Evatt: That Has To Be A Marker For Us

Ian Evatt says his team set the standard to follow for the remainder of their play-off push after holding League One leaders Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough.

Wanderers produced an excellent performance in South Yorkshire to come from behind and secure a 1-1 draw and open up a four-point gap above seventh-placed Wycombe Wanderers in the play-off race.

Evatt’s men may well have become the first team to beat the Owls in 23 league games had Dion Charles been awarded a second-half penalty for an apparent foul by defender Aden Flint.

But Evatt was delighted with the quality of Wanderers’ display as Victor Adeboyejo’s goal sent the Whites into their Wembley build-up on a high and their promotion prospects still in good shape as they look to nail down a top-six finish.

“I thought we were outstanding,” said the Whites’ boss.

“It was a really good performance. Lots to work on and kick on from. That has to be a marker for us for the last nine games of the season.

“It’s a really important point towards our tally. For me, regardless of the result it was all about the performance and that was lots, lots better.

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“I’m really proud of the lads. I thought that looked like my team, the team that we’ve developed.

“Hopefully we can build on that now. We’re in a great position and a Wembley cup final to look forward to, so lots to be positive about.

“A special mention to our fans. I thought they were absolutely outstanding backing us tonight.

“There was lots to be positive about. I think all-round it looked a lot more like the team that we’ve built.”

Wanderers showed great character to overcome Wednesday’s early onslaught and bounce back from a below-par performance in losing at home to Ipswich a week ago as they drew a second successive game away from home to collect another valuable reward.

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“We were brave, positive, had a lot of the ball and managed the crowd,” added Evatt, whose side hit back from conceding an early goal to a Wednesday side chasing a sixth successive win and unbeaten in the league since the start of October.

“It would have been easy for the players to duck out after the first 10 minutes and conceding from a set-play.

“After that we settled, deserved to get the equaliser and in the second half kept them at arm’s length and still had moments again.

“The big moment for me is the penalty. It has to be a penalty. Dion is about to pull the trigger and gets bundled over and when the opposition – who I respect a lot because they’re good sports – say it’s a 100 per cent a penalty, it’s really disappointing we didn’t get it.”

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