That was my third comment, in Russian, put through Google translate. Onward & Upward!

I've explained often enough about being a Rams' fan whose site disappeared, so I've camped on Rovers' site, with the open offer to pass on to a Rovers' correspondent. I would prefer Newcastle to be relegated, as the Rams made 4 of their 11 points from the Toon Army last season.

We're not ready for the Premier, but well placed financially, and with Son of Clough in charge, we are ready to put ourselves clear of relegation with 1 or 3 points from the visit to the Palace today, and Tuesday's home game all about the 3 R's: Rams Reading & Relegation.

Now you Blackburn fans, having been dissed by Rafael Benitez last week - according to Alex Ferguson, who of course has no axe to grind, Benitez showed contempt to Sam Allardyce - you're away to Stoke. Sir Alex was stoking the title battle of course, with northern solidarity with Blackburn, a big club, big enough to jump-start their journey upwards at Joke City?

Stoke last beat Blackburn 2-1 at the Victoria Ground on 5 March 1988, in the old Second Division. Blackburn are hoping to do the double over Stoke for the third time in the last three seasons they have been in the same division together; the previous two being in old Second Division campaigns of 1988-89 and 1989-90.

Blackburn (from): Robinson, Bunn, Ooijer, Khizanishvili, Nelsen, Samba, Simpson, Warnock, Givet, Olsson, Villanueva, Tugay, Andrews, Diouf, Treacy, Mokoena, McCarthy, Pedersen, Grella, Dunn, Doran.

Sam, you've licked your wounds, the injuries are healing, forget the 4-0 drubbing right? "We may not have won the game against Liverpool but with them certainly we wouldn't have lost the game 4-0 if we had some of our key players available. I think we would have put in a more encouraging performance against a very good Liverpool side and I think that we'd have got closer to the sort of performance we gave against Manchester United at Old Trafford. But that wasn't to be because of those injuries, but hopefully we'll get back to how we know we can play on Saturday against Stoke."

OK, it's Rovers' first ever visit to the Britannia Stadium. The best Blackburn can hope for is to displace Stoke in 13th, up 3 places, with some juicy games around them: Sunderland/Hull, Portsmouht/Bolton. Newcastle have Shearer - I'm sorry, I thought that was an April Fool jape when I read that he had taken the job - bringing them all the way to Spurs for the early game tomorrow. If they win that, and Rovers lose, I hope you had a bet, because the odds must be pretty darn good. Shearer, sitting their in his Northern Rock sportswear, confirmed it's another must-not-lose after taking a point at Stoke. 'boro are home to Fulham, might squeeze a point, doomed West Brom are away to Man City tomorrow. All in all, it looks like weekend steps to safety for Blackburn, with any two from three North-Eastern clubs to join West Brom in the drop.

11 Man City 32 +5 38
12 Bolton 32 -10 37
13 Stoke 32 -16 36
14 Portsmouth 31 -14 34
15 Hull 32 -19 34
16 Blackburn 32 -19 34
17 Sunderland 32 -13 32
T>h>e>>D>r>o>p>¬
18 Newcastle 32 -15 30
19 Middlesbrough 32 -22 30
20 West Brom 32 -31 25

Finally, a word about my brother-in-law, recovering in hospital. A win for his club Forest, home to Coventry, would be a real boost, and something to cheer him up when I see him tomorrow. No, I don't want them to go down, I like to see the Rams beating them, especially in next season's promotion battle. A win would probably pull them out of the zone, as the Canaries have to visit Ipswich, their East Anglian (is that abroad?) neighbours in tomorrow's early game. Barnsley won't get much joy away to Reading, but may soften them up ready for their Pride Park visit, Plymouth are home to Doncaster, Blackpool away to doomed Charlton, so both should move closer to safety.

13 Crystal Palace 43 -2 53
14 Coventry 42 -8 53
15 Watford 43 -6 52
16 Doncaster 43 -15 52
17 Derby 42 -8 51
18 Blackpool 43 -12 51
19 Plymouth 43 -9 50
20 Norwich 43 -8 46
21 Barnsley 42 -14 46
T>h>e>>D>r>o>p>¬
22 Nottm Forest 43 -18 46
23 Southampton 43 -19 44
24 Charlton 42 -23 34