Down by the Riverside, with Phil Lloyd

AS a Scot, I'm sure the manager's attentions were focused on the game in Latvia. But I hope Mr Souness managed, as I did, to take in something of the game in Holland on Saturday evening.

He would have witnessed just the sort of creative skill we need at Ewood, from a right-side midfield player wearing the green of the Emerald Isle.

Intuitive running off the ball, making space to send in a pinpoint cross for Ireland's first goal and then cutting inside for a perfect left-foot shot across the keeper for the second.

Just the sort of player we need. Better still, we could conscript him to our cause without any massive transfer fee. All that's needed is for someone to get our own Jason McAteer (for it was he) to turn in a similar performance in a Rovers shirt!

It's doubly good because many feel Jason has lost some of his speed after serious injuries. With three home games in the next week, there couldn't be a better time for him to prove that he's worth his place in the current Rovers side. No doubt the manager will use tomorrow's game against Rochdale to let players recover fully from the dubious delights of travelling to Minsk, Riga, or Amsterdam. It will be good to see Diawara and Hignett in action, but let's remember that the mighty Rochdale once kept Rovers from the League Cup Final. So, no banana skins please lads!

Mentioning travel, it's always a sure-fire topic for a tall tale or two whenever football supporters gather over a pint or three. Tales of broken-down cars or coaches, anarchic British Rail timetables or staff, last-minute dashes to faraway grounds or airports, journeys home that take forever -- all this is grist to the mill of football folklore.

My own contribution on such occasions is a trip to Plymouth, going from Sheffield via Altrincham (as you would!), getting fogbound on the return journey and watching Rovers first-ever experiment of playing a back five end in shambles and a 3-0 half-time deficit. If I see Keith Hill tomorrow night, I might remind him of it!

My elder daughter can now top that with air miles to spare! She started off for last week's Norwich match 36 hours before kick-off, in Perth, Western Australia! A quick refuelling in Bangkok and a fast car (mine!) to tackle the delights of the M40 and M6 on a Bank Holiday Saturday and she was in her WalkerSteel seat in time for the tribute to Uncle Jack. Jetlag? What jetlag!

When she goes off to university shortly, I'll accept no excuses for failure to make it to every home game. What are 50 miles when you've managed 12,000?