Aynsley Pears reckons Rovers can take confidence from their recent performances – but knows there is still work to do as they aim to pull away from the bottom three.

The goalkeeper kept a clean sheet against Southampton at the weekend as the John Eustace’s side secured what could prove to be a precious point against opposition in the promotion hunt.

“I think it was a great performance, to be honest. That is probably three or four good ones in a row, and a draw against a good side like Southampton is a very promising result,” Pears reflected.

“There would have been a lot of people who wouldn’t have given us a chance of getting a point.

“The league is the league, we all know what it is and are going into every game trying to get maximum points.

“I think we can do that, (Saturday) is evidence and the last couple of games. There are five big games to go and we will give everything we can. It is starting to turn a little bit, which is really positive.”

The Southampton stalemate was Rovers’ second clean sheet in their last four matches, and Pears is eager to keep things tight at the back heading into the final fixtures.

“I think that is what (Eustace) came to do, tighten things up, because we were a bit expansive previously,” he continued.

“He has certainly done that and we feel really good on the pitch. That is really positive and hopefully it can continue.

“Obviously, I have a good view of it and I thought everyone was on it. There wasn’t a bad performance, we all know how high the stakes are and everyone is stepping up.

Lancashire Telegraph: Pears kept a clean sheet against Southampton at the weekendPears kept a clean sheet against Southampton at the weekend (Image: Camerasport)

“It has been chock-a-block and the lads have bought into what he has said, especially in the international break when he actually had a week to work with us.

“Before that, it was Saturday, Tuesday and recovery days. Once he has been able to give us sessions on tactics and how he wants us to play, the lads have bought into it and it has clearly worked.

“The evidence is there that we are much more solid. I feel that in goal and the lads feel it, it is good to play in.”

But there is no time for the Rovers squad to rest on their laurels, with a trip to Bristol City coming up on Wednesday night before travelling across the Pennines to face Leeds at the weekend.

“We have got a big game on Wednesday, that is certainly a game where we can go and get three points,” Pears stated.

“Then we go to Elland Road, which will be tough but if we perform like we did (against Southampton), I think we can get something against anyone.”

The 25-year-old added: “We all know how big it is, we have all probably lost sleep some nights.

“It is your life, your livelihood, people at the club’s jobs, people you care about. It means so much to us and that is why we are doing everything we can to get out of this and go again next year.”

Things are typically tight in the Championship table, with just five points separating 15th-place Swansea and 23rd-place Sheffield Wednesday heading into the final weeks of the campaign.

Pears admits it is human nature to check results elsewhere once the players get back to the dressing room, but the goalkeeper insists Rovers must remain focused on their own performances and what they can control.

“We came off the pitch knowing that was a really good point, an important point,” he said.

“You kind of have a look and see what the table looks like, but we did our job and could have easily nicked it. It was a good day for us regardless of what happened around us.

“You can easily get beat against Southampton, you look at that fixture and it is a tough one. The gap might be a little bit smaller but there is one less game to play.

“We are doing the right things. We have more games coming up and we need to get some more points, I am sure we will.”