ROVERS maintained their promotion push with a creditable draw against high-flying Plymouth Argyle in an absorbing game at the Memorial Stadium on Saturday.

The first half was a cagey affair, with little quarter given, but the Gas more than matched the Pilgrims, who went into the contest as the league leaders.

Argyle may have had the better of the chances but some heroic defending kept the scoreline goalless going into the break.

Darrell Clarke made an early change in the second half, opting to switch from a 3-5-2 formation to a more expansive 4-4-2.

The move opened the game up and fans were gripped by the end to end action, with both sides desperate to find a breakthrough.

Rovers finally got their noses in front as Bodin headed in a cross by Easter in the 79th minute to send the majority of a 10,000-plus crowd into delirium and scent three valuable points.

The visitors were not to be defeated, however, as they piled on the pressure and gained their reward with an equaliser just two minutes from time.

Their goal came as a blow as we were so close to victory, but you couldn’t begrudge Plymouth a point as a draw was a fair result.

It was a compelling game between two closely matched sides that was a great advert for League Two.

There were few chances created in the game, as Taylor and Gaffney struggled to get much change out of the well organised Argyle rearguard.

Instead the defenders shone and Parkes and Lockyer in particular produced outstanding performances, superbly repelling any attacks and blocking shots.

Having won at Oxford the previous week and secured two draws now with Plymouth, it is clear that the Pirates are deservedly among the promotion-chasing pack and can live with the best in the league.

We have some tough-looking games coming up over the next month against sides in the top seven, but Rovers have proved they are capable of matching and defeating these sides.

The next challenge will be to come away from Accrington Stanley on Saturday with at least a point.