Steven Schumacher expressed his satisfaction with Wanderers’ performance and the travelling support after a hard-fought 1-1 draw against Bradford City confirmed the club's place in the League One play-offs.
Johnny Kenny continued his exceptional goalscoring run to put Wanderers ahead, before the hosts found an equaliser. Despite being forced to share the points, the result guarantees a top-six finish for Wanderers with one game of the regular season remaining.
Reviewing the match, Schumacher was quick to praise the application of his squad in a challenging environment.
"I thought we played very well. I thought it was a good game, really competitive," the Head Coach explained. "I thought we played some really good stuff, looked dangerous in the first half... we deserved to go ahead in the game. The game plan was going exactly how we wanted it."
Bradford drew level after capitalising on a dead-ball situation, a known strength of the home side. "It's a great finish from Jackson," Schumacher noted. "So unfortunate not to win it, but really pleased with the effort that the lads put in."
A major positive from the afternoon was another goal for Johnny Kenny, marking his fifth strike in as many matches. The forward combined excellently with Mason Burstow before producing a superb finish into the top corner.
"It was a brilliant finish, really good goal, well worked," Schumacher said. "Great lay-off from Mason who played really well. Johnny was in, and seeing as he's in good form and playing with confidence, he could turn a defender like that. To turn onto his right foot and put it in the top corner shows the quality that I knew he had."
Kenny was also denied a second by an "outstanding" save from Bradford goalkeeper Sam Walker.
Schumacher also provided an update on striker Sam Dalby, who missed the trip to West Yorkshire due to a minor injury. Managing an ankle issue since the Port Vale fixture, Dalby suffered some subsequent swelling following the recent match against Huddersfield Town. The club is currently awaiting the results of a scan, with hopes he will be available for next weekend.
With a play-off place now mathematically secure, attention turns to the final match of the regular campaign against Luton Town at the Toughsheet Community Stadium. Schumacher is clear on the objective: maintaining momentum.
"We wanted to come here and win, and I felt we played well enough to win," he stated. "But now the next objective is to win on Saturday. We've got to play a Luton team who, if we don't win, they'll come into the play-offs with all the momentum, and we want to try and finish the season as strong as we can. Try and win that game and that'll cement third or fourth place."
The Head Coach reserved his final words for the travelling Wanderers fans, who once again packed out the away end to back the team.
"A big shout out to our fans, who were absolutely brilliant," Schumacher concluded. "Our fans have been amazing up and down the country all season, sold out away ends every week. Today I think they've seen the team give everything... it's a point that we needed. So we're happy."