THREE games in and it's happened. I did wonder how long it would take but sure enough after the first blip of the season against Manchester City I heard the immortal words: "We're missing Duff and Dunn, we should never have sold them."

To be honest, I'm surprised it's taken that long. Rovers fans, on the whole, are a pretty pessimistic bunch at the best of times and listening to some of the talk after the City game, you'd have thought we were relegation bound.

No problem though, I thought, at least we can banish the memory of the City game on Saturday with an 'easy' match at the Bridge against Chelsea!

I didn't travel to the game because I didn't have time to re-mortgage the house to get the necessary funds to buy a ticket and a pre-match drink. Those satellite systems are great, not only do you get Men and Motors freeview, you can also tune in to live Saturday Premiership football with Spanish commentary. I took my place among the football geniuses in the pub, you know the sort, those whose sum total of tactical knowledge is to shout 'get rid' or 'boot it' at the screen for the full 90 minutes.

I'd just about jostled in to my viewing position when, before you could say 'ITV Digital have ruined us', we're 1-0 up. Scorchio - Andy Cole. Then for some reason the pub erupted into song. I was even half expecting my old mate the drummer to walk in!

The players acquitted themselves superbly for the rest of the game and the 2-2 result was well deserved. Without a dodgy penalty decision we'd have come away with a win. We didn't bypass midfield with too many long balls, closed the opposition down quickly and didn't give possession away cheaply.

There were no particularly outstanding performances but I thought Babbel slotted in well at the back and looked calm and assured. He certainly looks like he'll be an asset to us this season, and then there's Andy Cole.

Despite his obvious talent, he's never really looked as hungry and motivated as he was in the red of Man United. That is until the last few games where he's looked sharp, his touch has been good and blimey, he's even been celebrating his goals instead of skulking back to the restart like an adolescent teenager! Long may that continue because 20 goals from a rejuvenated Cole will go a long way to firing us towards the top six again.

So, what with this result, the signing of two quality international midfielders and two games against the unpronounceables in the UEFA Cup, things suddenly don't seem so bad.

There's a two-week break to get the injuries healed and then a big home game against Liverpool to come.

All a far cry from Grimsby and Barnsley from years gone by, so come on pessimists look on the bright side. Who knows, pretty soon you may even be saying 'David and Damien who?'