Steven Schumacher was delighted to see his team deliver the derby-day goods and reward a bumper crowd at the Toughsheet Community Stadium.
The third biggest attendance – 25,565 – at the stadium for a regular league game since Wanderers’ Premier League days saw Schumacher’s men beat local rivals Wigan Athletic 4-1 with a scintillating performance.
Two goals from Marcus Forss, his first for the club, and one each from Thierry Gale and top scorer Mason Burstow before the break propelled the Whites to a first home derby win in over 10 years.
And Schumacher admitted the timing couldn’t have been better as his team extended their unbeaten run to eight League One games and ended a three-game home losing run against the Latics.
“It's a big win for us going up against a team who have been playing well and I'm delighted that we've managed to perform as well under the pressure, the atmosphere, in such a big derby game,” said the Whites’ head coach.
“For us to play that well and be as clinical as we were, especially in the first half, was really pleasing and then we showed a good side to us as well in the second half when we had to deal with a little bit of pressure.
“I’m just delighted with the win. It's been a long time here so I'm buzzing for everyone. The atmosphere was great. We knew that the numbers were going to be in here and the message to the lads was give them something to shout about, which we did.
“That first-half performance was really good and if we can get to that level again and keep that intensity and that atmosphere in here because it's not easy to play against when the crowd are behind you and it's intimidating.
“We need that again, so thanks for the support and I hope you enjoyed the day and you can enjoy an early Saturday afternoon pint!”
The victory made it back-to-back home wins for the Whites – who moved into the top 10 – as well as successive victories in the derby fixture following April’s win at Wigan which ended a decade without success against the Latics.
Wanderers were ruthless before half-time and then completely killed off the game when the impressive Forss grabbed his second of the game to underline the threat he will bring during his loan spell from Middlesbrough.
“We've felt that we've been in dangerous areas and created chances in all of the games that we've played and we just probably haven't been clinical enough in the big moments. But today we're 3-0 up after 35 minutes or whatever it was. If we can be as clinical in the next games as we were today, then we'll be fine,” Schumacher told Wanderers TV.
“Marcus got real quality. We've seen that in all of the sessions that we've had with him. The way he strikes the ball is excellent and his intensity when he's out of possession is really good.
“Now we just have to keep trying to build his fitness levels up because he isn't quite at the same level of game minutes as the other players. But I felt today bringing him into the team to play a little bit closer to Mason will cause Wigan a problem in their back three.
“I'm buzzing for Marcus and hopefully it gives him confidence and we keep seeing him get better with each game that he plays.
“The only negative, probably, from the afternoon is that they scored, which was a mistake trying a counter-attack and trying to go again.
“We had to defend at times and we didn't have it all our own way. But we stood up to that and we have to show that side to us, that we can stand and fight and battle with teams as well as play football, so I'm pleased with the signs of what the team are doing.”
Watch the full post-match interview with the boss on Wanderers TV