Ian Evatt insists the Whites will do everything possible to make it happen as they face their defining dozen, writes Pete Oliver.
Evatt’s men face Cambridge United tomorrow (Saturday) looking for a first point since beating the U’s less than a fortnight ago.
Since then Wanderers have suffered back-to-back away defeats to local rivals Blackpool and Wigan Athletic.
But the boss says now is not the time to be throwing brickbats with his side still well place in the League One promotion race as they look to add a cutting edge to their mid-week display at Wigan.
“There's nobody more disappointed than this group that we didn't manage to win a derby game this last couple of days,” said Evatt, whose side suffered back-to-back defeats for only the second time this season with their 1-0 reverse at the DW Stadium.
“But the performance on Tuesday was a lot more like us and a lot better and if we can add the goals to that, then we’ll have no worries or issues.
“I don't think there was a man in the stadium who could say we didn't deserve anything out of that game. We dominated for large parts and spent most of the game in their half, if not around that box, and we got done with a sucker punch.
“Sometimes in football that happens and we have to take it on the chin and come back. It's been tough but the time for pointing the finger in criticism isn't now. We can all look at things in the summer and see how we move forward then but for now we're focused on trying to get this club to the championship.
“We've got 12 big games left and we're in a great position. We would have all snapped the hands off anyone who’d offered this this position at the start of the season.
“It's still on our hands and for us we have to try and make it happen and we're going to do all we can to try and make it happen.”
Wanderers remain outside the automatic promotion places on goal difference with a game in hand on second-placed Derby County, who have also lost their last two games.
The Whites now have six home games and six away – including one at Derby – to try and secure a top-two finish.
And Evatt is looking for calm heads to meet the challenge as Wanderers return home to face a Cambridge side seeking a first win under interim head coach Barry Corr.
“In football seasons you have highs you have lows,” added Evatt, whose side won 2-1 at the Abbey Stadium in Neil Harris’ last game in charge of the U’s. “It's a rollercoaster and you have to manage your emotions. For us it's about staying calm and staying focused on the job that's needed to be done.
“We have to control the noise the best we can. Of course, there are high expectations and there's no one more expectant than we are. We hold ourselves accountable for everything that we do and we're striving to get better and striving for improvement.
“We know we need to play really well these last 12 games to get the results we need to be promoted but we will give it our best shot. I have a massive belief in these players that they can achieve it and do it, so we'll continue to do what we're doing so far and focus on the game on Saturday and hopefully get back on the winning trail.”
Watch the manager’s full pre-match and interview and the thoughts of captain Ricardo Almeida Santos in Wanderers TV HERE