Ian Evatt insists Wanderers are looking no further forward than the next step on a potential FA Cup journey as they kick off another big month against Harrogate Town.
The Whites enjoyed a near flawless November with five wins and a draw to move to the top of League One, advance in the Bristol Street Motors Trophy and win a first FA Cup tie under Evatt to set up Saturday’s second-round meeting at home to Town.
December will bring a minimum of seven more games at a crucial stage of the campaign but Evatt only has eyes for Harrogate and a tie which could see Wanderers go into the third-round draw alongside the Premier League and Championship clubs.
The boss said: “Hopefully – but we're not even looking at the third round. We have full focus on Saturday. I just want the players to stay in this consistent vein of form they're in at the moment.
“They're doing things correctly. There are still things we can improve on but a lot of things they're doing right so, fingers crossed, we can take it into the game on Saturday.
“This is the nitty gritty part of the football season and the football calendar. Christmas is a busy period always for footballers and football teams and we're looking forward to it.
“We know that this comes and goes in a heartbeat and then we're into the final months of the season, so it's really important that we maintain the focus that we've had the last few months and take each game as it comes.
“It's an old cliche but it's so true; just stay in the moment, not look at the bigger picture, third-round draws, Portsmouth, where we on the league etc, just really focus on the here and now and give Harrogate our laser focus, ready for Saturday.”
While Wanderers have won eight of their last nine games, second division Town are without a win in four games in all competitions to sit 16th in the League Two table.
But the ‘Sulphurites’ held promotion favourites Wrexham to a 2-2 draw in mid-week and boast one of the best away records in the division with five away wins, as well as avoiding a potential shock in the first round of the Cup with an impressive 5-1 win at renowned fighters Marines.
Long-serving boss Simon Weaver has an impressive track record and Evatt knows Wanderers will face a real challenge against the manager he just pipped to the National League title when he led Barrow up from the National League in 2020 – followed up in the play-offs by Harrogate.
“This is going to be a tough match,” Evatt added. “I know Simon pretty well. I know his teams are really well coached he has done an incredible job to stabilise that football club as a league club now.
“They will come here and throw everything at us and we have to take it really seriously, which we will be doing of course. We are ready for it, we are in good form and looking forward to Saturday. This club has got a rich history in the FA Cup so we want to try and progress.”
Tickets for Saturday's tie at the Toughsheet Community Stadium (KO 3pm), costing just £10 for adults and £5 for over-65s and under-18s, are available to buy, with details HERE