The tour of English cathedral cities meant two tough league matches and an FA cup tie against a team in a higher league.

Rovers could easily have returned empty handed so a return of three points and a replay to look forward to is a bountiful harvest. Frustratingly, it could have been more, such has been the quality of football played, notably at Lincoln the harvest could have richer.

This is not the time for criticism, rather it is a time for praise and patience. Summer recruitment went well, the form and character of the team demonstrates this. No longer are we bullied, no longer are we pushovers.

Perhaps the best signing has been Paul Digby. His versatility is such that he can allow Mark Cooper revert to plan B when needed. With the team and coaching staff delivering so well, fault finding seems churlish but one point needs making. Are the team mean enough?

Can we make our dominance count? Are we street wise enough?

This not anything new.We lack the ruthless streak that we need to kill teams off. We need patience, as this will surely come. Mass tinkering with the squad in the January window is not necessary. Two additions may help.

Firstly a right back and a quick striker, but with all teams looking for the latter it will not be easy.

What we must do as fans is to be a vociferous 12th man. the opposition must know we are here.

Then we’ll have every reason to hope and dream. Hopes of a play-off place aren’t unreasonable - we have the quality.

Dreams are for the FA Cup as we’re still in the hat. They of course could end any minute but our hopes could be season long.