The joy of being proved wrong! FIVE games into the season and events off the field have naturally overshadowed all else at Ewood. Saturday's dignified and respectful farewell to a remarkable individual heralded a home victory that was secured by remarkable individual skills rather than tremendous team play.

Individually, as commentators never tire of saying, Rovers are a match for anyone in Division One. Collectively, the jury is still out and cannot return a verdict on the evidence to date.

I'm sure Rovers fans would have settled for an unbeaten start and it's nice to know that our mystical powers in conjuring up instant goals are still fully functioning.

No sooner had I agreed with a fellow Riversider that 'Duff hasn't done much yet this season' than the aforementioned Irishman dropped his shoulder, veered past a bemused defender and delivered an unmissable chance onto Nathan Blake's head. No sooner had we groaned aloud as Jansen drifted up another blind alley than the selfsame Cumbrian belted a beauty past the Canaries' keeper. Oh, the joy of being proved wrong!

Such exquisite pieces of individual skill are treasures you lock away in your memory and recount on future occasions, each sounding better every time the story is told. So why aren't we more satisfied with the season so far and being in fourth place, and why do we bemoan (for example) our defensive frailties, McAteer's distribution, and the lack of a killer instinct?

Maybe, like the manager, we're striving for perfection. The touches of genius should be icing on an already enjoyable cake, not marzipan holding the crumbs together. The new 4-3-3 recipe isn't yet producing consistent results, as we adapt from our former diet of 4-4-2.

This is even more apparent away from home. At Hillsborough as at Crewe, Rovers played well only in brief patches while in between was some pretty ordinary material indeed. Never mind the supporters, one or two of the players seem to be finding it hard to adjust to the new pattern of play.

Can we rely on the skills of individuals to see us through this transition period? On what we've seen so far, maybe at Ewood but probably not on our travels.

September promises some tougher trials. Once those are faced, the jury will be ready to pronounce its finding on the new-look Rovers. Maybe by then we'll know whether this season will bring us to the gateway to glory or leave us at the door of despair.

Maybe by then we'll have seen Mr Hignett lace up his expensive new boots!