending way beyond their means and not operating according to normal business criteria.

In this particular instance however was it unreasonable for the clubs to set their budgets in the honest belief that they had a binding deal? Is it that much different to you and me offering £10 billion just to secure the rights, then saying we couldn't afford it a month later and offerin g £50 instead?

The repercussions for the lower leagues if ITV Sport is allowed to fold or renegotiate could obviously be catastrophic.

Fans of Bury or any other club in a similar predicament must now feel like stuffing that cloth monkey up a part of Johnny Vegas's anatomy where the sun don't shine every time an ITV Digital advert comes on.

Rovers be warned! Yet another incentive (if indeed one were needed) not to tamely concede the holy grail of Premiership status for next season!