Bristol Rovers 2 Peterborough United 2 - Everyone's Happy

Both managers were upbeat after this draw, although arguably they both saw their teams drop two valuable points. However, you could understand why they preferred to remain optimistic.

Rovers worked their socks off in the first half in particular and every man-jack of them chased and harried their promotion chasing guests. Player-boss Stuart Campbell has had an incredible effect on his team and they have now lost only one game in four since he took over from Dave Penney as Rovers battle to beat the drop.

My clipping from this morning's paper

There is no disputing the fact that Campbell has galvanised this squad as manager - and whether his appointment came too late probably won't be known until the last kick of the season - but for me it was his presence as a midfielder that was really missing.

Campbell refused to get carried away with his impressive - if short-lived - managerial credentials, but did agree that an injury which had kept him out for numerous games, hadn't helped.

The Rovers players are backing Campbell to a man. Not merely in utterings to the local media, but more importantly in their attitude, and application, on the pitch.

An audacious bid from Champions-elect Brighton was made for hotshot striker Will Hoskins on the deadline day, but didn't go through.

The word from within the camp is that it was a close run thing with the board tempted by the Seagulls offer reputed to be in the region of £1 million. It's a figure not to be sniffed at by a club in Rovers' financial position, but it would have sent out all of the wrong signals at this stage of the season. I suspect all of the good work Campbell has done I a few short weeks would have been undone overnight.

There will be time at the end of the season for Hoskins to make a big money move and - given his heroics this season - few Gasheads will begrudge him the opportunity. For now though he is their talisman and their skipper.

Darren Ferguson was just as happy with the point after seeing his side reduced to ten men in first half injury time.

Defender Mark Little was harshly booked for a touchline challenge on winger Jeff Hughes just aft the board showing four extra minutes was shown, but then stupidly dumped Campbell on his backside in the last action of the half.

I suspect Campbell felt the former Wolves man's presence and was hoping for the eventual outcome!

Unfortunately Rovers came out in the second half believing they had an advantage and although they still worked hard, they weren't in the Posh players' faces in the same way they had been I the first half. Had the impressive George Boyd or one of his attacking colleagues been set off, then Rovers might have gone on to win the game easily. As it is, Peterborough's great strength this season has been the way they go forward - an incredible 88 league goals is testament to that.

Ferguson was delighted with the effort shown by his ten men and was correct in his belief that if Craig Mackail-Smith had netted his 28th goal of the season I the dying minister, the points would have been theirs.

Then again, if keeper Joe Lewis hadn't superbly blocked Jo Kuffour's late chance they might have gone home with nothing.

This was a really great game to watch and while it was hours even, Rovers played like a side that showed they really are better than their league position suggests.

Next weekend's game at Yeovil is now crucial to their hopes of survival, but on this performance I wouldn't back against them.