Evatt: Back Down To Business

Ian Evatt insists it’s back down to business as his side looks to make the most of a full February.

Wanderers head into the month – which will see them play eight League One fixtures – in fantastic shape after last their 6-0 victory over Sunderland made it three league wins in a row for the first time this season.

Evatt sees it as a pivotal period as his side aims to keep climbing from their current position of 14th in the table – four points outside the top 10.

But the Wanderers’ boss isn’t getting carried away by Saturday’s stadium record home win as he prepares to face a Cambridge United on a decent run of their own with a five-game unbeaten league record and FA Cup third-round win at Newcastle United behind them.  

“It’s a huge week, a huge month. Eight games, home games coming up. Different types of games to what we’ve just had but we’re really excited and looking forward to it,” said Evatt.

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“I thought Saturday was excellent but Tuesday will be equally difficult in different circumstances; an equally challenging game.

“As good as it felt and was on Saturday, it’s back to business now with a big game.

“We’ve got to manage that the same way and have the same intensity and work ethic we had on Saturday and give it the same importance.

“And if we do that we’ve got a chance of winning the game.

“Everyone we seem to be playing against is in good form at the moment. It’s just the nature of the league and how difficult and challenging it can be.

“It’s relentless and unforgiving but we’ve got another opportunity at home to perform the same way and hopefully that’s good enough to get us three points.

“At the end of this month we’ll kind of understand how our season is going to look and where we’re going to end up.

“We’re going to fight tooth and nail to make sure it’s high as it can possibly be.”

New signing Kyle Dempsey couldn’t be registered in time to be involved against Cambridge but Evatt has no fresh injury concerns to contend with.

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And he is picking from a strong hand as shown by Saturday’s demolition of the Black Cats when he was able to withdraw goalscorers Dion Charles, Dapo Afolayan and Kieran Lee and give home debuts to Jon Dadi Bodvarsson and Kieran Sadlier alongside Amadou Bakayoko.

“I’m very, very pleased with what I’m seeing from the group at the moment,” added Evatt, who completed a superb window’s business by making midfield leader Dempsey his seventh January signing.

“The exciting thing in part for me is that there is still so much more to improve on and work on.

“That’s exciting but for now, it’s positive that I can change the game to help us without that drop-off.

“I think we saw that on Saturday. The lads who came on were hungry to do more and to succeed and will the team on.

“Normally when you’re 4-0 up at the time you’ll see the game peter out but there was a desire to go and get more.

“That’s what we want and that’s the attitude we have to have.”

To watch the manager’s full pre-match interview, click HERE

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