Summer signing Darryl Duffy admits that he's found pre season training a little bit tougher than usual, though he had a good reason!

"I'm not a fan of pre season at the best of times," Darryl told bristolrovers.co.uk " and this summer I got married then went on my honeymoon and came straight back into pre season training, so I have to admit it best preparation and I didn't come back in as good a shape as I would normally.

"Consequently it's been a little bit tough, and I've experienced some stiffness, although I didn't feel as bad as I thought I would on the morning after the game against Weymouth."

He's also had to get used to some new training ideas.

"It takes a while to adapt to the training sessions here, as there is a great deal of emphasis on core and balance work, which I've never done before. If you haven't been used to that type of training on a regular basis, it makes your groins, hamstrings and stomach ache. As we undertake that type opf training quite regularly here, I'm aching in places I don't usually ache in! It will take a little while to get used to, but as soon as I get into the rhthym of it I should be fine."

Although Wednesday's game against Weymouth was only a freindly, Darryl was pleased to get off the mark in his first game for the club. The striker, signed from Swansea this summer, hit the target just three minutes before the break in Wednesday's game against the Terras at the Wessex Stadium and immediately struck up a good partnership with Rickie Lambert.

"It was just the first frriendly, and although results in these games aren't that important, it's always nice to get on the scoresheet. It was my first game in a while and, to be honest, it was the first game I'd started since I played at the Memorial Stadium, for Swansea, in March so I was alittle bit rusty.

"I think the partnership between Rickie and myself looked quite promising and that's a good sign, especially as it was the first time we'd played together, and hopefully it will go from strength to strength.

"He's a player who can see a pass and, not only that, he can play it as well. In fact, after he put me through for my goal, I asked him if he could make sure the pass was a little bit more perfect next time! He seems to have that in his locker and that's a bonus for anyone who plays alongside him."

The second pre season game takes place on Saturday, against Torquay at Plainmoor, and he's hoping to get a little bit longer on the pitch this time, as there was only 45 minutes for everyone at Weymouth.

"To be honest, I felt I could have played for a little bit longer than I did on Wednesday, as I felt quite good at half time. The problem is, that when you when you stop running, your body cools down and you start to feel the stiffness coming on.

"The games are coming thick and fast now though, and it will enable te regain our match fitnes and sharpness haviong already obtained our base fitness from the running we've done.

"We continue the build up to playing ninety minutes next week, when we play three games whilst on tour. That will give us new boys time to gel with the lads who have been here a while, and it wil be good to bring everyone that bit closer in the changing room, while the more games you play also helps bring you closer and helps you get a better understanding on the pitch which is why I think these trips abroad are really important during pre season."