IT IS funny how perceptions can be so radically shaped by the thickness of a goal frame.

Imagine the scenario had Yann Kermorgant's thumping header dipped under the crossbar with six minutes to play at Dean Court yesterday.

Or had inspired Blackburn goalkeeper Jason Steele not denied Marc Pugh and the Frenchman with a pair of show-stopping saves either side of the interval.

The world and his wife would have rejoiced at resolute Cherries suddenly rediscovering their mojo with a narrow win over stubborn opponents, cranking up the pressure on a defeated top two.

As it happened, the match ended in stalemate with fifth-placed Cherries five without a win but within three points of the automatic promotion places in the Championship.

To ask most supporters whether they would have taken this position on January 17, 2009, when Cherries lost 1-0 at relegation rivals Rotherham and sat 10 points adrift of safety in League Two, would be folly.

But how about asking those same fans at the end of last season when Cherries finished a club-best 10th? Or a month later when goalscoring talisman Lewis Grabban moved on to Norwich City?

Compared with the club's lofty perch a few short weeks ago, an element of concern is understandable.

However, the impatient few sat twitching next to the panic button should take a moment to reflect on why Cherries find themselves in this most eclectic mix of promotion contenders.

The club's evolution under Eddie Howe has happened at a revolutionary pace, making it easy to for some to forget that the Championship is no scripted fairytale akin to Roy of the Rovers.

Promotion back to the Promised Land would end seven years of toil in the second tier for Derby County, six for Middlesbrough and 13 for Ipswich.

Leeds, Nottingham Forest, Southampton, Norwich and Leicester are among the big names to be chewed up and spat out of the wrong end of this unforgiving division over the past decade.

So while the doom merchants predict a chastening slide into mediocrity and followers of the 'sleeping giants' snigger at little old Bournemouth, maybe it is time for a little perspective.

Blackburn epitomised the dogged nature of this division. Like so many visitors to Dean Court this season, Rovers were content to focus their attention on stifling Cherries rather than seek to outplay them.

Gary Bowyer's side did not camp in their own half as such - not in the first half at least - but from the outset slowed down the tempo at every opportunity.

That, coupled with a steely showing from Cherries, suggested there would have been no repeat of dropped points from a winning position had the hosts nosed in front.

A 30-minute delay and swirling wind set the tone for a tricky afternoon but Cherries made a bright start and went agonisingly close to an early breakthrough.

Callum Wilson and Kermorgant failed to connect properly with Ryan Fraser's ball from the right with Pugh's stinging snapshot deflected over the bar at close quarters by Steele.

An incisive move involving Simon Francis, Kermorgant, Fraser, Pugh and Charlie Daniels deserved more than the fruitless corner it earned, while Harry Arter, returning from a two-match ban, chanced his arm from distance in a half of few opportunities.

Wilson saw a half-hearted penalty shout waved away having tried to connect with Pugh's swinging centre at the far post.

As the second half wore on, Cherries increased the pressure but found it difficult to break through as Rovers dropped deeper, while small pockets of the home crowd grew restless.

With 15 minutes to play, Daniels swung in a delicious ball for Kermorgant to tower above two markers but Steele pushed his goal-bound effort round the far post.

The Frenchman then went even closer, nodding Francis's perfectly-weighted ball from deep back across goal only for his effort to thump the face of the crossbar.

Steele threw himself full length to his right to keep out Arter's piledriver towards the end before Tom Cairney's shot flew narrowly wide as Rovers tried to pinch the points in a rare foray forward at the death.

Star man - Yann Kermorgant

ON A difficult day, the Frenchman came closer than anyone to breaking the deadlock.

Either of his towering headers would have been a worthy match winner with Cherries having difficulty piercing a packed Blackburn backline.

Marc Pugh and Charlie Daniels teamed up well on the left, each swinging in a series of teasing crosses that might have instigated a breakthrough.

Harry Arter emerged with credit for his drive, determination and willingness to try something different. Tommy Elphick and Steve Cook did well to shackle the impressive Rudy Gestede.

Match facts

Cherries: Boruc 6.5, Francis 7, Cook 7.5, Elphick 7.5, Daniels 7.5, Fraser 6.5, Arter 7, Surman 6.5, Pugh 7 (Ritchie, 56), Wilson 6 (Rantie, 84), Kermorgant 7.5.

Unused subs: Pitman, Ward, MacDonald, Smith, Camp (g/k).

Booked: Arter.

Rovers: Steele, Henley, Kilgallon, Baptiste, Olsson, Marshall (Cairney, 79), Spearing (Williamson, 72), Evans, Conway, Taylor (Rhodes, 72), Gestede.

Unused subs: Dunn, Brown, Spurr, Eastwood (g/k).

Referee: Simon Hooper (Wiltshire).

Attendance: 10,196 (including 756 away supporters).