AFTER that initial hiccup down on the Essex coast it has indeed, this season, been lovely to be beside the seaside. The weather may not have been clement on the two trips to the Fylde coast, but six points have warmed the heart, writes Simon Smith.

Saturday felt like a cup win. After totally bossing the game it was a hammer blow to see Big Charlie rush an overhit pass from Derrick Williams and gift an equaliser.

The longer the game went on, with Wigan and Shrewsbury winning, it felt like we were again drifting away from the challenge we faced.

And some of the crowd were subdued for too long. When the lads needed us I can happily state that I carried on rallying my fellow fans to get behind the team and stop finding fault with certain players.

Some may again shake their heads and follow that same road in condemning me for what they see as me doing down the fans who WERE mostly great, but my point is this; there are times when the players need us and that is sometimes also when we too may feel frustrated. It isn’t a case of ‘we aren’t tolerating this anymore’ as it was last season.

Surely all the fans who attend games recognise that this is a terrific bunch of lads and that we are all on the same page? Let out the frustrations with shouts of support.

Yes, the support is always immense when we are playing well and winning but we also need to roar them on when they are looking for that boost. And anyway, if I don’t like the fans then why was I easily spotted bear-hugging so many of them after the winner!?

Saturday brings a chance to put pressure on Wigan by cutting their lead to two points. However we cannot take the win for granted. Northampton caused Rovers problems just before Christmas and if things go wrong then it is up to us to support. 

Ultimately it's down to the players but we must play our part for 90+ minutes not just when we are on top.