WANDERERS were ready to get the chequebook out after clearing the first hurdle in the Coca Cola Cup.

After a difficult start to the league season goals from Mark Patterson, John McGinlay and Alan Thompson booked a place in the next round against Leicester.

Both Roy McFarland and Colin Todd were staying tight-lipped about potential targets but there was far more than speculation in the air.

Wanderers had made definite enquiries for Forest's Scot Gemmill and Dundee United's Billy McKinlay - midfielders rated at £2 million and £1.5 million respectively - and for Swindon striker Peter Thorne, who is valued at £1 million-plus by his manager Steve McMahon.

And they were simply delighted to have safely negotiated their tricky tie against Brentford, winning 3-2 at Griffin Park for a 4-2 aggregate.

It was a win Roy McFarland and his players believe will fuel hopes of an improvement in the Premier League.

"After the difficult start we've had, it was important that we found a way of kick-starting the season," McFarland admitted, "and this result will help us do it."

McGinlay, who netted his second goal of the season on the day he was recalled to the Scotland squad, said: "The win made it all worthwhile for the spectators, who made the trip. That could be the start of things taking a turn for the better.

"Maybe that's the break we needed."

And Richard Sneekes, whose first leg match-winner always gave Wanderers the edge in the tie, was characteristically positive about the knock-on effect suggesting: "This will give us confidence for the next games."