Bristol Rovers 'far from safe' despite wins - Evans

Bristol Rovers are "far from safe" in League Two despite recording back-to-back wins for the first time since September, said manager Steve Evans.

The Gas backed up a 3-0 victory against fellow strugglers Newport County 3-0 last weekend with a 2-0 win against Walsall on Tuesday to move seven points clear of the drop zone.

Evans, who was appointed on 16 December, said the mood among fans had become more positive in recent weeks but he urged some restraint.

"My cautionary note to supporters is we're far from safe, we're far from out of the danger zone," Evans told BBC Radio Bristol.

"Until we're mathematically a part of this EFL we cannot take anything for granted."

Rovers host Chesterfield on Saturday having boosted their squad in the past week, bringing in striker Joe Quigley and midfielders Tommy Leigh and Richie Smallwood on transfer deadline day.

Evans described Rovers' transfer window as "really good at both ends of the pitch" despite making bids for another striker and midfielder which were not accepted and pulling out of a deal for a goalkeeper.

"We'll keep measuring and keep monitoring but the first and clear objective is to make sure we get enough points to make sure we're in this league," said Evans.

"Then my challenge I was set by the board when I came in is achieved, and then we can all think about what we're maybe going to do in the summer."

Evans added that striker Promise Omochere is nearing a return from repeated injuries, which has kept him out almost entirely since September.

The 25-year-old has made nine appearances at the start of the season, scoring one goal, but has not featured since the 4-0 loss to Crawley on 25 October.

As such, he has not yet played under Evans, who said Omochere faced competition to regain his starting from the likes of Ellis Harrison, Fabrizio Cavegn and Mees Rijks as well as new signing Joe Quigley.

"If I'm Promise my head suddenly turns 360 degrees when I see Ellis playing the way he's playing, I see Fab as a goalscorer, I see Mees who's improving every session every day, and I see Joe Quigley's car drive into the car park, I think it's game on even to get a shirt here, never mind a starting shirt," Evans said.

"But Promise against my teams for [former club] Fleetwood was very, very good, a top player, most clubs wanted him, Bristol Rovers won the fight to get him, paid good money for him.

"He's back on the grass and training very well. We're going to need a few more sessions like that from Promise but we know what he can deliver so we're excited to be working with him."