FOUR DAYS. Ninety-six hours (nearly). And I'm still glowing and walking on air after that win at the Reebok.

Glowing, but not gloating. I haven't forgotten that the first half was an unlovely battle that might have persuaded Mr Eriksson to leave early after an indigestible taste of Nationwide League football.

I haven't forgotten the piece of luck when Holdsworth hit the post, nor the silly mistake that gave Ricketts a goal on a plate.

I haven't forgotten that Gillespie was a shadow for an hour, nor that Bent was in manacles for three-quarters of that time.

But four days later, four abiding memories remain.

The incessant drum beat that pounded the 'Barmy Army' towards a memorable victory. The second half waves of attacking football that swept Bolton aside.

The delirious reaction as we forgot the cold and clapped and sang and cheered ourselves hoarse.

The sight of fans leaping off the Reebok seats in manic glee as Hignett's free-kick arrowed inch-perfect into the top of Banks' goal.

Friday evenings -- no, make that away games on any day in any year -- don't come much better.

The hardest thing afterwards, apart from speaking in more than a croak, is to put into context how much the win meant and what in the cold light of day we can now say about this Rovers team.

"There's a long way still to go," said Graeme Souness, rightly throwing a bucket of cold water over us, as well as his players.

But he could only dampen our spirits, not douse them, after such a performance.

A thrilling win achieved remember, without Bjornebye, and McAteer, and Berkovic -- among other members of a now fearsome squad.

For me the best thing is that this Rovers team knows how to win big games.

Souness has instilled in his men a sense of occasion that we fans can only applaud and be deeply grateful for.

It's been there for all the derby games, as well as at Derby. Let's hope it remains for the big games to come.

No doubt the superb Dunn, Jansen, Mahon, Berg and Co. will have returned to planet Earth by next Saturday after such an exhilarating week.

I may even have done so myself.

But for now, the glow remains from a nearly perfect evening.

Why 'nearly'? Because my brother's after-match celebrations with me were slightly tarnished. By the time we reached the pub, the mild had run out!