I HAVE a running joke with some of my non-Rovers supporting friends that whatever we do, win or lose, we are four points off the play-offs.

At least that is how it has felt for the past six months.

‘Where are Rovers in the league now?’ ‘Four points off the top six!’ Without fail.

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So how satisfying does it feel to finally be nestled neatly in that coveted final play-off spot for the first time in Gary Bowyer’s reign - if you discount the two hours we spent there a couple of weeks back and our brief spell at the top of the table after drawing the season opener with Cardiff.

Being a Blackburn Rovers fan is becoming more enjoyable by the minute, and for the first time since the takeover there are smiles and optimism around Ewood Park.

We have once again embarked on a long unbeaten spell, now stretching eight games, and whereas last season’s 12-game run was littered with draws, now we are picking up those much-needed wins.

And again on Saturday we showed that never-say-die attitude.

That team spirit that says this side does not know when it is beaten and will defy the odds to make sure we get a result.

Perhaps Neil Redfearn was right and we didn’t deserve anything from Saturday’s game, or perhaps it was just sour grapes.

What is a fact is that we continued fighting, kept up the pressure, and took advantage of a silly mistake.

And just when we thought we had to settle for a point, Lady Luck, who has avoided Ewood Park for much of the past four years, gave us a break and we were given a penalty for that blatant foul on ex-Leeds striker Luke Varney.

So there we are, almost half way through the season and occupying a play-off space, just two points from second and five from the top.

And when you look up the table, there is no reason this side cannot be much higher (rose-tinted spectacles alert).

Brentford, Ipswich, Boro and Bournemouth. Are they really that much better than us?

Apart from top-of-the-table Derby, having got to this stage of the season I think Rovers really can aim high this term. as some of those sides expected to do better have faltered.

The league is wide open and if we can continue to operate so consistently over the next few months, we could justifiably expect to be pushing for a Premier League return come the end of the season.

n It will be interesting to see who takes the goalkeeper jersey against Middlesbrough at the Riverside on Saturday, with Jason Steele unable to play against his parent club.

Simon Eastwood has been sub keeper for the past 11 games, but Robbo is fit to play and has been told (publicly at least) that he can have a future at Rovers.

Leaving him out with Steele unavailable would be as strong a message as Bowyer could send to the former England number one.