GARY Thomas can't wait to get stuck in to Ramsbottom United again this Saturday.

The Winsford United manager is looking for an immediate improvement from his players, who were humbled 3-1 by the Lancashire side at Barton Stadium on Saturday.

But the return North West Counties League Division One fixture, and an immediate chance for revenge, will be this Saturday (3pm).

"I'm looking forward to it, I can't wait," said Thomas. "I was disappointed on Saturday because we didn't play well at all.

"We were still in the changing rooms and didn't get out of gear in any way, shape or form. We missed a couple of players as well but that's no excuse.

"I'm looking forward to Saturday, I'm glad we're playing them straight away to give a better account of ourselves."

Two weeks ago defeat at home to Ramsbottom would have been seen as catastrophic, but the fact that the Blues had won their three previous games soothed the scars.

Winsford won 2-1 at Atherton LR, another side fighting relegation, last Tuesday.

They are now 14th in the table and, despite having played more games than the sides below them, Thomas has no lingering anxieties about the drop zone.

He said: "We are going to stay up. It would be nice if we could get to that 40 to 45 point mark, that's something to aim for.

"But I do want us to go further. The 11 games give me an opportunity to see if the players here can take us further, up to the top six or eight."

Thomas welcomes back Scott Williams and Rob Morris from injury and Ray Beer returns after suspension for the trip to Ramsbottom.

Also in the squad could be a new striker and defender that the boss was casting an eye over in a friendly with Maine Road last night (Tuesday).

Thomas added: "We've got players coming back from suspension and injury and the friendly gives us 90 minutes to have a good look at some new players."

Assistant manager Gus Wilson will be away on Saturday and missing from the Blues defence.