"Yes, they're a good side, Sale. I was pretty pleased by the end of the game. I thought we played our part. We tried to play a bit more rugby and it was a reasonably exciting game to watch."

"We made too many errors in the first half, I counted 10 knock ons I think. That didn't help when it came to putting pressure on Sale and I think it was pretty even until McAlister came on. Very rarely can you say that one man changed a game but I think he did."

"Charlie Hodgson had been sat back deep in the pocket for most of the first half but, when McAlister came on, it forced Charlie a lot flatter and McAlister made those telling breaks. That broke the deadlock really, I thought he played a very good game."

"They're a quality side. It was tricky for us with nothing riding on the game but we played our part, played some decent stuff and was pleased when we came back and got the try at the end. I think it was just reward for the effort that went in tonight."

"The players are enjoying playing more expansively rather than the set piece, defend and kick tactics that I suppose we have relied on a bit. We're trying to play a bit and it'll stand us in good stead for next year. That's my summary of the game!"

Q. Did the bonus point lift your players a bit?

"I think so. You could see they were pleased to get it. And that's because it was a reward for their efforts. We conceded two or three softish tries, we were disappointed by that. There were a lot of missed tackles there which was a shame."

"But, there again, Sale did turn it on when they needed to. When we scored, they came straight back and scored again to knock the stuffing out of us a little bit. They are a quality side."

"But I was delighted that the players came back at the end. Not too many sides score two tries against Sale. It was a pretty decent effort."

Q. What did you think of Foden's try?

"Very good. Has he made the right decision to play scrum half? I don't know! You could argue that he's the best full back in the country at the moment."

"There's a possible England spot going at some point in the not too distant future and he's going to Northampton to play 9. It's not for me to say but I'm not sure I'd be doing that in his shoes! There are a number of good 9s around and not too many 15s. He's pretty special in a bit of space."

Q. Your scrum half played pretty well tonight himself?

"He's getting better and better. You musn't underestimate the effect that having a fractured windpipe has on you. That was a nasty, nasty injury and it takes a while to come back."

"You can't fault his effort. In fact, he's been trying a bit too hard in recent matches. Today a little bit more came off. he puts his heart and soul into it. He doesn't always make all the right decisions but you can never fault his effort and he played well tonight."

Q. How difficult will next season be for you with the ground situation etc?

"It will be a factor but Bristol play better when we have to roll up our sleeves and fight. We'll be looking forward to it in a macabre sort of way. It'll be a big challenge, a tough old ask."

"But, if we can get through these next couple of seasons, we'll be in really good shape in September 2010."

"Next year, we've no Heineken Cup. We played some of our best rugby in that competition this year, won three out of six but it took too much out of us physically and mentally."

"Last season we concentrated on 22 league matches. We could put second-string sides out in the EDF and European Challenge Cups - and we finished third."

"The squad we had when we finished third is not too different to the squad we've got now - if anything we have probably strengthened."

"With the luxury of just being in the Challenge Cup - and we can try a lot of youngsters in that - I will keep the top 30 back nice and fresh for 22 league matches. And if we do go to Newport, I can't see many teams wanting to go down there."