Ian Evatt welcomed back the real Wanderers as his side ended 2024 on a high, writes Pete Oliver.
The Whites bounced back from their Boxing Day defeat to Barnsley to out-play Lincoln City in a comfortable 3-0 win in their final game of the year at the Toughsheet Community Stadium.
The visitors weren’t helped by playing the second half with 10 men following the dismissal of midfielder Ethan Erhahon.
But the Whites already led at that stage thanks to Aaron Collins’ 10th goal of the season before Jay Matete pressed home the advantage by marking his return from suspension with his first two goals for the club after the break.
“I thought that was a lot more like it and a lot more like us and hopefully we can build on that now,” said Evatt, whose side sits eighth in the League One table and three points outside the play-off places with games in hand on the sides above them.
“We've spoken about our fundamentals and what makes us a good team and reminded the players of that. The players have lacked some belief and confidence.
“Everybody feels the pressure and feels the heat. We know what we need to do and want to do and sometimes if the players are playing within themselves it doesn't help the style we want to play in and the brand we have brought for the last four-and-a-half years.
“But the fans were excellent again today. I had no issues with them the other day and no issues again today. I thought they were brilliant and backed us to the hilt and hopefully they've gone home happy because we owed them that one.
“We owe them a few more as well, we know that, but we'll keep going, keep working hard. All-round it’s been a good day, a positive day, but we know we've got a couple of days now to come up with a game plan, rest and recuperate for a big game away at Mansfield.”
Wanderers kick off 2025 at Field Mill to start a run of three successive away games which will usher in the second half of the campaign.
January will also see the opening of the transfer window and Evatt is hoping a stronger squad – assisted by the return of some key men from injury – will kick on in their promotion push after 12 months of contrasting fortunes.
“We haven't had our best 11 all at the same time so far this season,” added the Whites’ boss. “We're hopeful in the second half of the season that will start to materialise because when we do, we’re a very difficult team to play against.
“We've got the window coming and we can look to strengthen in certain areas, without going crazy, and if we can get the ones we’ve already got back, great. It was great for Carlos to build some more fitness today, for Jordi to build up some more minutes and Toally being back is huge for us. He’s a big player.
“It (the year) has been football and football is a rollercoaster. You have highs and you have lows. It's how you manage the lows and manage the highs and try and stay consistent.
“We've had huge highs and huge lows in this year. We’ve had some good performances but then losing at Wembley was really tough. It was a difficult start to this season but we're still here, we're still in the mix and we're going to keep fighting.
“We use the phrase all the time but if you're on the roller coaster in football, and life in general, then the least you can do is sit in the front and we want to sit in the front we want to try and enjoy the experience and have more days like we have had today.”
Watch the manager's full post-match interview on Wanderers TV HERE