‘I don’t think anyone saw that coming.’

If anyone reading this had a bet on Rovers to win 5-0, and Ellis Harrison to score four of them, please write in to us so you can claim a prize.

That’s obviously a joke. Because no-one put that bet on, and if anyone did, they’re now rich enough to buy themselves something very nice.

I don’t think anyone saw that coming. Sure, our opponents had a defensive injury crisis, but so did we. Yes, we are good at home and surely decent value for the win, but 5-0? Four goals up before half hour mark? Absolutely unthinkable, even by the incredible standards set by this team over the last two and a half years.

Credit has to go to Ellis, of course, for his bumper haul of goals. Especially the hat trick goal – when a player in the top division does that, it’s talked about forever. The audacity to try a backheel like that shows that Harrison has got bundles of confidence.

He showed us the player he could be. No-one expects four goals a week, of course not, but the fact that he doubled his tally for the season in one game shows that we’ve not heard his name shouted enough by the PA announcer in 2016/17. That’s not to say he hasn’t contributed; his all-round game has come on significantly in Darrell Clarke’s time at the club, and he’s more involved in build-up play now, dropping deeper, looking to start plays and create chances.

Moving forward, we’re officially in silly season – otherwise known as the January transfer window. No club wants to be in a position where they need to do business here, such is the short time frame to do a deal and the inflated costs put on players.

We do not find ourselves in the privileged position where we can afford to do no business. Even before our two loanee central midfielders were recalled by their Premier League owners, Kelle Roos’ eventful loan spell ended, and Peter Hartley got a possible long-term injury, most observers would have said we needed some defensive cover and possibly a new first choice goalkeeper at the very least.

Will Puddy has improved between the sticks since his calamity away at Shrewsbury before Christmas, but he needs competition. Steve Mildenhall is still out for some time yet, and I don’t think Darrell would have envisaged Puddy being his starting No.1. We’ll see whether trialist Gianluca Curci, with two Italian Cups and 100 or so Series A games under his belt, is the answer, but it’s an encouraging sign of the growth in stature of the football club that we can attract such players.

Defensively, Lee Brown has no backup whatsoever, and our troubles in the middle of the back four suggest that a signing will be made at centre half.

I’ve heard some mad tales on social media about us signing five, six or even seven players this month. Obviously they’re untrue but why would we even want to do that? Why tear up the squad, why introduce so many new faces to at settled unit? I’m not in the “Clarke never deserves criticism” camp but his way is clearly working. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

A trip to Highbury Stadium awaits on Saturday. Sadly, this isn’t Arsenal’s grand old Art Deco home, which is now a load of luxury flats. It’s the tiny home of Fleetwood Town, housing fewer than half the souls that even our old Memorial Stadium can house.

Their chairman has spent huge sums of money taking this once amateur side and elevating them up the professional leagues. As recently as a dozen years ago they were playing County football; whether they’ve bought success or whether it’s depended on other sides being less well-run is for those in the know to judge. This being only their fifth season in the Football League, they’re on course for it to be their best ever, in terms of league position. As I’m sure you all know, they’re a point above us in the play-off hunt at present.

They’ve just played our old rivals in the FA Cup of course. Much has been written by those in the know about City’s struggles this term, but regardless of that, holding a side from the division above to a 0-0 draw on their turf, and limiting them to so few chances, shows that they’ll not be a pushover. Plus they’ve only lost once since they were sent home empty-handed from the Mem two months back, and have only lost once all season at Highbury.

Given their home form, our away form, and the continuing problems we have with squad depth, I’d shake hands on a point if offered now. If you’re going to the Fylde coast this weekend, wrap up warm!