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

GOD rest ye merry, Rovers fans, left watching in dismay.

Now Tony's full-time manager, we start to lose away.

With ten men down at Bramall Lane our tactics went astray.

No tidings of comfort and joy, blue and white boys, no tidings of comfort and joy.

WE'RE actually doing our best to make a mess of it this season, away from home. Sheffield United was just another winter's tale to add to the sorry stories at Swindon, Walsall and Port Vale.

That's four of the current bottom five, with the fifth (Portsmouth) our next away mission, should we choose to accept it, next Tuesday.

It's too simple, though tempting, to say we'd have been all right if Tony had stayed on another week as caretaker.

Rovers again proved on Sunday that translating superior ability into required results is beyond them in these games, regardless of who is manager, full-time or caretaker.

On a seasonal note, I'd like to reflect on two topical matters: the spirit of Jason past and the spirit of Jason present.

Wilcox's departure to Leeds took everyone by surprise, but I haven't heard much weeping and gnashing of teeth at the ending of his bitter-sweet relationship with the Ewood fans.

To me, Jason's prime was just before Shearer's first serious injury, when he flew past full-backs and delivered low crosses, goals on a plate for our number 9. A home victory over Leeds one Boxing Day comes especially to mind. The problem with Jason (past) was that the Rovers fans knew he could do it and were frustrated that he couldn't seem to do it more often.

The problem with Jason (present) is that he has always had an easy-to-light fuse for opponents. When his energy and aggression are properly channelled (as against Bolton) he's a superb asset to your side. Against Sheffield, single-handedly, he lost us three points.

Still, it's the season of goodwill to all men, so let's congratulate Wilcox on his good fortune and give a charitable cheer to Macca tomorrow night.

As for Manager Tony, I wish him a Christmas stocking full of points to push us up the league and a sackful of goals against the Baggies to get us all in the festive mood!

Merry Christmas everybody.

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