Ian Evatt is calling for calm heads to help his team to a first home win of the season and get their League One campaign into top gear, writes Pete Oliver.
Wanderers return from the international break on Saturday when they take on Huddersfield Town at the Toughsheet Community Stadium.
Evatt’s men will be looking to bounce back from their defeat to Exeter City before the break as the Whites lost a home league game for the first time since December.
And the Wanderers’ boss believes a measured approach is needed to improve and enhance a record that has seen the Whites climb from the foot of League Two to twice challenge for promotion from League One in the space of the last four years.
“For me it's about trying to keep calm, keep the players calm and keep the players focused on the job,” said Evatt.
“There's been a lot of noise. Some of it I don't agree with. We don't need to go into that, I just think we need as a group of staff and a group of players to stay positive and concentrate on playing well and getting better and if we do that I know we can win games consistently.
“We've done it in every season I've been in charge. Go back to my record personally and the team's record and what we've achieved. We have always improved and I believe will improve again this season. Yes, it's been a sticky start but it's just a start. We just need to keep focused keep our feet on the ground and keep working hard.”
With another big crowd expected for the visit of the Terriers – whose three-game winning start to their League One campaign was ended by Rotherham a fortnight ago – the Wanderers’ fans can play a big part in potentially kick-starting a revival.
And Evatt believes their backing will help as his side looks to add to their four points from four games as they play the first of successive home league fixtures before a trip to Arsenal in the Carabao Cup.
“I can manage a lot of things and I'm in charge of a lot of things at this football club, which is an absolute honour, but I'm not in charge of that,” he added.
“We can't control it. If they're positive and everyone's positive, then that's great and I think it helps the team. If they're not, then there's nothing we can do to affect it. We just need to focus on our job and make sure we get the job done and play well.
“Every season we can look back at the historical data and look at records, my record personally with the win percentage etc. I'd like to think I know what I'm doing and know how to get this team winning and I think this team will win and win consistently.
“We're disappointed we've lost two games but we need to focus on what's ahead of us now. What’s gone has finished and Saturday is the next game and we need to focus on that. The league campaign hasn't got off to the ideal start but we haven't lost every game and in the cup competitions we've had some success and a brilliant draw to look forward to.
“From my perspective it's not all gloom and doom. As I've said, I'd like to think I know what I'm doing. My record speaks for itself and fingers crossed we'll get it right this weekend and we can really push on from there.”
An improving injury situation means Evatt’s selection options have increased for the test against Town, although wing-back Jordi Otsei-Tutu is facing a spell out with a knee injury he sustained in the Whites’ Bristol Street Motors win at Barrow.
“Jordi we’ve lost for six weeks, which isn’t ideal,” confirmed Evatt. “But we’ve got Randell back training today, the international lads have all returned healthy, which includes Eoin Toal. Victor is back fully fit and available, so we’re in a better position than we were pre-break.”
Watch the manager’s full pre-match interview and hear from summer signing Scott Arfield on Wanderers TV HERE