JIM Smith, you should be ashamed of yourself!

It's one thing for poor old Crewe and Chester coming to Ewood and trying to bore us to death.

In fact, both those sides at least did enough to keep Brad Friedel warm.

But when you, the manager of a Premiership team (for another four months, anyway), see a 0-0 draw as the height of ambition, things are in a sorry state.

We should have expected as much when Mart Poom ran on carrying his carpentry set and began to board up the Darwen End goal.

And when you lined up with five strung across the back, including man-mountain Carbonari, with O'Neill as an enforcer just in front of them.

Don't talk to me about injuries, suspensions or international call-ups.

Your plan for Saturday was a bald statement if ever there was one. You didn't think you could beat Rovers so you set out to stifle them.

And, due to a combination of factors -- poor supply to our front men, Dunny having his boots on the wrong feet, a feeble referee and (I have to bow to him) Signor Carbonari -- it worked. I begrudge you the replay, but it worked.

And, before anyone can say 'Bolton Wanderers away', you can wipe the smile off your face, Mr Smith.

Why?

Because I reckon it will be Souness's men, not your boring, boring Derby that will be making that trip next month.

As every Rovers fan knows, we don't lose FA Cup ties away. Not for the past eight years (and only then on penalties) has it happened. And I don't believe our pride will be dented at your park this time around.

Apart from recent history, any other reasons to be cheerful for Rovers fans?

Well, Duff is looking sharper by the game and needs only the luck of the Irish to get his name back on the score-sheet once again. Alan Mahon and Marc Keller are settling in very nicely and Craig Short played at the weekend as if he had never been away.

And our elder statesmen, Berg and Hughes, will be back for the replay.

So, Mr Smith, thanks for showing us what fun we've been missing in the Premiership recently.

Thanks for the extra game we could have done without.

And thanks for being so negative that you've passed up your best chance of making it to Round five.

We'll be happy to ram home our superiority next week!