Don't underestimate Blackburn

The current difficulties at Blackburn Rovers should not obscure the fact that they have a strong team. None of the pundits saw them as automatic promotion candidates pre-season, but two saw them coming 6th with the other placing them 8th.

There have been losses of key players following relegation. Yakubu Ayegbeni and Junior Hollett left leaving a void in attack that it will not be easy for Nuno Gomes to fill. Gomes has some neat touches, but does not get on the ball enough. Dickson Etuhu is seen as a sensible acquistion. However, although he works hard, he does little with the ball when he does have possession.

For the Addickted, there will be the excitement of welcoming Danny Murphy back to The Valley. Players are entitled to progress their careers and Murphy did a good job for us, unlike another acquisition around the same time, Marcus Bent. What I took exception to was the manner of his leaving with his wife, a 'C' list celebrity, slagging off Alan Curbishey in her column in The Times.

Blackburn fans took the view that they could build their team around Murphy, but although he tries hard, he was often by-passed in the game against 'Boro. Paul Robinson in goal is not as solid as one might expect for a former international. At right back, Bradley Orr is often exposed and offers little going forward.

Dann and Givet were not that impressive in defence against 'Boro, while Ribeiro in midfield had to be taken off at half time. Nunes was simply out muscled by Boro's midfield, but that is not our strength. Probably their best player and main threat is Jordan Rhodes, but he is often starved of the service he needs.

Director of football and Venky's 'global adviser' 'Chevvy' Singh has already made it clear that he regards Charlton as a bit of a joke village team, having found Charlton Village online, but his former role as a pundit on Asian TV may not have given him much knowledge of the Addicks.

This is not going to be an easy match, but I think we can win it. Once again, scoring first is important.

Elsewhere, the news that Leeds United have been taken over by a Bahrain-based firm reminds us of the financial resources we are up against in the Championship Leeds . Many football fans cried quietly into their cereals at the news that cuddly Ken Bates would no longer be involved in football.

Nearer home, the question echoing round The Valley tomorrow will be 'Has Mr Robin left the stadium?' It looks like the answer will be yes, but that will not be the last we hear of it.