Evatt | We've Responded In The Right Way

Ian Evatt applause Stevenage

Boss Ian Evatt praised his side’s continued recovery as Wanderers racked up another big win to move into the top six, writes Pete Oliver.

The Whites’ commanding 4-1 victory at Stevenage made it six wins from eight league games since a 4-0 home defeat at home to Huddersfield in mid-September left Wanderers in the bottom four.

They’ve barely looked back since, with a fourth away win of the campaign taking them up to sixth place in the League One table.

Goals from Ricardo Almeida Santos, John McAtee, Victor Adeboyejo and substitute Dion Charles equalled Wanderers’ biggest win of the season, with a hamstring injury to captain Eoin Toal the only negative of the night at Broadhall Way.

“We have suffered a bit with injuries again in this period. But once you start to get those back, we've got a level of consistency now,” said Evatt. “Six wins from eight is a very good position to be in and we've just got to keep building. We've got a 10-day break now (from league fixtures) so we knew the importance of winning here tonight.

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Ricardo Almeida Santos goal Stevenage

“There's no-one more disappointed than us with the start of the season but we have responded in the correct way post-Huddersfield. To win six from eight, with one defeat, is excellent. 

“We have to keep that going now. We know we've got a big period coming up. There’s one more league game before the break and two cup games. We want to do all we can to do the best we can in those (cup) games, but we know what is the most important this season, so it's all about re-focusing, re-setting and working hard to improve again.”

Wanderers produced the ideal away performance to overcome a Stevenage side which has won four times on their own patch this season.

Early strikes from Almeida Santos and McAtee put Wanderers in control and, despite the loss of Toal after half an hour, after repelling a barrage of set-pieces wrapped up the points as Adeboyejo and Charles struck either side of a reply from Dan Kemp.

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John McAtee goal Stevenage

“It was a really difficult game. They ask you so many questions,” added Evatt. “I thought we defended the box so well and defended set plays so well. Some of our play in the first half was exceptional and to score from two set-plays is huge.

“It was great to see Rico scoring and I'm so proud of all of them. The first 11 who started the game were excellent and those that came on were outstanding again and helped calm the situation and get it over the line.

“Some of them coming on were trying to prove a point to prove and play angry and I don't mind that because we're going to need everybody. It's a squad game and I think at the moment the squad is in a really good place. 

“Some of the pressure we got at the top end of the pitch was outstanding and caused them a lot of problems. I’m delighted for Victor to get it a goal, delighted for Dion to get a goal and scoring from two set plays, so lots of things to like about tonight.

“But we're not getting carried away. We've got our heads down, we want to work hard we want to keep improving and I still think there is still improvement to come in this team.”

Watch the manager's full post-match interview on Wanderers TV HERE

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