I had envisaged writing this in front of a roaring coal fire in a country pub accompanied by a pint, a warming chaser and some dry-roasted whilst celebrating a textbook win at Crewe, writes Simon Smith.

Sadly due to the weather I write it in a gloomy room and can only hope that last night went to the original plan.

The devastating ten minute spell at Peterborough was rightly put into context by Tony Mowbray as he addressed the slack defending that cost Rovers the two goals that bookended the three that we ourselves scored.

These late goals in particular are not the result of catastrophic errors as those early season concessions were, more a lack of concentration and tired minds/legs at vital times. Things that are more preventable. 

Grouching completed, what relentless terror do our forward line instil in our opponents? If it’s not Antonsson, it's Nuttall. If it's not Samuel, it's Graham. If it's not Dack, it's not matchday. 

The camaraderie and work ethic in the team is excellent (those rare lapses aside) and it's heartening to see social media used as a positive link between players and fans.

For all our attacking art it is the more prosaic talents of Richie Smallwood that is key to much that is good about Rovers. Snapping and snarling away at opposing players, the lad has flourished under a self-fulfilling prophecy.

I am sometimes accused of slating our fans. I concede I am not a fan of negativity. Yet it is the fans who have contributed so much to how influential Smallwood has been. Giving him the honour of 'first song sung' at matches, even before his debut, has meant he has puffed out his chest and earned the honour bestowed on him. 

With goalscoring captains at centre half, mercurial players like Bradley Dack, a handful of top goal scorers and the popular Elliott Bennett in the team, the desire of Smallwood still leaves him as the one wearing the crown.