MANAGER Lawrie Sanchez sends his team out to face Bristol City on Saturday telling season ticket holders: "If anyone hasn't had value for money this season I'll give them their money back."

But he doesn't expect any takers because Wanderers have lost just once at home all season, rattling in 28 goals in the process.

And they will be going for another three point maximum against Danny Wilson's high-flying Robins side on Saturday.

Sanchez said: "If anyone takes me up on my offer then they don't know anything about football. Our home record has been fantastic. We've only lost one and we've played some really good stuff. It is just away from home where our results have been a bit disappointing."

The boss spoke out as he celebrated his third anniversary in charge of the Blues on Tuesday and he wants to party with three points on Saturday.

He said: "We've got to win 11 of our last 17 games if we want to do it this season. We are hanging onto the coat-tails of the other teams."

Sanchez welcomes Steve Brown back into his squad, following his one-game suspension, and also has Mark Rogers back from international duty to bolster the defence.

Sanchez is now deciding whether to partner Rogers with utility man Keith Ryan or whether to continue with 18-year-old Roger Johnson.

Meanwhile Sanchez remains focused in his desire to get the Blues into Division One during the remaining two years of his contract.

He said: "I was naive at the start when I thought we could go for promotion in my first full season. It has taken me a bit longer to turn things around.

"But we are in a far healthier position that we were three years ago. We've got a better squad, we've got our own training ground, attendances are up and we're not having to sell players like we had to when I arrived.

"It has taken longer than I thought. I failed to take into the equation what other teams would be spending. Reading and Cardiff have spent £5 million each.

"But we are going along the right lines. We haven't had a backward step so far. In the first year we avoided relegation, then we consolidated and then reached the semi-finals. Now we are looking to take that next step.

"The job is nowhere near done yet. We are in a much better position than we were but there is a big job still to do."

Sanchez saw Bristol City beat QPR in midweek to maintain their promotion push and he knows Wanderers will have to be at their best if they to repeat the 1-0 win they enjoyed at Ashton Gate in October.

Former Wycombe man Steve Jones looks set to be on the bench for City who went fourth with Tuesday night's 2-0 win over Rangers.

But they have doubts over tenacious midfielder Tommy Doherty and defender Kevin Amankwaah. They are struggling with a knee injury and a hamstring strain respectively.

Return to this site after the game for Duncan Mayall's match report

February 14, 2002 13:38