WE welcome my old club Bedford Blues to Sixways on Saturday -- and we will be in good spirits after a workman-like performance against Manchester at the weekend.

One of the good things about the victory is that we did our talking on the pitch rather than off it. I have always said it is what goes on between the white lines that is important not what each coach has to say before the game.

I thought Manchester's director of rugby, Alex Keay's comments were unwise before the match because it just fired up the opposition.

This guy has a battleship mouth and a row-boat ability. Some of what he said was right, Worcester probably have under-achieved but there are ways of going about things and slagging off the opposition in the media doesn't serve anybody -- apart from the newspapers!

I thought his comments helped us more than anything against his side because there is always a concern in the back of your mind that your side might not up be for a game in Manchester as much as a top of the table clash with Leeds. However, after seeing the article -- they were dying to get out on the pitch.

I didn't think the performance was great all the same. I was pleased that we won and scored four tries to get the bonus point but there is a lot to improve on.

We analyse our matches on video after the games and the players were just pulling their hair out at their performances. I've told them any more displays like that and they'll all have to go out and buy wigs!

We went from playing well as a team against Leeds to just becoming individuals and not being composed when we had the ball.

Our defence is growing in stature with every game but our attack was disappointing because we missed four opportunities just in the first half with the line open.

It might seem as though I am going over the top in criticising a performance which led to a 40-12 win. However, I have very high standards. I want us to be playing Rotherham every week and I expect a level of performance from the players.

Our preparation hasn't been great for these matches though. We've been hit by a number of injuries including Andy Higgins who will be out of action for around four months because of a wrist injury. We will miss him because he is a real prospect, but the most important thing is he makes a full recovery from injury.

Another youngster, Brett Scriven, has also gone down this week -- damaging knee ligaments during a Warriors match. He will be out for a minimum of a month and may have to have an operation.

On a positive note it was good to see winger Nick Baxter back against Manchester after his knee trouble. I also hope to see some players back in contention for Saturday's game including Laulala Langkilde.

It will be a strange game for our skipper Alistair Murdoch who was the director of rugby at Bedford last year.

I was only there for six months but Alistair had been a player there for a while. He was shattered when they were relegated last season but I don't think it was a situation he ever wanted to be in in the first place because Doch wanted to concentrate on playing not coaching.

Bedford have had some pretty tough times in the last few years with what went on with the financial situation. However, we can all learn a lesson from the community because they just refused to let the club die.

They only won one game last year but the supporters turned up through thick and thin.

It will be a sentimental day for a number of players who made the switch from Goldington Road to Sixways in the summer. Dan Zaltzman made his name at Bedford but there is also Nick Broughton, Virgil Hartland and Alistair McLean who will also be desperate to be involved.

The travelling supporters will bring a few coach loads to Sixways and I'm sure it will be an occasion to savour. I hope Worcester fans are equally excited at the prospect and make it a day to remember.

It should be a great game -- just make sure you are part of it with Worcester.