By Dan Harrison

Stiliyan Petrov insists Villa will step up a gear over the next few weeks in order to be ready for the Barclays Premier League opener with West Ham.

With two first team friendlies already under their belts, the squad face Walsall on Tuesday before heading out to Portugal for the Guadiana Cup, where they will take on Feyenoord and Benfica.

Eight days before the big kick-off, Martin O'Neill's men will host Valencia of Spain in a final dress rehearsal for the new campaign.

Petrov was happy with the team's performance in Saturday's 2-1 defeat by Bohemians but insists there is plenty more to come from the boys in claret and blue.

"It was a very good game and they played very well," said the skipper. "At the moment it's about us getting our fitness back to the levels that we want.

"We haven't had five or six games to play so we're looking to be fit for the start of the season.

"We're working really hard, we've only been back for two weeks so that is not enough. We need at least five or six weeks and to get the games for the start of the season.

"I've played a couple of times against Irish teams and I know how well organised they are. They always give a good game and I'm not surprised.

"We're obviously playing a team that's already into their season. We know we can do much better.

"Obviously we're disappointed with the result for the fans and we had plenty of chances.

"But when Gabby gets his sharpness - he hasn't really trained because of his back being stiff - he will take those chances.

"We're still working on our fitness, we're training really hard, the legs are a little bit heavy but that's normal. It's important when we start the season to be fit and ready.

"We have a strong squad, no doubt about it and we have great talent - we've showed that in the last couple of seasons.

"We're playing well at the moment, we're working really hard, we're trying to get fit and we're trying to get things right."

All eyes were on Richard Dunne during Saturday's game at Dalymount Park, with the Dublin-born defender returning to his home city.

The Republic of Ireland star always felt Bohs would provide Villa with a stern test.

Pat Fenlon's team came into the game at the peak of their powers, with four months of football already under their belt in the League of Ireland.

Dunne felt there was plenty Villa could take from their performance.

"I don't think we were surprised," he said. "We knew they regularly play European football so we knew it would be difficult.

"At this stage of the season, it's always a tough game wherever you are because we're not as fit and sharp as Bohs at the moment. They played really well and deserved to win.

"But for us it's about each game and just getting a little bit of something out of it. It's all about getting fitness."