Football Belief has always been there, says Gas left-back Jack

JACK Sparkes admitted he and his Bristol Rovers teammates always believed results would come after the Gas extended their unbeaten run across all competitions to seven matches over the weekend with a 1-1 draw at Colchester United, following a disappointing start to the season.

- Dan HARGRAVES

Rovers lost their first three league matches of the campaign, as well as being beaten 2-0 at home by fellow League Two side Cambridge United in the League Cup. They have since taken 14 points from a possible 18 in the league as well as securing two points from their first EFL Trophy group game, a 4-4 draw against Tottenham Hotspur Under-21s after which they won the subsequent penalty shootout.

Despite not being near their best on Saturday against Colchester, the Gas still managed to take away a point after a lovely opening goal from Fabrizio Cavegn was cancelled out in the second half by Micah Mbick. The point keeps them level on points with the playoff positions, albeit after just nine matches.

Sparkes, who has played every minute of league football since his arrival from Peterborough United in the summer, was asked post-match about what has been behind the turnaround in results.

"I think just hard work, to be honest," the left-back said. "Even when we were, at the start of the season, weren't winning games and losing games, we still had that belief.