IT has been a frustrating start to the season for strikers Ashley Barnes and Bradley Wright-Phillips for very different reasons.

Wright-Phillips suffered a knee injury in pre-season, which ruled him out for the opening month of the campaign.

Barnes, on the other hand, endured a tough pre-season, with a lack of goals clearly affecting his confidence. Tuesday's hat-trick in the 9-1 reserve team demolition of Bournemouth could ,hopefully, go some way to solving that problem.

"Ashley's had one of those hot and cold starts to the season," said manager Paul Sturrock.

"Goals have been a problem to him and he loses confidence because he does live off goals.

"The three [goals against Bournemouth] will benefit him. He is looking far brighter in training, so he comes into contention [for Sunday's clash with Nottingham Forest].

"Bradley's been out injured and he had his first 90 minutes of the season [in the reserves].

"He was flagging in the last 15 minutes but he is going in the right direction. We have to keep pushing him in training and, when he gets his opportunity, he has got to grab it.

"It was a very good performance [at Bournemouth]. You have to take into consideration the opposition but the players' attitude to the 90 minutes was excellent. Everyone came out with a decent performance."