Jordan Rossiter believes Bristol Rovers are a match for anyone in League One, and they are starting to realise their potential after "home truths" were aired following a seven-game winless run.
The 25-year-old has been in excellent form in the heart of Joey Barton's midfield, with his tenacity making the Gas a much more difficult team to break down since he returned to the team at the start of the month for the draw at Exeter City after being sidelined by a combination of injury and suspension.
After losing to Accrington Stanley at the Mem on September 24, Rossiter revealed the players held an informal meeting together and got a few things off their chest. Since then, Rovers' fortunes have been transformed, going unbeaten in seven games and they went toe-to-toe with League One leaders Plymouth Argyle on Saturday, drawing 2-2 at the Mem.
What had looked like a daunting week with games against Plymouth, Sheffield Wednesday and Derby County is now an exciting one, with confidence high ahead of Wednesday's trip to Hillsborough. Rossiter says the Gas have no fear of anyone in the third tier.
"I think we’re a match for anyone in the league," the former Liverpool and Rangers midfielder said. "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.
"We had five wins on the bounce and drew on Saturday and we’re going to two teams that are meant to be at the top of the division. 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.
"We weren’t on a great run at the time, we weren’t doing ourselves justice and we weren’t showing how good a team we were. Since the Exeter game, we’ve all been superb.
"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."
Saturday's game was a meeting between two South West clubs, but there was a distinctly Liverpudlian flavour to the game, both on the pitch and in the dugouts.
Barton, like Argyle management duo Steven Schumacher and Mark Hughes, came through the setup at Everton and there were plenty of players linked to Merseyside's big clubs, adding spice to the contest and it culminated in a thrilling game, with the Gas coming from two goals down to draw 2-2 at the Mem.
"There were a lot of familiar faces and the way we scousers are, we always want to win and it’s a bit heated, but we’ll always shake hands at the end of the game," Rossiter said.
"We’ve got a top scouse manager ourselves and they’ve got one too. They went head to head in the way we played. We’ll always shake hands at the end of the game but we always want to beat them.
"We probably never imposed ourselves enough early on. They were quite physical and we didn’t really match it.
"There wasn’t much in the game in terms of the play, but they were throwing a few tackles in and we never really stamped our authority until the second half started. It was a great game and it will be a great game on Wednesday."
Rossiter was Rovers' first signing of the summer, joining from Fleetwood Town for a six-figure fee, and recent performances indicate that was a wise investment from the Gas. He can play as a six or an eight in midfield, bringing security and enabling Rovers' playmakers to thrive.
Barton is enjoying having his former Rangers teammate around him again, and Rossiter is enjoying life in BS7.
"I’m absolutely loving it," he said. "A 10,000 sell-out and the fans were absolutely superb. I probably had a slow start to my Rovers career, I was nowhere near playing my best football but I feel like I’ve had that run in the team now and I’m starting to show the lads, the manager and the fans what I can do.
"Last year, I was keeping in touch with the lads. Sam (Finley) said and it showed, that Thatchers end sucks the ball into the net sometimes. Credit to them, they really got behind us after going 2-0 down. There were no boos at half time and the lads repaid them for their faith and that’s all we want to keep doing.
"It’s been a really good few months so far and hopefully, it continues."
Rossiter almost scored his first goal in the blue and white quarters on Saturday, but his close-range effort was cleared off the line by Adam Randell. Nonetheless, it was another strong performance from the midfielder, although he is happy to go under the radar with Rovers' attackers shining.
"If I’m starting every week then I am doing a job for the team and the fans and the club, that’s all that matters to me," he said. "I’d rather the likes of Lofty, Aaron Collins and Josh Coburn getting the headlines because they’re the ones putting the ball in the back of the net, which I didn’t do on Saturday.
"Lofty is absolutely unplayable at the minute and if I’m a centre-half coming up against him, you know you’re going to be in for a tough night.
"He’s a fantastic fella off the pitch and the lads love him in. It’s a great dressing room and that rubs off, it’s always good to see someone doing well so it’s good for the team."
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