Promise Omochere was delighted to score a late equaliser in Bristol Rovers’ 1-1 draw with Wrexham in Sky Bet League One.
The striker came off the bench at half-time and made an important impact five minutes before the end, getting onto Luke Thomas’ cross and directing his downward header beyond Mark Howard.
His goal cancelled out Eliott Lee’s strike in the first half, ensuring Rovers left The Memorial Stadium for the final time in 2024 with a point.
Omochere stated that the team needed to react after a difficult few weeks and insisted everyone was together to get a good result against the Red Dragons.
“Coming into it, obviously, we knew as a team that we needed a good reaction and a good performance today to give the fans something to cheer about,” he said. “It’s been a difficult week, obviously, and we knew that, so credit to the lads, credit to the staff, for all of us getting around each other and coming out with a good result.
“We were in the game, and we knew that with ten minutes to go, if we’re still only 1-0 down, that we would get a chance, and we could get back in the game because I think we fought really well today.
"It was evident, the togetherness that we had throughout the game. We knew we needed a big performance and a good reaction to the week we had. I think that we did."
Omochere had missed four of the last five games before coming off the bench against Birmigham City after suffering with an injury he collected against Reading, with the forward a mainstay in the team before that point.
The forward netted his third goal of the season against Wrexham, with the striker discussing his injury disappointments over the last few weeks.
“It’s been a long-awaited feeling that I haven’t had for a while,” said Omochere. “It was brilliant from Luke Thomas to stand it up at the back post, and gladly, I was able to be in the right place and the right time to put it in.
“It’s been a frustrating six weeks, picking up an ankle injury, probably came back a little too soon and it was evident out there that I probably wasn’t quite right.
“Unfortunately, as I was coming back, I broke a carpel in my hand at the same time. It was a frustrating period, but luckily and hopefully, that’s all behind me now. I can kick on and play as many games as I can until the end of the season.”
Rovers struggled to get a foothold in the game in the first half, with David Horseman making changes that altered the contest and turned the fixture in the Pirates’ favour.
Omochere stated the importance of the squad depth and praised Thomas for his assist after the winger had a spell out of the side.
“We do have a really, really good squad,” said the striker. “The results haven’t gone our way, but we do know the quality that we do have in the squad. I thought Luke Thomas was brilliant when he came on and throughout the game.
“He hasn’t really been playing as of late, so it shows the quality that we do have in and around the squad.”
There was over 9,000 fans at The Memorial Stadium, with the home fans pushing the team on in the final stages as the game drew to a close.
Omochere was impressed with the support and wants the fans to keep it going for the next few matches.
“I think the fans were really good today,” he said. “Probably the best I’ve heard them since I’ve come in. We do really need the fans in this difficult period, and they came out in their numbers today.
“You can hear them, especially when the equaliser went in and throughout the game. Coming up in the next few games, it is really important that they get behind us, and we on the pitch have to give them something to cheer and roar about.”
