Steven Schumacher is excited by the positive signs his side are showing as the 2025/26 season edges closer.
Wanderers ran out 2-0 victors in Edinburgh on Saturday afternoon against Hibernian as Amario Cozier-Duberry and Sonny Sharples-Ahmed were on the scoresheet in front of over 1,000 travelling Whites.
Hibs are set for Europa League action next week against FC Midtjylland of Denmark so are therefore naturally further into their Pre-Season schedule with competitive football just days away for the SPL outfit.
"It was good and it was a good exercise for us. We knew we were coming up against a really tough team and we expected them to be really sharp, which they were." said Schumacher
"They've been back in their pre season schedule a bit longer than us, and they're going into a competitive tie on Thursday. We said to the players, this was going to be a tough test, and we have to make sure that we're ready for it but I felt we dealt with them really well.
"Defensively, we looked really solid and organised. I think they had their best opportunities from a couple of free kicks that we gave away in our own half, which we tried to eliminate in the second half.
"I thought we were exciting as well with the ball. In those moments I thought we were excellent, especially in the wide areas, we looked really exciting."
Wanderers' loanee Amario Cozier-Duberry opened the scoring in emphatic fashion when he cut inside from the right and unleashed a rocket into the top left corner to put Wanderers ahead and whet the appetite of the travelling faithful for the season ahead.
"It was a great goal and we got into some really good areas. Joel hit the post, Amario has had a few opportunities and Thierry also hit the post in the first half. So we got into some promising areas of the pitch. The goal itself was a bit of quality.
"At half time he spoke to the lads about moving the ball a little bit quicker and not taking two and three touches. If we can get there in one and two touches, then it'll just speed the game up for us and give our wide players that little bit more space to attack one v one if we get the ball to wingers quicker.
"Dacres-Cogley played a brilliant first time pass for Amario and he did the rest. It was an unbelievable bit of skill and amazing strike right in the top corner.
"Now we just have to keep hammering in, because it's okay doing it in the pre-season. We have to make sure everybody knows the jobs and we're drilled, but with and without the ball in separate situations."
On the injury front, Richard Taylor was replaced in the second half after limping off but fingers will be crossed that it's not as bad as first feared. Charlie Warren missed the trip to Scotland as he will require treatment for a broken wrist picked up against Barrow on Tuesday.
"Richard Taylor has said he passed the ball back to the goalkeeper and just felt his right groin just tighten up a little bit so he's come off as more of a precaution. We'll see how he is next week when we get home. Apart from that, everyone seems okay from today.
"Charlie went for a challenge from a cross at Barrow and collided with the goalkeeper and landed on his wrist. So he's broken a bone in that and he’s going to go and see a wrist specialist next week to discover the extent of it, but he'll probably be non contact, certainly for a few weeks, and then we'll see if we can strap him up or get him a cast made. It's a shame because he's been doing really well."
George Thomason also was missing from the Wanderers squad and Steven Schumacher provided an updated on that situation post-game.
"We as a club have had a bid for George that we think is a really good bid which we have accepted so he's speaking to that club over this weekend.
"I'm sure we can confirm a few more details in the next coming days but it looks like we preparing for life without George, and we wish him all the best.
Over 1,000 Wanderers fans travelled north of the border to back Schumacher's men on the road and were sent home happy after a worthwile trip.
"The fans were brilliant and there was so many of them behind the goal, and I'm sure they enjoyed the performance. We’ve come up here to a really good team, really good club so it’s great to play as well as we did and go away from it with a win.
'I know it's only pre-season, and there's no points at stake, but a win, another clean sheet and a promising performance.'
