Striker Lee Barnard helped Southend United muscle their way through to the second round of the Carling Cup last night - thanks to his new fitness regime.

The Blues forward scored two headers in his team's 2-1 triumph at Cheltenham Town.

And Barnard insisted his flying start to the season had been down to his hard work in the gym.

"I've been doing more and more work in the gym to try and end my injury woes and when the lads have been going home I have been doing weights," Barnard told Blues Player.

"I feel fit and sharp and that obviously makes a difference to me.

"I've got three goals in two games now which is my best ever start to a season but I want to kick on from here.

"I'm not going to sit back and relax because I want more goals and I will work hard to get them too."

Barnard's brace came after Elvis Hammond had given Cheltenham the lead on the stroke of half-time at Whaddon Road But the striker was always confident of getting back into the game.

"We were playing well, especially in the first half and thought we could do it," he insisted.

"It's great to have won against a good Cheltenham team and it would be nice to get a good run in the competition this year."