Ian Evatt admits only wins will do as Wanderers look to keep alive their automatic promotion hopes, writes Pete Oliver.
A goalless draw at Stevenage saw the Whites slip six points adrift of Derby County, who occupy second place in the League One table having played a game more.
But Evatt insists all is not lost with six matches to go and four at the Toughsheet Community Stadium – starting with the Easter Monday visit of Reading.
“Four of the next five are at home,” said the Wanderers’ boss, who was again without leading scorer Dion Charles and saw vice-captain Gethin Jones added to a lengthy injury list for the Good Friday game at Broadhall Way.
“We have to do something about it. We have to make sure we play our way and hopefully some of the cavalry returns.
“There are some frustrations with having nine key players injured. It’s a big group of players we are missing which would make a significant difference to our XI. The lads are giving it their all.
“It’s tough but we have to focus on Monday and trying to win that game and hopefully put some pressure on the ones above us and continue to push forwards and try and win six matches. That’s how we have to see it.
“I still think there’s a lot of football to go yet. We have to believe (a win on Monday) is going to make the picture a lot different. That has to be our sole focus, re-group, re-set and get ready for a huge game on Monday.
“We’re not out of this yet. We’ve got to get some bodies back and do our best to win six football matches.”
Wanderers were also still without injured goalkeeper Nathan Baxter at Stevenage, with Evatt hoping he and Charles could be back for the trip to Bristol Rovers on Saturday-week.
In Baxter’s absence, Joel Coleman produced an assured performance to help Wanderers keep a first clean sheet on the road in League One since the end of December.
Wanderers couldn’t find a goal themselves, though, as they didn’t do enough as an attacking force on a dry and bobbly playing surface to overcome a solid Boro side fighting hard to try and regain a top-six spot.
“It's a really tough place to come,” added Evatt. “A point away from home here in August is probably a good point.
“It was a frustrating game for us. I thought we were a bit safe and it was pedestrian at times. We did the dirty bits really well, defended our box and their set-plays really well but with the ball we just didn't do enough of what we do.
“We had moments. In the first half we hit the bar and had one or two other good situations but there weren’t enough of those.
“We looked like we had something to lose, and it was like we were playing not to lose, rather than playing to win, and that’s not the type of team we are.
“We have to be brave, courageous with the ball and play with intensity and tempo. Those time we did that we caused them problems, but there weren’t enough of those.
“It’s frustrating, but I don’t think it’s a bad point. I still think we’re very much in it, but for now we have to re-group, focus on the last six games and try and win all of them.”
Watch the manager’s post-match interview on Wanderers TV HERE