SAM Allardyce paid tribute to his players today for saving him from having to make panic buys.

"They've put us into a position of strength," the manager said as his 'makeshift' Wanderers prepared for a weekend off after their sensational start to the season.

"Because of their performances and the results we've had, I haven't needed to rush into the transfer market.

"That's when most mistakes are made. You get into a desperate situation and you take somebody without really thinking about it enough."

Wanderers had a stack of problems - suspensions as well as injuries - when they went into the new season three weeks ago. They haven't just coped, they have prospered, taking 10 points from a possible 12.

And that with a squad which includes on loan signing, Isaiah Rankin, and two players, Franck Passi and Ian Marshall, who are on short-term contracts.

Allardyce expected his experienced defence to be the cornerstone of any success this season and three clean sheets has justified that confidence.

But the one element that has pleased him more than most is the strike rate of his attackers.

"The opportunities taken from the chances we've been creating has been fantastic," he said in praise of his smash hit strikers.

"At this moment in time we are not creating as many chances as we would like but whatever chances we are creating, we're putting them in the back of the net. We know that won't continue throughout the season but we have the strikeforce and the options to do that.

"The combination of Ricketts and Marshall, Holdsworth and Rankin and Bo Hansen doing an exceptional job down the right (you can't take away from him the contribution he is making at the moment) has given us a terrific start.

"We're frightening other sides because of our strikeforce - the size of it, the aerial power of it, the pace of it and the quality of finishing."

All things being equal, Wanderers would have preferred to have kept the ball rolling with a home game against QPR tomorrow. But Allardyce is at least thankful that the decision to postpone the game - allowed because he had three players on international duty - was not overturned after Gareth Farrelly was dropped from the Republic of Ireland squad.

"Quite frankly, if I hadn't been without Mark Fish and Jussi Jaaskelainen, I would have been more than happy to be trying to take three points from the game against QPR to maintain the good start. But I wouldn't be wanting to go into the game without them.

"As it is, we're comfortable with the game being off. It gives us a rest. My main concern is that Jussi and Mark come back fit and well."