Steven Schumacher believes the Easter weekend could yet change the course of the play-off race as Wanderers look to stay among the runners and riders, writes Pete Oliver.
Schumacher’s men head into a make-or-break four-day spell sitting eighth in the League One table – three points outside the top six and with goals to make up.
The Whites entertain high-flying Wycombe Wanderers on Good Friday (KO 3pm) and then go to Lincoln City on Easter Monday for two of their four fixtures they have left to try and close the gap.
Wanderers have to get past both Reading and Leyton Orient to reach the play-offs but Schumacher feels the contest for sixth spot isn’t cut and dried as his side looks to bounce back from last weekend’s 4-1 beating at Barnsley.
“When you get days like that, then it's an opportunity to respond,” said the Whites’ head coach. “We spoke about it openly on Tuesday when we debriefed it. We went over everything and the lads accepted it.
“There were things that we could have done better as well as a staff, so it's one of them. We hold our hands up and move on and try and get the performance right for what's going to be a really hard game on Friday against Wycombe.
“I think everyone's aware of the situation. I don't think the teams above us will win all four and I think the Easter period always throws in a few twists and turns. The run-in pressure does strange things to teams.
“But there's almost less pressure on us now because we know what the outcome is. We know the scenario. We have to win so we have to go and attack the game on Friday, try and be positive and find a way to beat Wycombe.”
While Wanderers have hit a run of five defeats in seven games to slip off the pace, third-placed Wycombe have sustained their promotion challenge thanks to a record of just four league defeats in 2025.
The size of the challenge is therefore obvious. And while the Whites’ cause is not helped by a lengthy injury list, Schumacher insists it won’t take much to turn things around as his side strives to extend their season.
“I don't think the players have been playing with a lack of confidence,” added the boss. “I just think there was a bit of a lack of intensity on Saturday and in that period of 35 minutes when they (Barnsley) scored two goals, we just didn't do the basics well enough.
“I don't sense that the players lack belief because the game before we created 38 chances and whatever and should have scored. So the confidence isn't really an issue and I think the players trust in their ability.
“We just need to make sure that we make the most of any chances that we get. Our analysts told me that, apparently, we've underperformed our XG (expected goals) by five goals so far since we've been here.
“We've also lost five games by one goal so even if we just draw those games then we’re five points are better off. It’s tight. We're not doing too much wrong, but we find ourselves with loads of work to do and we have to try and achieve it.”
Watch the full pre-match interview with the boss on Wanderers TV