Lennie Lawrence says Rovers can have "no excuses" over the current state of the Memorial Stadium pitch.

The playing surface has been significantly revamped over the summer, with new drains installed and a long process undertaken to flatten and improve the grass in all areas of the pitch.

Lennie watched Rovers in action against Den Haag last weekend, and he says it's the best pitch he's seen at the club since he arrived at the Memorial Stadium three years ago.

"I've been here for three years, and it's by far and away the best it's been since I've been here, without a shadow of a doubt," Lennie told bristolrovers.co.uk.

"They've brought in machines to make it flatter, which it is, and as we stand now we can have absolutely no excuses for not passing well and not playing well.

"The players were positive after Saturday's game against Den Haag, I haven't heard any negatives from anyone.

"After what we had to play on at the end of last season, it's bound to be an improvement, and this is a significant one.

"Credit to the board, because something needed to be done about the pitch, it needed money being spent on it, and they've done it."

Picture: The Memorial Stadium pitch on Wednesday 6th August, three days ahead of the opening game of the 2008/09 season.