Ian Evatt lauded match-winner George Thomason as the pair got the better of former club Blackpool, writes Pete Oliver.
Thomason was released by the Seasiders as a 16-year-old and marked his first game against the club where he started out with the goal that gave Wanderers a highly impressive 1-0 victory.
It needed something special to break the deadlock and Thomason produced it 16 minutes from time with a thunderous strike that made it five League One wins in a row for the Whites.
“I'm delighted for young George,” said Evatt, whose time as a player at Blackpool saw him captain the club and share in promotion to the Premier League.
“These stories happen in football. It's a game of magical stories sometimes and George was a young kid who was released at Blackpool and has now come back and scored the winner, which is great credit to him and his character.
“I’m so proud of him but proud of them all because that was a really tough game.
“It was a really good day. It's a game very close to my heart. I think the world of that football club, but I also think the world of this football club as well, and there's no one more pleased than me tonight that we manged to win the game.”
Evatt picked up the Manager of the Month award for October during the week and was able to celebrate with a sixth home success which lifted third-placed Wanderers to within a point of league leaders Portsmouth.
“It was a real high-quality game and I’m delighted that we managed to get on the right side of it,” Evatt added.
“It was a great advert for League One football, with two teams that just went at it from start to finish, both really well organised and both trying to do, in my opinion, the right things.
“I thought we edged the chances and raised the tempo in the second half but they're always dangerous and have some really good players.
“I think both teams can come off and be pleased with their day and the players themselves, individually. It was just a great battle all over the pitch.
“It felt like a big game with an unbelievable atmosphere created by both sets of supporters and we're delighted to be on the right side of the result.”
Evatt confirmed that Will Forrester was ruled out with a knee injury but does not expect the defender to be out for long.
He will, however, miss Tuesday night’s trip to Stockport County in the Bristol Street Motors (EFL) Trophy when Wanderers will need a point to guarantee top spot in Group E and a home draw in the last-32.
Watch the manager’s post-match interview on Wanderers TV