Paul Trollope is urging his Bristol Rovers players to prove they have emerged from their nightmare run of six straight defeats as a stronger team.

And the Pirates boss, pictured, wants his side to follow the example of promotion-chasing rivals Huddersfield in rekindling their play-off push.

With Gillingham next up at the Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Trollope wants to see his men build on the scrambled 3-2 weekend victory over Carlisle that finally ended their losing run.

"One win doesn't mean we are fully back in the groove – but it is a start towards it. There's a lot of hard work still to go," said Trollope.

"We've had a number of setbacks in recent weeks, but it's how you respond to it that's important.

"Huddersfield suffered a similar thing earlier in the season but bounced back well. Now we have to aim to do the same.

"Our league position is decent because we are only two points off the play-offs after 16 games – and following a bad run, we'd have taken that."

Huddersfield also went six games without a win earlier in the season, but currently occupy the final play-off spot and have scored 17 goals while winning their last four games.

Trollope also recalls how Rovers' successful promotion campaign in 2007 started with a run which saw them win only two of their opening 10 league games.

"In our promotion year, our poor run was right at the beginning and sometimes when that happens it forces you to address a lot of issues very quickly," said Trollope.

"If you do it right, then it can turn into a positive and you come out the other side better for it.

"If we can do that and stay in or around the top eight – and hopefully be back in the top six by January – it could make for an interesting season.

"But we have to build on the improvement we showed on Saturday in the next game."

Trollope acknowledges he is still looking for tighter defending after 10 games without a clean sheet, especially at set pieces.

"We were not conceding goals from set pieces earlier in the season, but it is something that has crept into our game," said Trollope.

"The goals we conceded against Carlisle highlighted areas that need improvement because one came from a corner and the other from the second phase of a free kick."

Rovers expect winger Mark Wright to be in contention for the Gillingham game after missing the Carlisle victory through injury, and Trollope was delighted that central defender Danny Coles' knee showed no reaction.

"It was really pleasing," said Trollope. "A couple of weeks ago we were unsure about Danny's involvement over the short-term, but the injection he had worked well, he'd trained well beforehand and I think his inclusion was justified."