Aaron Collins still has his sights on a top-two finish after firing Wanderers back into the thick of the promotion race, writes Pete Oliver.
Collins’ first hat-trick for the Whites was the highlight of a superb 5-2 win over Reading which took Ian Evatt’s men back within three points of Derby County in the chase for an automatic promotion place.
The Rams go to League One leaders Portsmouth tonight (Tuesday) and will then have played a game more than Wanderers.
And Collins is ready to pounce again if Derby drop points with the Whites’ frontman targeting a winning run to the end of the season to keep the pressure on.
“I believe we can go and get that second spot,” said the Welshman, who shared all the goals with strike partner Jon Dadi Bodvarsson in the Easter Monday victory over the Royals.
“I think the whole changing room does, the whole staff. We all believe we can get that automatic spot. We've been on and off the last couple of weeks, you could say, but going into the last five games now we've got nothing to lose.
“We're going to be in those play-offs if we don't get that second spot. All we can do is concentrate on us. If Derby slip up, they slip up but all we can do is go and win five out of five and hope come that last game of the season we're ready to go and get that automatic spot.
“I think we proved again when we get going, we are such a good team. But we need to do it consistently. If we can do our business and win every game we're going to have a right chance at the end of the season.
“We know goal difference is going to be a massive factor as well because it could go down to the last game of the season and be on goal difference, so we are making sure we are doing everything to put ourselves in the best possible place.”
Collins certainly helped the cause with his treble against the Royals as he took home the match ball for the second time in his career and narrowed the goal difference gap behind Derby to four.
And the January signing – who goes back to former club Bristol Rovers on Saturday – admitted scoring a hat-trick in front of a season’s best crowd of over 25,000 had been a special moment.
“It's a great feeling. Coming into the second half I just wanted to get that third goal,” added Collins, whose stunning opener and a second goal from the penalty spot had given Wanderers a 2-1 half-time lead.
“The main thing was the win, but to get that third goal I think you could see the delight on my face when I went and celebrated.
“As a footballer, you want to play in front of as many fans as you can and the Whites turned out in great numbers. Twenty-five thousand is a great crowd. The atmosphere was great.
"That’s what we want to perform in front of and we put on a performance for them as well. As soon as the first goal went in and you hear that roar, we were up for it and ready to go and score more.”