Well, well, well. Rovers won a game! Even though I heard it with my own ears on the radio, I still needed Ceefax, the internet and the Wednesday's morning paper just to make sure. Rob Quinn proved the unlikely hero, displaying what was described as "almost Maradona-like skill" by the somewhat bamboozled commentary team, obviously deluded by the fact we had taken the lead. Those three lovely points against Bury propelled us to the dizzy heights of 20th position, and seeing that league table in print will no doubt have given everyone a psychological lift, both players and fans. According to reports, the aesthetic value was again open to question but without most of us even realising it, Rovers have now ground their way to five games unbeaten, keeping three clean sheets in the last four. We were left to rue missed chances at Exeter last Saturday, when we saw two headers cleared off the line in the first half and later watched Chris Llewellyn blast a sitter wide after Wayne Carlisle had caused all sorts of trouble with yet another fiendish delivery. But we looked as tight as we have done all season at the rear, and although Adam Barrett was out suspended, Sonny Parker came in and was as solid as a rock. Up against the power and experience of both Steve Flack and Sean Devine, Sonny was very safe indeed alongside Kevin Austin. Austin has had his critics, and even though he sometimes reminds us of Bambi on ice with the ball at his feet, he wins headers and he has proved himself worthy of his place since having a bit of a dodgy game versus Macclesfield a fortnight back. Some say that getting a decent team together is all about partnerships, particularly through the spine of your side. We all know what a deadly striker duo can do, but it is equally as important in midfield and at the back too. After seeing Austin and Parker play very well together down at Exeter, Ray Graydon faced a dilemma over whom to pick for the Bury game, and he eventually plumped for Austin with the returning Barrett, thus reuniting the pairing we have played since Christmas. Fair enough I suppose, seeing as Barrett is the captain, but at the same time I felt a bit sorry for Sonny Parker, as he must be wondering what more he can do to win a run in the team. Managers must guard against having 'favourites' in their team, especially in troubled times, and I think Graydon has persevered with one or two players for longer than they have warranted. Paul Tait is an example, and while he has given some terrific performances this season, like the one at Shrewsbury when he set up two of the goals and ran non-stop for ninety minutes, he has also suffered dips in form like he has recently, and perhaps been given more of a crack than others striving for a striking berth. Dave Gilroy was forced to wait until January for a chance in the starting eleven, coming in to replace the contractually hindered Bradley Allen, who himself had ousted Giuliano Grazioli. Therefore it was a surprise in some ways to finally see Tait relegated to the bench for the first time last Saturday. Michele Di Piedi initially looks promising, but if he turns out to be another Elvis Hammond, then I would have no qualms in putting Paul Tait back in - it is only fair that we try someone else out for a bit. Despite our current run of form, Rovers are hardly gunning for promotion with a team that picks itself. As long as the fringe players know that they will get a chance at some point, something we are already wishing had happened with Kevin Gall, then there can be no complaints. © Chris Chappell - Friday 7th March 2003 Back to Index