Wanderers launch 2025 at Mansfield Town on New Year’s Day with boss Ian Evatt looking to light the blue touch paper to the Whites’ promotion push, writes Pete Oliver.
Evatt’s men head to Field Mill on the back of victory over Lincoln City which kept Wanderers within three points of the play-off places.
The Whites have games in hand over the sides above them and with seven League One fixtures to play in January - plus a Vertu Trophy tie - Evatt is hoping for a more consistent run to propel his side into the top six.
“We're still here pitching and we're still here to get the job done. We've still got a chance, an opportunity to do that. Yes, we are behind the curve a little bit but I don't think necessarily being underdog is a bad thing,” said the Wanderers’ boss after recording a first win in four games over the Imps on Sunday.
“Hopefully we can build on what we did on the 29th and take that into the first of four away games. We know it's going to be tough. Mansfield is always a tough place to go but we will be ready and we want to start to build some momentum and get this season rolling, really.
“We've done too much responding, really. We've had too many inconsistencies and there have been too many times where we've needed to respond to something, which isn't good enough or acceptable for our level. That needs to stop and we need to find a level of consistency and we're working very hard to make that happen.
“It’s a crucial month, a big month. We're not even half-way through the season yet. We must remember that. We've got 25 games left, a lot of football to be played. We know what needs to be done and we know what it's going to take and these players are capable of it, so we will keep working hard keep our heads down and striving to do better.
“That's always been the ethos. I was pleased with the 29th and it's important now we grow and get better again. The players seem happy, they seem in a good place. They're pleased with what we did on the 29th and it's time to build on that.”
Wanderers will have the players they had on duty for the 3-0 win over Lincoln available again at Mansfield, who are 11th in the table after one loss in their last four games.
Aaron Morley is set to return from a loan spell at Wycombe Wanderers but can’t do so until 1st January - ruling him out of an potential involvement until the weekend - and fellow midfielder Kyle Dempsey has seen his return from his latest injury absence delayed by a recurrence of the knee problem that has kept him out for the last two months.
Dempsey will now undergo further checks to see what treatment is required and whether it will keep him out for around another two months or for the rest of the campaign.
“It's quite a significant set-back, so we're just waiting on the prognosis,” confirmed Evatt. “He's been on that rollercoaster as well, really, where he’s had more downs than ups in the last year or so. Football comes to challenge you and we will support him as we always support everybody and get the best treatment to get him back on the grass as soon as we possibly can.”
Either way, Wanderers are ready to try and strengthen their team in the up-coming January transfer window.
“We've already had bids (placed) for players, bids that haven't been accepted yet, but we will find a valuation for every player we try to sign,” Evatt added. “We will keep working hard to try and get deals done. We know what we want, we know what we need, and come the end of the month I think this team will be stronger.”
Watch the manager’s full pre-match interview on Wanderers TV