With twelve goals to his name last season, it wasn't exactly a surprise to see Richard Butcher open his account for the new campaign yesterday afternoon.

Notts tasted defeat on the opening day with a 2-1 defeat at Bradford City, but displayed a number of promising signs which indicate Ian McParland's men will enjoy a far better campaign this time around.

And for Butcher, he just hopes he can register more goals to win games after netting just one matchwinner from his twelve last term - against Wycombe in the penultimate game of the season.

"It is pleasing to get off the mark so early on in the season, but again like last season on a lot of occasions it didn't count for a lot in the end," said Butcher after yesterday's game.

"I thought we did enough in the game to get something in the end. When I scored I looked at the clock and saw we had plenty of time to get another and we were confident we could get that equaliser.

"We gave a good account of ourselves and showed how we want to go about things this season, which was important.

"We felt we were robbed late on as well, because we should have had a penalty."

With as many as six players making their debuts yesterday McParland's men may take a few games to find their feet and realise their full potential.

But Butcher feels while that comment is true, it cannot be used as an excuse.

He said: "Being a new team we will take time to realise our potential that is true, but we can't use that as an excuse.

"We will be striving to get those first points on the board against Darlington next Saturday.

"We don't want to say 'we need time', because we haven't got time.

"We want to kick on now and be at the right end this year."

The attentions now quickly turn away from the League Two campaign for a few days as Championship newboys Doncaster Rovers head to Meadow Lane on Tuesday in Round 1 of the Carling Cup.

Rovers bagged a memorable opening day victory at Derby County yesterday, and Butcher is relishing the opportunity to face Championship opposition.

"We were punished for some poor goals at Bradford, but we have to take the positives out of it and move on to Tuesday against Doncaster," he said.

"It is a game to look forward to as well. It will be a big test and a tough game for us, but bring it on."

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