IT'S at times like this that you realise football is after all, only a game. For football supporters the "beautiful game" and following their beloved team occasionally becomes an all consuming "more important than life or death" type experience.

Pontificating on this week as if anything mentioned below is in any way like a matter of life and death seems somewhat inappropriate.

However, life does go on and this column is written in that spirit, whilst bearing the above very much in mind. Deepest condolences to anyone reading this who may have lost friends, relatives or loved ones in the last week.

Off the mark at last on our travels, and not before time. In one sense a very good point against a team that finished fifth last time round. In other ways I'm not getting over-excited about this result against a poor looking Ipswich side who look a shadow of their last season selves.

The first 25 minutes of the game were probably as bad as anything Souey has seen from one of his sides during his time at Ewood.

We failed to compete anywhere on the pitch, basic defending went out of the window and a better team than Ipswich would have been out of sight after half an hour. Thank god we weren't playing "the Arsenal."

As it was only new signing Lucas Neil kept us in the game at times during that dire opening spell.

Then for some reason after about half an hour we started to get in the game and got stronger and stronger as the game went on. After the equaliser several excellent situations and the chance to put Ipswich to the sword went begging. I was beginning to feel dissatisfied with "only a point" until the disallowed "goal" and big Brad's point blank save.

At last we finally got the rub of the green from a refereeing decision over what looked a legitimate last-minute winner.

Sunday's game highlighted a personal bugbear of mine. I felt extremely sorry for Alan Mahon, who has had an excellent season in midfield, struggling completely out of position at left back.

I have been boring everyone to death all summer on the internet on the excellent Rovers Supporters Site messageboard (www.brfcsupporters.org.uk) about how the signing of a quality left back would have been my first priority.

We knew at the end of last season Stig's fitness is fragile at best. With a £10 million summer transfer kitty I'm afraid it's beyond me why a month into the season, we are having to press a midfielder into emergency action at left back. This is the one position in the team that causes me really serious concern notwithstanding previous reservations expressed re the strike force.

To finish on a semi Rovers related rant, what's that Match of the Day replacement "The Premiership" all about?

It seems if you're not one of the main matches, contractually they can only show a maximum three minutes action. Hence we hit the bar twice against Manchester United but that didn't constitute a highlight as it presumably couldn't be fitted in. More typically you get about 15 seconds (14 seconds v Sunderland).

Still things may improve. Unsubstantiated rumours suggest next up in Andy Townsend's "Tactics Truck" will be Roy Keane, Alan Shearer (nice one Al), Robbie Savage and the Derby County team with guest presenter Harry Carpenter.

"Well 'arry I walked in behind the straight left jab and tried to catch 'im wiv the big right cross -- y'know what I mean."