SUPPORTING Blackburn Rovers is never easy and, after three wins on the bounce, they have made things confusing once again.

Just as we had all given up hope on any lingering play-off ambitions, back they come with the best run of form we have seen this campaign.

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And with two home games coming up, those annoying words start to creep in. Hope. What if?

There is new hope now that we can pick up enough points to mount a last-ditch charge at the play-offs.

And what if we can win against Brentford - and go five points behind sixth - and then beat Brighton?

Of course, having got within a few points, we would then have to continue that run with the three consecutive away games at Leeds, Reading and Birmingham, which is a tall order.

Having said that, without hope there isn't much point in being a football supporter.

Believing that no matter how bad things get, promotions and trophies are just around the corner is necessary in order for you to stay sane.

Constant disappointments may become the norm with an attitude like this, but then again, that too is part and parcel of being a football fan.

It feels less than coincidence that the form we are in, which is almost completely due to a tightening up at the back, has come alongside changes in defence and leadership.

Injury to Grant Hanley saw Matt Kilgallon deputise as captain and his leadership has helped immensely with the shape of the team and, it would seem, motivation.

And with him at centre back with Alex Baptiste and then loanee Doneil Henry, who has been very impressive, we have looked a lot more solid.

At the other end, Jordan Rhodes has finally found a run of goals and reclaimed the mantle of top scorer.

This has inevitably led to tabloid journalists linking his name with any club that might want him. Which is all of them.

Gary Bowyer was spot on in his comments about managers commenting publicly on transfer targets such as Rhodes.

It isn't fair on players when managers such as Dougie Freedman and Steve McLaren start talking about them in their press conferences.

And it isn't fair on the fans who then start to panic that their favourite player is suddenly going to walk out the door.