Ian Evatt embraced a place in Sunday’s FA Cup third-round draw but admitted Wanderers could have played better in sealing a comfortable passage through, writes Pete Oliver.
Wanderers eased past League Two Harrogate Town with a 5-1 win at the Toughsheet Community Stadium which secured the Whites’ place in round three for the first time since 2019.
Evatt’s men have now won five successive home games and 12 of their last 14 matches in all competitions but missed out on a club record eighth successive clean sheet when Town were handed the opportunity to score just before the break and the boss still sees room for improvement.
“The job was well done, although I was disappointed with parts of our performance to be honest,” Evatt told Wanderers TV. “I think we were a bit loose at times and I was really angry and disappointed with the goal we conceded. After doing so much work to get on the cusp of owning the record ourselves, to give it away like that is not okay.
“We were just loose at times, but that's the standards we're holding ourselves accountable to and the players have to understand that. I said to them afterwards ‘do they want the truth’ and they said ‘yes’, so I told them it was okay, but just okay.
“For me we're much better than that. We are going to continue to drive standards at this football club. We want them to be the best they can be and credit to them, it's them that have given us those aspirations.
“It's their performances on the training pitch and on match days that mean I know what they're capable of and the minute they don't achieve what I think they're capable of then I'll tell him. We have that honest and transparent relationship.”
Wanderers’ margin of victory took them past 100 goals for the calendar year for only the third time and the first time since 1993.
Jon Dadi Bodvarsson bagged a first-half hat-trick to claim his first treble in a Wanderers' shirt and with strike partner Dan Nlundulu adding both goals after the break, Evatt’s men now need just one more to surpass the 104 goals they netted in 1934.
“There were loads of positives today as well,” Evatt added. “I must emphasise that and I thought the front two were a huge positive. I thought they were excellent; the finishes, the work ethic, the way the balls stuck at times was fantastic.
“I’m delighted for those two and for Carlos and Demps to get some minutes under their belt back in the starting 11 and Aaron Morley did a lot of good things as well.
“I’m delighted with the win, happy that we're through and happy to be in the third round. We just want to continuously strive to be better.”
Watch the manager's post-match interview on Wanderers TV HERE