Ian Evatt praised the attitude of his players as they hit back to book their place in the knock-out stage of the Bristol Street Motors Trophy, writes Pete Oliver.
Wanderers face bigger tests to come in their League One challenge but still needed to dig deep to get over the pain of Saturday’s 5-0 drubbing at Stockport County and beat Fleetwood Town 2-1 to top Group D.
League Two Town made a real fight of it as they looked to keep their qualification hopes alive, but Aaron Collins followed up a superb first-half strike with an injury-time winner to restore some pride and send Evatt’s men forward on a more upbeat note.
“You’ve almost got everything to lose in these games,” said the Wanderers’ boss, who handed a first start to 19-year-old midfielder Sonny Sharples-Ahmed. “This game was difficult for us but we had the right attitude which was important and I think it was the attitude which got us through and over the line.
“We wanted to try and make sure that we were through to the next round. We've had good success in this competition in previous years and there were some positives.
“I thought young Sonny was excellent - a really good debut from him. It was great for him to have a hand in the (winning) goal as well because I thought he was outstanding.
“On the back of what was a really disappointing game and performance on Saturday we showed some resilience to come back. It doesn't matter who the opposition are, these games are always tough and we managed to win it which is important and now we have to re-set, re-focus and get ready for Blackpool which is going to be a huge game.
“I was delighted with the players’ attitude to keep going to the end. Sometimes that’s a given and something that’s taken for granted but tonight I thought, in what were difficult circumstances, our attitude was first-class.”
The 2023 winners can now look forward to a home tie in the last-32 in the second week of December. But before that Evatt’s men have four important league games to play, starting with the visit of Blackpool after the international break, followed by a home derby against Wigan Athletic immediately after the next round of the Trophy.
“We've got five big league games coming up in the next block and that starts with a derby at home to Blackpool and we need a performance,” added Evatt, who was also delighted to have vice-captain Gethin Jones back in the ranks.
“We must remember that all isn't lost. We were absolutely mortified by what happened on Saturday. It obviously hurt us but the one thing we've always managed to do as a group, that includes myself, the staff, the players, is respond and we will respond again. I have no doubt about that.
“Yes, we have to take some heat and some criticism, that's part of the game. It is what it is and we'll keep going, keep our heads down and keep fighting and working hard and we’ll be getting ready for Blackpool.”
Watch the manager's full post-match interview on Wanderers TV HERE