A fan's-eye view from Ewood Park, with Phil Lloyd

THE announcer at Edgeley Park told us repeatedly that Stockport is not a club that tolerates racist or abusive language. What he forgot to tell us is that neither is Stockport a club that tolerates exciting or inventive football.

Certainly in the first half, Rovers fans on a nostalgia trip to the open terraces of the Railway End would have had as much fun trainspotting. Or indeed planespotting as jet after jet left for more exotic locations.

I spent the first half trying to remember when I'd last seen a game so devoid of action. When that became too difficult, I tried to think of any destination less exotic than Stockport. A fan near me suggested 'It's like watching Darwen'. Darreners might justifiably feel insulted.

But on this season's long and arduous train journey, it was a significant result for Rovers. The central defensive combination of Broomes and Dailly has now served in two matches to reduce any danger to Alan Kelly's goal to nothing more than a couple of long-range pot-shots. The midfield engine room has been lifted by the very presence of Garry Flitcroft. And the attack - ah, well, the attack! - I've started wondering if Ashley Ward has an identical twin brother who can both score goals and stay onside. This twin struggles to do either. The reaction of the supporters in the Pullman seats was interesting. Forsaking all hope of seeing any style, what they demanded from their team (stridently) was effort. And commitment. And desire. They at least seemed to recognise that defeat would shunt Rovers into a siding, with the buffet car well and truly closed.

The goal, itself no classic, signalled a change in demeanour from the men in yellow. They fought hard to preserve their lead and, as Tony said, were deserving winners when the fat controller brought proceedings to a merciful end.

The win at Stockport, however earned, has given us a platform. I believe the next two stations (West Brom and Norwich) represent the last opportunity for our players to show that they are 'getting there' and can become first-class travellers once again.

The alternative is that we spend the next ten weeks merely fulfilling the timetable, with fewer and fewer passengers on board. Presumably, it would also mark the end of the line for running Rovers as a Premiership set-up. Not a pleasant thought, especially with nouveaux riches neighbours!

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.