A fan's-eye view from Ewood Park, with Phil Lloyd

YOU could understand it if it were Old Trafford, Anfield or Highbury.

The massed ranks of menacing part-time Mancunians, the lippy Liverpudlians, the grimacing, aggressive Gooners. But, I ask you, The Dell?

You approach the ground down leafy lanes in suburban Southampton. You are not immediately impressed by the sheer scale and majesty of the stadium. Or, indeed, at any time. There is good reason the Saints' fanzine is called 'The Ugly Inside'.

Lofty. Imposing. Spacious. Impressive. Just four of the words that would never enter your head in describing The Dell. Squat. Insignificant. Cramped. Underwhelming. That's more like it!

So, when Rovers can eke out draws and even occasional victories away to United, Liverpool or Arsenal (not this season of course, but doesn't that tell it's own tale?), why is it that a trip to The Dell represents as sure a way of achieving 'nul points' as the Norwegian entry in the Eurovision Song Contest?

OK, 'cramped' can equal 'intimidating' - I remember a 0-5 defeat down there in the late 70's when John Bailey was sent off and Lawrie McMenemy's tigerish team chased us halfway back up the A34. But the place only fits 15,000 after all! Not quite on the scale of the Bernabeu or the San Siro, methinks.

It's true of course that Southampton have been keen (Le Tissier above all it seems) to put one over on the former Dell boys, Flowers, Kenna and Shearer in revenge for their decision to seek fame and fortune up North.

But none of those three will be playing on Saturday in what is a huge match in this beleaguered season.

So let's have a change.

Despite our walking wounded and battle weary troops, there will never be a better time to give it a real ding-dong at The Dell.

My nightmare scenario is for Beattie, Hughes (old 'Hughes-less' hasn't scored all season) and, irony of ironies, Ripley to get on the scoresheet. But it's not going to happen.

This time, Rovers can overcome the hostility, the claustrophobia and so many years of South Coast sadness, and let the Saints go marching in -- to Division One.

I hope!

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.