Joey Barton welcomed an encouraging end to a "really good week" as Bristol Rovers' got their pre-season campaign underway with a 6-1 win at Melksham Town on Friday.
Different XIs featured in each half at the Oakfield Stadium, giving plenty of players the chance to impress and most took the opportunity. Aaron Collins resumed his scoring form with the opener and a Jerry Lawrence penalty and Harvey Greenslade's ruthless finish followed before half time.
New signing James Gibbons made it four moments after coming on and Ryan Jones and Harvey Saunders got in on the act with neat finishes, leaving Barton satisfied with a good night's work before they jet off to Portugal for a training camp on Sunday.
"(It has been) a really good week," Barton told Bristol Live. " The lads have come back in good order, summered really well. We had a bit of an extended break because we got the autos as opposed to the play-offs and I think that’s really benefitted the lads. It was a long old season, so I’m really pleased with them.
"To come here tonight in the first game, like it was last year when we scrapped a 1-1 draw, as you could see from the result and the performance it was a markedly different group of lads together this season so a good start for us.
"We’ve got a tough week ahead of us now in Portugal and I’m looking forward to the rest of pre-season and hopefully starting the season strong.
"I’m pleased with them. No one’s injured, everyone’s got 45 minutes. We’ve still got a few to come back to it, but I’m really pleased with the work from the boys.
Rovers were without Harry Anderson, Jordan Rossiter and Nick Anderton due to minor injuries picked up in the first week of training. James Belshaw was also absent as he recovers from a knee issue.
"Just a couple of little niggles," Barton said. "Harry Anderson, he’s got a little bit of a dead calf in the 11 vs 11 we had. We had quite a tough day on Thursday and Harry picked up a bit of a dead calf.
"Nick had a bit of swelling on his knee, Jordy had a calf issue and, obviously, we can’t risk them as this stage of the pre-season but a really good workout apart from them.
"Belly had an injection in his knee. It was routine, he was due to have it and he was always going to start a week after the lads. He’s due to return to the grass out in Portugal next week."
