Paul Trollope admits the decision to switch Byron Anthony from central defence to the right-back berth was something that was forced on Bristol Rovers.

But the Welshman has taken to the job like a duck to water – so much so that he heads into tomorrow's clash with Tranmere Rovers having effectively established himself as first choice.

Manager Trollope is full of praise for the way the former Cardiff City player has proved his versatility by turning in some impressive performances in the last three games – all of them victories.

Anthony was first asked to play at right-back in the 3-2 victory against Colchester late last month and has kept his place as six more points were banked against Stockport and Swindon.

"We had a crisis in the full-back department and our hand was forced initially. But sometimes when players are used in a different position, they grasp it quickly and look very comfortable there," said Trollope.

"Byron has brought some different attributes in terms of his height and his defensive abilities, but I think we've been pleasantly surprised by some of his attacking play – especially at home.

"He has shot forward a few times and crossed it well, passed the ball well most times and has been forging a good link down the right-hand side with Dominic Blizzard, pictured above.

"We've been pleased with him. He started the season very well over the first dozen games, then when the team dipped a bit he did, too. But he has come back strongly and made real progress.

"As a defender who can play at either centre-back or right-back, I think he still has his best years ahead of him because he's still a young player.

"He has a very good mentality and he has helped to give us a solidity – I think the clean sheets in the last couple of games prove that."

This might be Anthony's first run in the Rovers side as a full-back, but it would be wrong to label him a novice in the position.

"I made my debut at right-back when I was at Cardiff and played there quite regularly with Wales Under-21s, so it's a position I am familiar with," he said.

"It's difficult when you are a centre-half because you can't often go galavanting forward, but as a full-back you have a bit more licence to get forward and that's a part of playing there that I enjoy.

"I'm primarily there as a defender, but if I can get forward then I will do."

With on-loan Wolves defender Daniel Jones impressing on the left – and Steve Elliott and Danny Coles in resilient form at the heart of the back-line – Rovers have shown the sort of committed defending in recent games that wasn't always evident when they went through a fairly bleak mid-season spell.

"It's always difficult when you have players coming in and out, but now we seem to have a settled back four and if we can carry that on, it will be great," said Anthony.

"We've done all right. Our points total is beginning to creep up, we are full of confidence and we are looking upwards rather than downwards at the moment.

"Hopefully, we can keep things going and get another good result against Tranmere.

"We've done well against the top teams recently. Now we have to prove we can do it against the sides from further down the table.

"Tranmere are down towards the bottom and will be scrapping for their lives, but we know what we have got to do and we can take some positives from the previous games.

"Our home form has been decent. Hopefully, we rectified our away form with the big win at Swindon last weekend and now we can carry on doing well on the road as well."