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

SUTTON out injured, Shearer closely marked by his new Siamese twin, Sherwood strolling through midfield and getting booked, Le Saux playing as if distracted by something he's just read in 'The Guardian'.

It could have been Rovers, vintage 1995-6. Instead it was England v Poland last Saturday. And despite the Ewood connections, plus Kevin Keegan's 'infectious enthusiasm' (the guy would be enthusiastic if he swept the Wembley terraces for a living!), I couldn't really get worked up about the national team.

Yes, Stephen Cummings and I agree on one thing at least!

Like the PoWs digging their way out of Colditz, football supporters get tunnel vision at times like this. Escape is the only thing that matters.

The memory plays tricks too - though it seems like we avoided the trapdoor by the skin of our teeth two years ago, in reality we had six points more at this stage of the season and a positive goal difference.

Yet no-one outside Blackburn is taking our position seriously. 'Too good to go down' (like in 1966 when we were so good we finished 16 points short of avoiding relegation)! 'They'll have no problems once Kidd gets all his squad fit' (this may happen, but not before August)!

Worst of all, we're in this predicament despite the fact that there is genuine cause for optimism. Sounds strange, I know, but think about the progress the club has made this season: promising young players coming through, a new manager who seems to hold the players' respect, a squad with fewer prima donnas who would rather strut their stuff in London and more who like life in Lancashire and want to do well for the club and its supporters.

Improvements off the field have included not just giant screens, but also giant steps forward in communicating with the fans.

A Supporters' Forum is now established and the fans' voice is being heard on issues like ticket prices, supporter segregation, and creating a better Ewood atmosphere. Things are changing.

Two seasons ago, Middlesbrough stayed home and had three points deducted.

This weekend, I want us to make Robbo and Co. wish they hadn't bothered to turn up again.

Maybe then we can be sure it's the light at the end of the tunnel we're seeing, not the train marked 'Division One' heading in the opposite direction!

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