By Mark Mitchener

I think the fans appreciate whether I've come from Bristol City or Leeds or anywhere, it would have made no difference Steve Phillips

Goalkeeper Steve Phillips hopes Bristol Rovers can continue their superb run of form, despite their heavy cup schedule.

Rovers have made it through to the southern semi-finals of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy, and now face a replay for a place in the FA Cup third round.

"The cups are nice to play in, but the league is our bread and butter," Phillips, 28, told BBC Sport.

"We've put a fantastic run together - I'm in good form and the team are in good form, so long may it continue."

Bath-born Phillips crossed the Bristol divide from City to Rovers during the summer.

Despite making more than 250 appearances in nine years at Ashton Gate, including a three-year spell between 2002 and 2005 where he was ever-present in the League, Phillips found himself surplus to requirements last season after new boss Gary Johnson brought in Brazilian stopper Adriano Basso.

His new club have not finished above 12th in the table since dropping into the basement division in 2001.

But this season, the management team of first-team coach Paul Trollope and director of football Lennie Lawrence have guided Rovers to the verge of the League Two play-offs.

"We didn't have the best of starts, like getting beat 4-1 at Peterborough on the opening day, and I wondered to myself then whether I'd made the right decision," Phillips admitted.

"Three months ago, we couldn't probably see past the next game as we were struggling a little bit, but all credit to everybody at the club as we've pulled together and put a fantastic run together.

I think we're slowly bringing the fans back Steve Phillips

"Now, I look forward to getting out on the pitch for every game."

Nine clean sheets this season - including five in his last seven games - from 22 appearances has also helped Phillips win over some of the fans at the Memorial Stadium.

"I think I have a good rapport with the fans - I think they appreciate whether I've come from Bristol City or Leeds or anywhere, it would have made no difference," he said.

"I have to play well, and I think I've done that.

"I also think I've joined a club where the manager and director of football are fantastic - maybe that wasn't the case where I came from.

"It's been the first move of my career, and I've had to meet a lot of new people and adapt to a new football club which is run in a different way, but hopefully I've started well."

"I'm the sort of bloke that gets on with most people and there are a good bunch of people around Bristol Rovers, which I was told before I signed. I'm enjoying every minute at the moment."

Saturday's 1-1 draw with Bournemouth in the FA Cup second round halted a run of six straight wins across three competitions for Trollope's men.

It has earned Rovers a replay at Dean Court next week, giving them eight games in December - while victory over the Cherries will see them still competing in three competitions come January.

But Phillips is not afraid of a fixture backlog from their cup exploits.

Phillips has been impressed by the Trollope-Lawrence combination

"I don't think the lads will complain about playing Saturday-Tuesday each week," he said.

"I think the way that Trolls prepares people for the season and the work he does during the season puts us in good stead.

"We've now got to go to Lincoln on Tuesday and try to beat them. They're a good side at home, but hopefully we can continue the run.

"I don't think the manager needs to say a lot to us at the moment - he just needs to keep us focused and keep our feet on the ground, as the lads are buzzing."

With a season-high crowd of 6,252 at the Memorial Stadium for the FA Cup tie - boosted by 948 travelling Bournemouth fans - Phillips also hopes their improvement in results can be matched by improved attendances.

"The crowds are slowly getting bigger, and so it should be after six wins on the spin," he added.