Stevenage boss Alex Revell has hailed Boro goalscorer Chris Lines on his successful return to Bristol Rovers.

The 35-year-old midfielder grabbed the visitors first in a 2-0 win at the Memorial Ground on Saturday.

The result made it a perfect opening week to the new season for Revell and his side with three triumphs in seven days.

Speaking to Nub News after the match, Revell hailed Lines and his team, saying: "It was an incredible result and a great goal from Chris, he deserves it. He was a key part of us last year.

"It was really important to keep him after last season.

"We asked him to push slightly higher because he started as a No4 and went to a No10 which showed how good he is in that position for us - which is great.

"To have that kind of rotation against teams that might not expect him to play in certain areas is really great.

"I'm delighted for him, to come back and do well at somewhere where he had such good times and success."

Lines signed a six month contract at the Lamex back in January, but excellent performances during the back end of the 2020-21 campaign earned him a new deal this summer.

Lines spent 11 years with Rovers over two spells and such is the esteem he is still held in, home fans applauded his late goal after he declined to celebrate.

Bristol-born Lines helped Rovers achieve two successive promotions, first from the Conference, then from League Two, and is still regarded as a hero in the West Country.

"He could have been nervous on his return, but he took it in his stride," said Revell, praising the experienced midfielder, adding: "It was a big day for Chris, he's a fantastic character around our club.

"I'm really happy for him, in front of his whole family here at Bristol. His daughter was mascot and it was just great to see.

"It's been a good week all round for our club, we now go to Bradford midweek - we'll just keep working hard and see where it gets us."