I DON’T know if the players felt the same but, after the stresses and emotions of the last seven months or so, Charlton on Saturday was a step too far for me, writes Simon Smith.

Cards on the table: I didn’t even go to watch it for free down at Ewood.

 Football had treated me so good this season that I decided it needed a day away from my desperate, clingy, demanding attention.

Oh, I envied those travelling to South London for a party and did feel as though I had definitely deserved to be part of it.

But this Saturday against Oxford is the one I want to show all my appreciation at and bask in the glory of.

Of course, the fact that Charlton needed the points in their quest for a play-off spot, that Tony Mowbray was always going to allow some tired limbs some succour, and some recollection of a lack of perspective from the last time Rovers ‘failed’ led me to go up-river like Captain Willard in ‘Apocalypse Now’ pausing only to check the score at 5pm. The ‘horror’ indeed.

The League One title would have been nice but I still feel that playing the same side as at Doncaster would have engendered the same outcome, maybe even worse.

Some of the lads have been running on fumes for a few games now and, after the run they’ve been on, asking for a title too was like Violet Bott or Verruca Salt asking for the moon on a stick.

 This season has put the ‘burn’ back alongside the ‘black’ that was all that remained from the last couple of years.

Even for one day, fans will be back on Saturday to hail the boys who have given us entertainment, given us pride back and, yes, given us kittens at times this season.

Ewood on Saturday will be awash with blue and white.

Miss Lynsey Bryant at my son’s school St James’ has cajoled the kids into Blue and White Day on Friday and Rovers fans can now stand proud.

We are back, and back stronger, and there is a future to look forward to.

There are many new and fantastic memories ready to be made.