Wanderers will be ready to go 'gung-ho' if Derby County slip up, says Evatt

IAN Evatt says his side will be ready to react if Derby County give them any glimmer of automatic promotion hope on the final day of the season.

Paul Warne’s Rams have one foot in the Championship and only need to avoid defeat against Carlisle United at home to seal second spot.

Wanderers also have to make-up a four-goal swing, so must realistically win well at the Weston Homes Stadium to stand any chance of snatching glory.

Evatt reckons his players will be prepared for all eventualities.

“Apart from Nathan (Baxter) going up front, we have learned our lesson from that,” he said, referring to a game against Carlisle earlier in the season.

“Other than that, we will probably have to go for it a little more – but this is a team that creates a hatful of chances, so provided we can take them, we won’t have a problem on that front.

“Obviously we will get updates in the game and if we need to go a little more gung-ho because the goals need to come then that is something we can change in-game, but the approach is the same. We will play our way and try to win the game. If things don’t go our way then we continue with the momentum going into what’s to come.

“The most important thing is that we perform against one of our direct competitors.

“Peterborough have been very good this season, they have been right up there for the majority of it.”

Predictions from the so-called ‘supercomputers’ at Opta give Wanderers a one in 125 chance of automatic promotion, which is statistically similar to tossing a coin and getting seven heads (or tails) in a row.

A play-off semi-final awaits next weekend against either Barnsley, Lincoln, Oxford or Blackpool, all of whom are jostling for fifth and sixth position.

Evatt believes his players can go and attack the game on Saturday lunchtime.

“We just have to go to Peterborough and make sure we perform, play well,” he said. “We’ve seen this season that playing well doesn’t always mean you get what you deserve but it does give you the best possible chance.

“Whether we are promoted or not, we are not expecting any one outcome, if that is the end – fantastic – but if not we need to be ready for the play-off games and having that home leg second is going to be vitally important, I feel.”

Wanderers have brought Victor Adeboyejo back into the training group after injury and are now almost back at full strength for what looks like a play-off charge.

Evatt said: “The group is strong again, which makes a difference, and there is competition for places again too because everyone is back fit aside from the ones we lost long-term, so that’s Carlos Mendes Gomes and now Jon Dadi Bodvarsson.

“We are in a good place. Dion (Charles) is looking sharper every day, Dan Nlundulu exactly the same, and so we are looking forward to seeing what happens moving forwards.”