Ian Evatt is looking for a cup tonic to get Wanderers back on track.
Wanderers couldn’t build on an impressive first half performance at Portsmouth as they slipped to a 1-0 defeat.
Evatt’s men have now lost four out of their last five League One fixtures after Joel Dixon allowed a John Marquis effort to cross the line and lift Pompey to 13th place in the table and above the Whites on goal difference.
Wanderers – with Amadou Bakayo injured and Eoin Doyle playing after a bout of illness – didn’t have the firepower to hit back.
And Evatt is now aiming for wins in the Papa John’s Trophy at Rochdale on Tuesday night and the FA Cup at home to Stockport County next weekend to restore belief and momentum.
“I want to win both games and we’ll be doing all we can to win both games,” said the Wanderers’ boss.
“That will give us some confidence levels back. We’re a better team than we showed in that second half.
“We have to re-group, refresh and go again.
“We’re on a bad run of form. We’re hurting, we’re lacking confidence and belief and we have to build the players back up again.
“We have to make sure we win our cup matches and build up some confidence and belief and focus on getting back to ourselves and get back on that winning trail.
“We’ve been through these types of runs before and come out the other side strong and we have to do the same again.”
Wanderers twice hit the woodwork before half-time and looked the better side until Marquis flicked the ball home to turn the tide.
It took the Whites until the closing stages to offer a real response with Doyle also heading against the bar as Wanderers almost rescued a point.
But Evatt was unable to pep up his strikeforce via the bench with his two changes coming at the back as Will Aimson – who made a welcome first league start – and Lloyd Isgrove making way for fresher legs.
And the Wanderers’ boss admitted a lack of options had taken its toll on a team also feeling the effects of a winless run.
“Goals change games. When that goes in it lifts them and drains our confidence and that happened today,” added Evatt.
“We have somehow lost a game that we were in control of and that’s down to a lack of confidence, a lack of belief and the run that we’re on.
“I’m not going to make excuses but it’s there for all to see.
“I am bringing on defenders to try and give us some impetus and energy.
“I had no front players to make changes. It’s just the way it goes for you on these type of runs.
“I’m not going to feel sorry for myself or make excuses. We just need to be better and we need to focus on getting ourselves back to where we were prior to Sheffield Wednesday.
“We need some bodies back. We need to keep everyone together and build their confidence back.
“We have to keep fighting, we have to keep showing belief and that strong will.”
Watch the manager's post-match interview HERE