This league keeps getting stranger

The same Forest, you might recall, who came to Turf Moor and comfortably won 3-0 earlier this season.

These are the kind of results that are making the league so hard to predict. One minute you are playing a team and expecting a real battle, such as West Ham away, and coming away with a draw.

Then you come up against an opponent you feel you should beat and it all goes horribly wrong.

Last Saturday probably fell somewhere in the middle. Cardiff have spent money and shown their intent, but we still feel we did enough to win the game comfortably in the end.

Over the coming weeks, it's more of the same. We have to face some of the more fancied teams, like Sheffield United and Sunderland, and others who are struggling, such as Derby and Rotherham.

It's another vitally important month and it all continues this weekend at Sheffield United. Over the past few years, I've been unlucky enough to be injured and missed the game. In fact, last season was my first time there.

Not that it matters, as it hasn't been the happiest of hunting grounds for Burnley. United were unlucky not to get promoted last season in my book, because I feel they were the best team we came up against at their place.

They deserved promotion far more than Wolves in the end, but they seem to have bounced back from last May's bitter disappointment and they are going well again this year.

Keeping all your best players no doubt helps and we are under no illusion how difficult it's going to be.

Then it's on to Derby, which is a lovely place to go and play. They, more than anyone, are a real example of how fortunes can quickly change in football. A few years ago they were flying in the Premiership and everywhere you looked they had quality players.

Now look at them. Struggling at the bottom of Division One with huge debts and a squad you would hardly recognise.

But we feel confident whoever we play at the moment, so the sooner the games come the better.

What is incredible is that when those matches are out of the way, we will have faced eight out of 11 games away from the Turf, which is ridiculous.

As I said earlier, it's a strange league and that means every team we have played has made it a massive challenge.

If we can keep everyone fit we are confident.

Here's hoping that starts at Bramall Lane!

PAUL Gallagher unleashed a Bonfire Night fire-cracker of his own to earn a point for Rovers Reserves in last night's second team derby with Bolton Wanderers at Christie Park.

And even more good news for beleaguered Graeme Souness was the return of Craig Short to match action.

The 35-year-old skippered the side and steadied the ship for his first competitive 90 minutes since recovering from pre-season knee surgery.

Neil Danns and Jon Douglas, returning from loan spells with Blackpool, joined Short, Martin Taylor and Dino Baggio in a strong looking line-up.

Indeed, against a back-drop of fireworks, Baggio almost lit up the game in the second minute. His explosive drive, however, was well saved by Jeremy Bon in the Bolton goal.

The visitors, prompted by lively Frenchman Ibrahim Ba, created several good early chances.

Rovers goalkeeper Steven Drench reacted quickly to clutch the ball from Cleveland Taylor's feet after good work by Ba. Brazilian Mario Jardel and Bolton skipper Derek Niven both went close in quick succession.

Bolton pressure paid off, but only because defensive errors opened the way. On 24 minutes, Jay McEveley carelessly lost the ball to former Rover Jonathan Walters. His pace drew both Taylor and Short out of position and his cross found the unmarked Jardel. With obvious delight, the prolific striker buried the ball beyond Drench.

Bolton might have increased their lead but Drench made fine saves, first punching clear from Walters and then diving to deny Taylor.

At the other end, Adam Nelson's cross found Martin Taylor, his powerful header beat Bon but came back off the post.

Five minutes into the second period, McEveley played in Baggio, but once again, he was denied by the diving Bon.

Gary Harkins and Jemal Johnson replaced Adam Nelson and Ciccio Grabbi, giving Rovers extra impetus going forward.

Drench made another fine point-blank save from Taylor, but as the half wore on, Rovers increasingly looked the most likely to score.

Gallagher went close on two occasions and Short might have crowned his comeback with a headed goal, but Bon made the save.

With 10 minutes remaining, Gallagher brought a touch of class to proceedings. Skillfully transferring the ball from right to left foot, he lost his man and fired across goal and into the far corner of Bon's net.

It was as much as Rovers deserved, and with Andy Cole about to serve a three-match suspension in the Premiership, the Academy sharpshooter might just have fired himself into the frame. Certainly he and Craig Short enhanced their claims for a place against Everton next Monday.

Blackburn Rovers: Drench, Douglas, McEveley, Danns, Taylor Martin, Short, Donnelly, Gallagher, Grabbi (Johnson 70), Baggio, Nelson (Harkins 56). Subs not used: Renton, Fitzgerald, Taylor Michael

Bolton Wanderers: Bon, Shakes, Smith, Barness (Talbot 70), Plat, Niven, Ba, Johnson, Jardel (Hamlin 60), Walters, Taylor. Subs not used: Howarth, Kribib, Jones

THE First Division is a strange place to be right now.

A month ago, we hammer Walsall 3-1, with Delroy getting a hat-trick, then this week they go and hammer Nottingham Forest 4-1.

The same Forest, you might recall, who came to Turf Moor and comfortably won 3-0 earlier this season.

These are the kind of results that are making the league so hard to predict. One minute you are playing a team and expecting an real battle, such as West Ham away, and coming away with a draw.

Then you come up against an opponent you feel you should beat and it all goes horribly wrong.

Last Saturday probably fell somewhere in the middle. Cardiff have spent money and shown their intent, but we still feel we did enough to win the game comfortably in the end.

Over the coming weeks, it's more of the same. We have to face some of the more fancied teams, like Sheffield United and Sunderland, and others who are struggling, such as Derby and Rotherham.

It's another vitally important month and it all continues this weekend at Sheffield United. Over the past few years, I've been unlucky enough to be injured and missed the game. In fact, last season was my first time there.

Not that it matters, as it hasn't been the happiest of hunting grounds for Burnley. United were unlucky not to get promoted last season in my book, because I feel they were the best team we came up against at their place.

They deserved promotion far more than Wolves in the end, but they seem to have bounced back from last May's bitter disappointment and they are going well again this year.

Keeping all your best players no doubt helps and we are under no illusion how difficult it's going to be.

Then it's on to Derby, which is a lovely place to go and play. They, more than anyone, are a real example of how fortunes can quickly change in football. A few years ago they were flying in the Premiership and everywhere you looked they had quality players.

Now look at them. Struggling at the bottom of Division One with huge debts and a squad you would hardly recognise.

But we feel confident whoever we play at the moment, so the sooner the games come the better.

What is incredible is that when those matches are out of the way, we will have faced eight out of 11 games away from the Turf, which is ridiculous.

As I said earlier, it's a strange league and that means every team we have played has made it a massive challenge.

If we can keep everyone fit we are confident.

Here's hoping that starts at Bramall Lane!