Bristol Rovers midfielders ten-words to Sheffield Wednesday and the rest of League One

Jordan Rossiter has revealed that Bristol Rovers players held a meeting earlier in September which has contributed in their upturn in form.

Coupled with a lengthy injury list, the Gas had struggled for form after going on a long winless run, with no win in the league at all in September. A meeting was held after the defeat to Accrington Stanley with players allowed to speak their mind and offer their thoughts on matters. Rovers have since gone on an unbeaten run and claimed a 2-2 draw with league leaders Plymouth, ahead of a busy period in store.

Sheffield Wednesday are the opponents tonight with Joey Barton’s men at Hillsborough against one of the big hitters of the division. The Owls team is glittered with quality including Josh Windass, a former teammate of Barton and Rossiter.

After playing against Darren Moore’s Wednesday, a trip to Derby follows but there is no fear from the 25-year-old.

"I think we’re a match for anyone in the league,” the former Fleetwood Town midfielder stated in a word of warning to the rest of the third tier.

He added: "I know we’ve had a bit of a slow start to the season, but a few weeks ago after the Accrington game the lads got together and we had a bit of a meeting to see where we want to go this season and have that belief that we can do well.

“There’s no fear going into those games. The gaffer doesn’t fear anyone and neither do the lads and who knows where we’ll go.

"It was an informal meeting. We all had a few words with each other and a few home truths got said, which has to happen in football, and we knew we weren’t at the races to where we as a team know we can get to. It’s a great squad with really talented players and hopefully, we can do well this year."

He starred in a complete second half performance from the Gas in which they came back from a two-goal deficit to draw 2-2 with rivals Plymouth Argyle.

The midfielder had a slow start to life as a Bristol Rovers player, however has excelled in recent weeks alongside his side’s rise up the League One table.

“It was a fantastic game and a great advert for League One football with two top teams going at it,” the former Rangers man said.

“Obviously, they’re top of the league but there’s no reason we can’t be up there ourselves with how we’re playing at the minute, I think we showed what a good team we are today.

“I don’t think there was much in it, they maybe shaded the first half but in the second half I thought we had the chances to go and get the three points.”

First half goals of the season contenders from Fin Azzaz and Adam Randell had Argyle ahead at the break, however the half time addition of Josh Coburn, and Harry Anderson’s switch to right-back paid dividends and the tie was switched on it’s head for the second half.

“The gaffer said at half time,’’ Listen boys there’s nothing in the game, they’ve put two goals in the top corner and sometimes you have to hold your hands up and say great finish from the lads.

He wanted a reaction, and it shows what a great group of lads we’ve got, some big characters in there and that’s why we got the result in the second half.”

The addition of Coburn paid off instantly for Joey Barton’s side, as the Middlesbrough loanee bundled the ball over the line just two minutes after coming onto the pitch.

Aaron Collins then completed the comeback with a great piece of team play involving two backheels and the Welshman poking past Michael Cooper in the Plymouth net.

Rossiter had his chance to get the equaliser and his first in a Rovers shirt just minutes earlier when Collins crossed and he was waiting at the back post. His effort was tame, however, and cleared off the line easily.

“I think it went off the line, I might’ve had a bit of a nosebleed to be honest, I don’t usually get up into those areas, but Aaron Collins put a lovely ball back post and I tried to get there.

“If I’m being honest, I probably should score, I think the lad’s made a great block on the line but I don’t think I’m going to get an easier chance to get my first rovers goal.”

It was a sell-out crowd at the Memorial Stadium, with over nine thousand packed in and the former Liverpool man highlighted how important the Rovers faithful are.

“I was speaking to Sam (Finley) last year and he said about the run the lads went on last year, he said that thatcher’s end really sucks the ball into the back of the net and I think that showed today.

“Credit to the fans, they really got behind us after obviously being two nil down, no boos at half time or nothing. The lads obviously repaid the faith that the fans showed and that’s what we want to keep on doing.”