TOMMIE Hoban says Blackburn Rovers’ team spirit has come to the fore to maintain their unbeaten start under head coach Tony Mowbray.

Rovers have fallen behind in each of their last four games but are without defeat in Mowbray’s seven games in charge.

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They rescued draws with late goals against Cardiff and Fulham, but were forced to settle for a point against Preston on Saturday after conceding in the 95th minute.

But the Watford loanee believes spirit remains high in the camp and he is confident that Rovers will avoid the drop.

“We really feel that the team is better than where we are and with the individuals in the team we shouldn’t be where we are in the table,” he said.

“We’re on a good run, unbeaten in seven, and that mentality of not losing is important.

“We’ve not been making it easy for ourselves – but we have played against some good sides with good players.

“Even though we’ve been behind, we’ve shown great team spirit and still have that belief that we weren’t going to get beat.

“That shows the character within the team and that can only be a positive thing, but it would be nice to get control of a game.

“If we can keep that going then we will stay up for sure.

“I’m very confident we will be the right side of the line come the end of the season.”

Hoban joined Rovers in August and played 10 consecutive Championship games before suffering a dislocated shoulder in October which required surgery.

He returned to his parent club to undergo his rehabilitation but returned to Rovers in February to step up his injury return.

After one 90 minute outing for Rovers Under-23s he was back in the squad for home games with Wigan and Cardiff, before starting the back-to-back 2-2 draws against Norwich and Fulham due to Charlie Mulgrew’s injury.

But having undergone two year-long absences in recent seasons, Hoban admits he was hoping for a change of fortune when he made the move to Ewood Park.

“It was really frustrating – I’d spent pretty much the whole of last season injured so I was hoping to get a good season of football under my belt this year,” he added.

“It was going well, I started 10 games and then just as I was getting going I dislocated my shoulder and the ligaments were badly damaged.

“It took as long as they said it would but it was still frustrating and I’m happy to be back, be involved, get in the squad and then play those two matches.

“Hopefully now I can kick on and the team can keep themselves up which I’m sure they will do.”

Mowbray marks a month in charge of Rovers today having replaced Owen Coyle who brought Hoban to the club on a season-long loan.

And the 23-year-old added: “He’s been great – he’s got us organised and tried to get his message across early.

“That was important, given the position we are in it needed to happen.

“I think the results speak for themselves, we’re still undefeated since he’s been here and I think he has got us organised, there’s a good structure to us in and out of possession and we have our ways of playing.

“Results have been good, unfortunately it didn’t work out under the last manager, but sometimes it can just take a new face and new ideas. Everyone pulls together and it’s worked so far and hopefully we can keep it going until the end of the season.”