Ian Evatt doesn’t want frustration and disappointment to linger as Wanderers head towards a likely play-off campaign, writes Pete Oliver.
A 2-2 draw at home to Shrewsbury Town has left the Whites’ hopes of a top-two finish and automatic promotion hanging by a thread.
Evatt’s men could have closed the gap on second-placed Derby to just a point with two games to go with victory over the Shrews.
But after twice falling behind, they couldn’t complete a second-half comeback and after successive draws at the Toughsheet Stadium now look destined for the League One play-offs.
“It was a frustrating night really and probably the story of the season, in terms of conceding two really poor goals - sucker punches - and then at the other end, just critical, crucial chances, like Nat’s after half-time which has to be a goal,” said Evatt.
“At that stage of the game, five minutes after half-time, getting the equaliser and having all the momentum and them hanging on, we probably go on to win it. In the key games and big games all season we've missed too many chances.
“It's frustrating and I think it's right that we all feel disappointed. But we have to let that go really quickly, finish the season strongly and carry momentum through. I still believe in these players; just re-group and make sure we win on Saturday. That's the message.
“I think it's going to be very difficult now for us to be automatically promoted, even though it's not impossible. Then we have to make sure we carry momentum through and all the players are ready and fit and in optimal condition to go and win the three play-off games.”
Wanderers were without senior men Ricardo Almeida Santos, Gethin Jones, Josh Sheehan and Jon Dadi Bodvarsson as they failed to beat the Shrews, with Bodvarsson set to miss the rest of the season with a calf injury.
Goals from Cameron Jerome and Paris Maghoma at least avoided only a second defeat in 10 games and Evatt believes promotion is still achievable with his side guaranteed to be at home in the second leg of the play-off semi-finals if they end up third or foruth in the table after their last two fixtures against Port Vale and Peterborough United.
“As a club we need to take our medicine a little bit and regroup and get everyone feeling positive for the important games to come,” added the Wanderers’ boss.
“We need to rally around and get everybody feeling really positive and supportive because I still believe we can be promoted.
“That's not changed. I still think the players are in good form, performances generally are pretty good and we've just got to go and get the job done.
“Frustration is fine and natural tonight but we have to park that and get ready to win five football matches. I appreciate that there's going to be disappointment and frustration. There’ll be nobody more disappointed and frustrated than me.
“I think we've got to look back at where things have slipped. We’ve been so unfortunate with injuries to key players and key personnel in the spine of the team at a crucial stage. But the time for analysing that isn't now, it's the summer.
“We have to re-group right now and get ready for five big games and carry momentum through, get this place rocking on Saturday and make sure we do the business.”