IT'S brilliant to see Rovers at last showing some inventiveness when taking corner kicks.

This suggests some good work and thinking on the training ground. About time. If we are to get promotion next season then a lot more thinking has to be done.

Like all successful teams, one or even two strikers have just got to score regularly and achieve well into double figures over the season. However, after watching tactics this time round I fear the worst.

It's been stated before in this column that long high punts up field to the likes of Ashley Ward is a tactic well out of date. The opposition know exactly what Rovers are about and, against Portsmouth for example, it was pitiful to see Ward spending his time and energy looking up to the heavens, back to goal, fighting numerous aerial battles and losing them all. Sure, he works hard, but can someone explain how on earth he or any other striker can possibly score 20 goals next season if this is to be their main contribution to the team effort?

So often this season visiting teams have shown more ideas going forward, even though a lot of our people (including radio and newspaper reporters) have written them off as poor opposition.

We do have the makings of a squad capable of doing the job but there just have to be major changes in team tactics.

Let the players do the battling who are supposed to do the battling. Get the players to pass the ball properly and get the strikers where they should be, on the end of moves around the box and in some space, with the opportunity to hit the target.

I feel sure that Mr Souness already knows this and we will see a very different and more productive approach next season.

MR K SKIDMORE, Columbia Way, Lammack, Blackburn.