Will Aimson believes Wanderers are primed to keep challenging after successfully capping off a big week at the University of Bolton Stadium.
Saturday’s emphatic 3-0 win over Portsmouth ended an impressive three-game home run which included a draw with league leaders Plymouth and progress to the semi-finals of the Papa Johns Trophy inside the space of eight days.
Wanderers will now go to Accrington Stanley in their last-four tie at the end of next month with a place in a Wembley final up for grabs.
And with Ian Evatt’s men unbeaten in six league games, their impressive win over Pompey kept them fifth in League One with a six-point gap ahead of the nearest pursuer for a play-off place.
“We knew we had a big three games,” said Aimson after helping the Whites chalk up another clean sheet.
“We just wanted to chalk them off one by one and at the end of it it’s a very respectable three games for us.
“It’s great that we are in the semis and with a big chance of going to Wembley, although we’re going to have to be on our game to win that one, and then getting three points on Saturday was massive.
“We knew looking at this run of six, seven games over Christmas and January it was really important.
“There’s a saying you know where you stand after this. At the moment we’re doing what we need to do and we’re right in there and in a good spot to kick on. We’re looking up the league so really happy with where we’re at.
“We’re in a good bit of form. Some of the draws we’ve had we’d have liked to have turned into wins as well.
“I felt they could have been wins and probably should have been wins. If anything we think we could still have done better but we’re in a good bit of form, the performances we’re putting in are good and the wins we’re having are well deserved wins.
“It’s good that we’re not having to come back in the last minute. We’re controlling games at the moment and getting that first goal and I feel like we’re hard to beat after that.”
After Dion Charles fired Wanderers ahead against Portsmouth with his 12th goal of the season, second-half goal from Kieran Lee and Aimson's defensive side-kick Eoin Toal guaranteed an eighth home league win of the season.
And with the on-song Aimson again a key figure in a fifth clean sheet in six league games – and seventh in eight in total – Evatt’s side reinforced the best home defensive record in the division.
“That’s what we pride ourselves on,” the central defender added.
“Strikers might be 3-0 up and take their foot off the gas but for us it’s massive that we do keep that clean sheet.
“If I see anyone stepping off it with 10 minutes to go at 3-0 up they’ll get it in the neck, because that’s as good as a goal for me – getting that clean sheet.
“It’s great for us back lads and Traff, as well, has been fantastic. To be honest, everyone’s putting in a shift.
“It starts with the boys up top working hard and not giving them a minute so it’s a big team thing. But for us at the back, definitely, it’s great.”