Evatt Relishing Leaders' Test

Whites' boss Ian Evatt wants his players to pick up where they left off at New Year as they aim to put the brakes on table-topping Plymouth.

Wanderers will be bidding to hand the Pilgrims only a fourth league defeat of the campaign when they meet at the University of Bolton Stadium.

Argyle have set a searing pace in the promotion race but Evatt's men are sitting nicely in the play-off places themselves and go into Saturday’s meeting on the back of an impressive 3-0 win at top-six rivals Barnsley on Monday.

“The start to the new year is important. Getting a result against a direct competitor was important and, on the back of that, a really good performance,” said Evatt, whose Wanderers’ side has lost just one of their last 10 games.

“Hopefully that will give the players lots of confidence to now progress into what’s a really important game on Saturday.

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“It’s a game we’re excited by. Plymouth have done unbelievably well this season.

“To be on 56 points is huge credit to them. Steven (Schumacher) has done an incredible job. It’s been a fantastic start to the season and they’re flying really high and full of confidence.

“We have to attack it like any game and believe in ourselves, believe in the process, believe that we can win and I thought we showed down there earlier in the season that we probably edged it on the day but we lost the (key) moments.

“I have spoken about moments but we’re improving with that and getting better with that. We need to make sure we win those moments on Saturday.

“And if we can replicate the performance we showed on Monday we’re going to be a handful for most teams.”

Wanderers will have new signing Randell Williams in their squad following his arrival from Hull City but will, unfortunately, be without Jack Iredale.

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Iredale has suffered a tear to the lateral meniscus in one of his knees and after being forced to come off during Monday’s win at Barnsley is now facing between 10 weeks and four months out of action.

The left-sided defender or wing-back, who will find out early next week whether he requires surgery, has been a key part of the Wanderers’ set-up in the first half of the season following his summer signing from Cambridge United but will now face a period of recovery and rehabilitation.

“It’s really bad news. I think Jack’s done really well for us and offers us a different type of wing-back,” added Evatt.

“He’s done really well so far this season. He picked up that injury against Derby and we thought it was just a bang. Great credit to him that he gave it a go for so long on Monday.

“We wish him well and hopefully we can get him back on the pitch sooner rather than later.”

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