Steven Schumacher welcomed Wanderers’ more potent cutting edge but knows they can still sharpen up in as they approach the new season, writes Pete Oliver.
Schumacher was pleased to see the Whites create plenty of chances at Boundary Park and put three goals past the League Two Latics in a first pre-season win.
But Wanderers also conceded from the penalty spot before John McAtee added to Ruben Rodrigues’ two first-half goals to leave room for improvement ahead of Saturday’s visit of Everton.
“I thought there some good signs from us again,” said the Whites’ boss, who utilised 22 players in the second of the Whites’ warm-up games. “We asked the players could we be a little bit more dangerous in the final third than what we were on Friday?
“We felt on Friday away at DAC we controlled loads of spells in the game and had really good possession but didn't quite make the most of the turnover opportunities or the final third entries that we had. So that was the message today, could we try and hit the target more and make their goalkeeper a bit more busy?
“We’ve managed to do that, but obviously the performance wasn't perfect. We've made a few unforced errors and over the next couple of weeks that's something that we'll have to tidy up on, especially with the game that's coming up on Saturday. We need to make sure that we don't give errors away that are going to cost us goals.”
After scoring in the Whites’ opening-night 2-1 loss to 1904 DAC at the end of a week’s training in Slovakia, Rodrigues was on target again with two impressive first-half finishes in the 3-1 victory.
Both were made by summer signing Luca Stephenson, with the pair laying down early markers ahead of Wanderers’ Championship return.
“Ruben's a good player and he's got a knack of scoring goals,” added Schumacher. “He's got good technique when he does get into the final third. He's creative and quite often makes good decisions.
“He's been a real positive signing for us since we brought him in in January, I must say. He's getting himself fitter each day that we're training and he’s getting back to full speed he was at the back end of last season. He's a big player for us and we're going to need him.
“Luca was really good and I thought he was excellent Friday night. He was a real positive for us and to get two assists tonight down that right-hand side is excellent.
“That's how we like to play. With the right-back getting higher up the pitch, you need somebody with good energy and good speed and good quality when you get into the final third and I'm really pleased for him.
“He's impressed us since he's come in and I hope he's enjoying his time so far.”
Watch the full interview with Steven on Wanderers TV