WHEN you are in for a real battle, it's people like Jon Worthington you want on your side.

The 20-year-old covered more ground than anyone else in Tuesday's 1-1 draw at Bristol Rovers and the Town point came largely courtesy of his driving inspiration.

While Peter Jackson's team were having a decidedly below-par night, Worthington refused to give in despite a deal of pressure - and the Rovers players must have been sick of the sight of him in all areas of the pitch by the final whistle.

"It was a difficult game because they were off the back of a 3-0 defeat and they really worked hard," he explained.

"We didn't play at all well, but we ground out a result and that was the important thing.

"I don't think any of us were pleased with our first-half performances, because we needed to get a foot in a bit more and work a bit harder.

"In the second half, I just worked as hard as I could, the whole team kept battling away and, in the end, we got a point.

"Had you offered us four points from the two matches last Friday then we would probably have taken it - so we've got to be happy.

"It was just a bit disappointing to go to Bristol off the back of a win at Torquay and not take another three points."

When the late chance fell to Pawel Abbott, Worthington was confident the Preston loan man would score.

"I had seen Pav hitting some volleys in training the other day and he was superb, so when the ball bounced up I just thought `hit it like you did in training.'

"That's exactly what he did and we're all delighted he has got off the mark.

"Hopefully he can get a few more for us because, while other people will chip in and score goals, we need someone doing it consistently."

Abbott's goal carried Town level with fifth-placed Yeovil on 53 points.

That's two clear of today's visitors Lincoln City and only six adrift of the top three automatic promotion places.

Worthington is happy with Town's progress - apart from the home defeat by Darlington - and added:

"The lads are very confident we can stay high up in the table.

"We need to win big games against the teams who are around us, like Lincoln, but we know we are capable of that."