HOMEWORK done, Lewis Ward is ready to face Swindon Town tonight.

Ward was Rovers' standout performer in his side's abject defeat against basement-boys Notts County, but the on-loan Reading keeper is ready to set the record straight against the Robins.

Ward said: “We have done our homework on them and we know how to counter them and we have got our tactics.

“We know they are a different team to when we played them in August, it’s a long time ago.

“Our squad has improved, we like how we play and we’re just looking forward to putting our tactics into the game.”

Ward was delighted to make his full league debut on Saturday after his cameo role off the bench against Mansfield Town.

He added: “Personally, for me, to make my full League debut; it’s what everyone works towards when they are a young player coming through, whether it’s Saturday league or academy football, it’s what you aspire to do.

“To play in the Football League was an aim this season and I can say I have ticked that box.”

Ward feels he's hit the ground running as he forms an understanding with his defence.

“It’s different for outfield players because you have got to know where a player is going to run and their different strengths.

“For a goalkeeper, the defence have got to trust you behind them and being able to keep the ball out of the net.

“I feel in the few weeks we have had together, I have been able to show that to the players.”

And Ward expects a response tonight as Rovers aim to get their automatic promotion hopes back on track.

“I think there has got to be a response. For where the club wants to go and where we want to go as players and staff, we have got our goals and aims for the season.

“There has to be a response. We can’t let this affect us. We have got to fund the positives from Saturday and use the negatives as well and use that moving forward into the next game.”

With just Bury and Colchester of the leading teams winning at the weekend, there wasn’t a lot of damage done to Rovers' promotion aspirations.

Ward added: “We can’t let other teams dictate to us. We have got to make sure that our goals and performances are on it. If we had won on Saturday, we could have taken our chance but other teams have faltered and we have faltered and we feel we could have done better.

“We feel that we have got enough in the changing room to push on and then see where we are come the end of the season."