Ian Evatt wants Wanderers to carry their renewed momentum with them to Cambridge on Tuesday night to continue their climb up the League One table, writes Pete Oliver.
Evatt’s men bounced back superbly from a set-back at Stockport to record a seventh win in 10 league games against Blackpool on Saturday.
Aaron Collins’ late strike secured a dramatic 2-1 victory in Wanderers’ first league game since their 5-0 loss at Edgeley Park.
And with only table-topping Wycombe taking more points than the Whites over the last 10 games, Evatt is looking to stay in the groove at the Abbey Stadium.
“I think we were pretty disappointed with the first half on Saturday,” admitted the Wanderers’ boss, who saw his side come from behind to beat the Seasiders and make it three successive home league wins.
“We looked a bit devoid of belief and confidence and were a bit safe with our play. But after the shock of Stockport that's understandable. But we changed one or two things at half time, gave the players belief and in the second half I thought we were brilliant.
“I thought we were outstanding and deserved to win the game and now we have to follow that through on Tuesday. In the last 10 games we've won seven and drawn one, which is second in the form table with 22 points and which is automatic promotion form.
“Sometimes that can go under the radar when you've had a shock result like at Stockport. But this group has always found a way to respond. We responded on Saturday and now we have to build on that.”
Wanderers will be without suspended wing-back Szabolcs Schön at Cambridge after the Hungary international picked up a fifth yellow card of the campaign before setting up the late winner against Blackpool.
Evatt has everyone else from Saturday’s squad available to face the U’s who will not be able to utilise on-loan Wanderers’ forward Dan N’Lundulu.
The striker has netted three times so far for Garry Monk’s side, whose only defeat in their last six league games was a 6-1 loss to neighbours Peterborough as they look to try and escape the relegation places.
At the other end of the table Wanderers could move back into the top six as they look to follow up away wins this season at Stevenage, Northampton and Crawley since an opening-day success at Leyton Orient.
“That's where we've improved, I think, in getting results at the smaller, tighter, more intimidating stadiums,” added Evatt, whose side came from behind to win at Cambridge last season after the original fixture was washed out a few minutes in.
“We've done that okay so far this season, but we know we're going into a really tough game. We will always respect the opposition and do our work diligently to find out and give the players the information they need to try and compete.
“But for us it's about us really. Sometimes the biggest opponent can be yourself. We have to be mentally, physically, technically and tactically in the right space and place to give our best and give our best performance and if we can do that, we are a hard team to stop.
“We're 15 games in and there’s a long, long way to go. I think this season is going to be incredibly tight and that includes everybody. Nothing I have seen so far makes me change that opinion. It's the team that stays the course which is important, and we need to be that team.”
Watch the manager's full pre-match interview on Wanderers TV