With the late rearrangement of this week's Bolton fixture from Monday evening to Sunday lunchtime, it is interesting to note that by the time Rovers host United on the 10th April, it will have been four long months since the Ewood faithful has witnessed Saturday football.

This is not the fault of anyone imparticular but an observation and sign of the times.

Bolton's cup commitments are in complete contrast to Rovers less than active time off. The poor lads have had to endure a few days in the Dubai heat for a team building exercise and a way of focusing the mind for the final run in of a fragmented and unremarkable season so far. I've had the crystal ball out and here are my predictions of the games to come.

(Rovers score comes first)

Bolton H 2-1
Liverpool A 0-3
Spurs A 1-2
Chelsea H 0-2
Birming H 2-2
Burnley A 2-1
Pompey A 0-0
Man U H 1-3
Everton H 0-0
Wolves A 2-0
Arsenal H 0-2
Villa A 1-3

If mystic Marcus is correct, Rovers will finish on 44 pts and well clear of the drop zone, indeed I predict that 36pts will be enough this season due to the scrap that is developing down in the basement at present. There are so many poor teams with not a jot of form between them that if there was ever a time to have an indifferent season, then this is it.

My hope is that if and when we achieve the safety zone, the shackles can be thrown off and we can play an open and adventurous game. This happened to some degree last season. I remember the Chelsea game away and although we got beat, the side played with freedom and a swagger with no sign of the nerves which haunted the club in the dark, Winter months.

This will be the time that the season ticket renewal form pops through the post and how we have performed at the end of the campaign will determine the number of credit card transactions made in anticipation of season 2010-11.

2010 is the Chinese Year of the Tiger and the fight for survival will be fierce and bloody.