Steve Elliott was pleased to see Rovers return from Vale Park with a point yesterday afternoon.

The defender carried on his form from last season with an impressive display in the Pirates back line, keeping Port Vale at bay for the majority of the 90 minutes.

The only breakthrough for the Valiants came about after a controversial penalty decision, and Steve says that on the whole the players can be pleased with the outcome on the day.

"Overall looking at the bigger picture we're pleased to go away from home in the first game of the season, to a new standard, and to take a point," Steve told bristolrovers.co.uk.

"We were a bit disappointed to concede the penalty because I thought we were with it defensively over the whole game. One of their lads had a shot which came off my thigh, and Steve (Phillips) made the decision to come out for it, which is his decision to make.

"I thought their lad went down fairly easily to be honest, but Steve gave the referee the option to give the penalty or not and he decided to give it.

"We had to live with that and get on with it, and we showed the character that was with us last season. With 20 minutes left in the heat and with things going against us, we were resilient enough to come back and not to be beaten.

"We knew we'd conceded too many goals in pre-season, but we weren't overly concerned with that. We knew the intensity would be there in the league, and we showed the same intensity and resilience as we did last season. Hopefully we can now carry that on into the next few games."

The belated arrival of the British summer meant yesterday's game was played in hot conditions, something Steve admits was difficult.

"Yes, it was extremely difficult, and to be honest with the summer we've had in this country, we thought we might get away with it," he said, "But it came out for us yesterday, although hopefully we won't have to play too many more in temperatures like that.

"Trolls and Lennie gave us advice and guided us through what we needed to do before and during the game, and I thought we showed great energy right until the end. Some of the lads were running up and down the pitch in the last minute as if it was the first minute.

"I think that's a good sign for us, and as a squad overall I think we're in better nick at the start of this season than we were at the start of last season."

After Luke Rodgers put Port Vale a goal ahead from the penalty spot, it needed super substitute Andy Williams to grab a late equaliser.

"It was a fantastic moment for Andy to get on and to score like that," said Steve, "He knows he's got to force his way into the side with Richard and Rickie playing so well, but I'm sure he's done his chances no harm at all with that goal.

"I'm pleased for him as that goal will endear him to the fans quickly, and it will help him settle in a lot easier."