Ian Evatt wants his players to make the most of their chance to right the recent wrong and get Wanderers’ League One push back on track, writes Pete Oliver.
Wanderers return to league action on Saturday when they entertain Blackpool in a televised lunch-time kick-off.
The visit of the Seasiders come two weeks on from a 5-0 loss at Stockport County which took the momentum out of the Whites’ surge up the table.
The defeat was just a second loss in nine league games but cost Wanderers their place in the top six and Evatt expects a response to a sub-standard performance at Edgeley Park to get back among the early challengers.
“We've had lots of open, honest, transparent conversations about Stockport and what went wrong,” admitted the Wanderers’ boss.
“We just can't have that low a floor really. Our ceiling we think is pretty high but our floor certainly can't be that low. Too often really for my liking that's reared its ugly head and we have to learn from that and we have to find a better level of consistency and make sure if we do lose games we lose them in the right manner.
“Every team loses games. Man City have just lost four on the trot and if they can do that then I'm sure we can lose, but it's how we lost which is hurtful really.
“We've spoken about it, we've learned from it and as I've said before, this team has always found a way to respond and it's really important now that we respond on Saturday.
“One game ago we were top of the form table. That just shows the nature of football, how quickly it can change and how one game can change everything really. We have to be better. We will be better and Saturday is a great opportunity to respond. Football always gives you an opportunity and we've got another one now.”
Wanderers will have captain George Thomason – who scored the winner in last season’s corresponding fixture 12 months ago – back from the hamstring injury that has kept the midfielder out for the last seven games.
Evatt confirmed that Kyle Dempsey is set for around a further four weeks out following minor knee surgery but vice-captain Gethin Jones could start his first league game of the campaign after returning via the bench at Stockport and then completing 90 minutes in the Whites’ Vertu Trophy win over Fleetwood.
Having two of his more experienced campaigners back is a boost for Evatt and the manager wants to make the most of Wanderers’ solid home form against a Blackpool side which has slipped down the table after seven league games without a win.
“We've got to make sure we do everything we can to win our home games,” added Evatt, whose side is unbeaten at the Toughsheet Community Stadium since mid-September. “We have great crowds backing us and we know on Saturday if we perform the right way the crowd will be there for us again.
“Obviously it's a local game which is important for the supporters and we will do all we can to try and win. We've just got to find a level of consistency again and make sure we perform and, if we do perform, I know the fans will be there with us.
“All is not lost. We can get back on a good run. We've got some good fixtures coming up, so it’s just heads down and keep focused on what's in front of us. It's a very difficult game on Saturday but one we're looking forward to.
“We're not out of it. We were top of the form table one game ago. We just need to re-focus and make sure we respond in the right way on Saturday.”
Watch the manager’s full pre-match interview on Wanderers TV on Friday