SO near and yet so far! I think that sums up how everyone feels in regard to Premiership safety after another rollercoaster week in the top-flight.

After taking four points from our two games with Middlesbrough and Newcastle, I thought we'd virtually banished all thoughts of relegation once and for all.

But then Ipswich went and beat Boro on Wednesday night to keep their own hopes of survival alive which means we are now forced to endure yet another weekend of frantic nail-biting.

You've got to take your hat off to George Burley and his players, though.

Everyone wrote them off at Christmas when they were rock-bottom of the table and looking destined for the Nationwide but they launched a brilliant fightback thanks in no small part to Marcus Bent.

Then, when they got sucked back into the relegation mire a couple of months ago, everyone wrote them off again because of the nightmare run-in they were left to face.

However, with two games to go, things might look grim but they are still hanging in there and that's why me and the rest of the lads won't be taking anything for granted until we are mathematically certain of our future.

We showed again on Tuesday night that we are more than equipped to hold our own against the best sides in this league and, with a bit more luck, we could actually have won that game.

The bottom line is, though, we were twice in front and then threw the lead away which is something you can't afford to do at this level.

One of the things that upset me most about Tuesday night, however, was the reception some of our fans gave to Alan Shearer.

I can't understand the mentality of people who boo a player who did so much for this football club.

Alan was one of my idols when I was growing up and he'll always have my respect for what he did in a Blackburn shirt, regardless of the terms on which he left.

When his name was read out over the tannoy I still clapped him even though I was warming up and it saddened me to then here certain people jeering him.

Sometimes I just don't know what goes through some people's minds.

On a happier note, I'd just like to say congratulations to Accrington Stanley for lifting the Lancashire Marsden Trophy this week.

I was there at Morecambe on Wednesday night to see the Reds beat Barrow with a heroic performance after they had been reduced to 10-men.

If we can show the same kind of spirit over our next three games then our relegation worries will soon be a thing of the past.