Bolton Wanderers will be aiming to make it five wins in a row in League One when they take on Morecambe this weekend.
Wanderers have won their last four games in the division and head to the Mazuma Stadium seeking to extend that run.
The Shrimps sit 21st in the table at present and themselves will be aiming to return to winning ways on the third attempt.
READ MORE: Gillingham boss Neil Harris speaks on Kyle Dempsey's deadline day transfer to Bolton Wanderers
Bolton can go as high as ninth should they pick up three points and results elsewhere on the day go their way.
Before the game, Wanderers boss Ian Evatt spoke to the press and here's what he had to say to broadcasters in full ahead of the weekend's clash.
How’s it shaping up ahead of Morecambe?
“All okay. I think there’s one or two tired bodies but other than that, we’re okay.”
You’ve got a nice headache with this game and it’s what you’ve wanted?
“Absolutely. We’ve got a squad of players that are all chomping at the bit and ready to play and make an impression, especially the new ones, so we’ve got decisions to make and we’ll take each game as it comes really and see the opponents, see strengths and weaknesses, and pick a team accordingly.”
Does that come into play now which perhaps didn’t before the opposition as you can carefully consider what might be needed to get a result?
“Yeah. Obviously before we just didn’t have the options off the bench. Now if Plan A isn’t working, we’ve got Plan B, C, D sat on the bench really and we can affect games from there, but I’m pleased with where we’re at. We’ve got lots of hard work to go but the boys are really bouncing at the moment.”
The expectation you’ll be aware has been raised. That just goes with the improvement, doesn't it?
“Well I’d rather there be expectation than not, of course, and I’m never shy of being confident about my team, which has been a hindrance to me probably this year, but I know I’ll be smiling in the end.
"For now, we’ve just got to focus on what we’re doing, focus on actions rather than words, and keep improving game on game, week on week.”
How difficult it is to do that a you’re four wins on the spin, you haven’t conceded a goal, everybody connected with Bolton Wanderers want that run to continue and does that bring an extra bit of responsibility and pressure?
“Everyone wants to continue runs but unfortunately every run has to come to an end sooner rather than later but for now, we’re focused on trying to carry it on as long as we possibly can and if keep keeping clean sheets, it gives us a really good chance of winning games. So keep defending well as a team, keep that intensity and energy levels up and high.
"That comes down to freshness and team rotation, but we’re in a much better place than we were a month ago. A week in football’s a long time and I think we’ve highlighted that more than most this season really and this window.”
Is confidence a major part of that improvement?
“I think confidence comes off the back of positive results. I think obviously the players and the existing players seeing new players turn up into the building with the ability that they’ve got and then the training levels go up and in turn, that raises and lifts everybody and raises their own performance.
"I think that’s happened. I think returning players, such as Gethin has had a huge impact on the team. It’s a mixture of all of the above really. We’re pleased with where we’re at but for us and Bolton Wanderers and where I want to take this club, midtable isn’t enough. It’s not.
"We don’t want to be mid table. We want to keep working hard and finish as high as we possibly can. There’s still a lot of points to play for.”
How nice is this winning feeling all around the club right now?
“It’s nice. Of course it is, especially after what we went through November and December, but it’s not enough. We want more, we want more victories, we want more success, we want to keep the run going, we want to finish higher than what we are at the minute, so there’s lots of hard work to go.
"There’s 19 games left, lots of points to play for so we’ll see where we end up.”
You’ve said before there’s lots to improve on. What is it in the short term you want to see the players improve upon?
“Everything. Perfection is something that we all set out to achieve, but it’s something that doesn't exist. You have to, no matter what level you’re at, whether you’re Manchester City or Bolton Wanderers, you always want to be better and improve.
"Nobody has achieved perfection in life. It’s a word that’s spoken about a lot but it just doesn't exist, it’s a myth, and you have to keep working and striving to be better and better everyday and that’s something that we’re trying hard to do.
“We’re a team that I think now people are seeing what we’re trying to do. We’ve recruited energy and speed into the team. We’re a team that gets bums on the edge of seats and that’s what we want to be.
"We want to be entertaining, and I think with the atmosphere in the last couple of home games in particular, our fans are enjoying watching us play and that’s what’s important. They work very hard to earn money to come and watch us play and buy merchandise from this football club. The least we can do is do our best to entertain them and that’s what we’re trying to do.”
The last couple of matches the players seem to be feeding off the energy of the crowd and it’s pushing them on?
“I think it’s a two-way street and I think the crowd are feeding off the energy of the players as well. It’s a mixture of the both and if you combine the both together, then this can be a really tough place to come and a bit of a fortress for us and that’s how we want to make it.”
James Trafford made history by being the first ever Bolton Wanderers goalkeeper to keep four clean sheets in his first four matches…
“The last I saw and understood football is it takes 11 players to keep clean sheets and not just a goalkeeper. As pleased as I am for James, it’s not just him.
"To be honest, he hasn’t had a great deal to do. It’s been the way we’ve defended back to front, front to back, and our centre forwards have epitomised our pressing strategy the past few games with their energy and their work ethic, and if they keep doing that then James will have a good chance of keeping more clean sheets and that’s what we want for him.”
At home it’s not been a big problem getting results, but away with the exception of Shrewsbury, it has been a little bit tricker - what do you want to see in the next few games on the road?
“Performance will bring points so we must make sure we perform to the levels we can. Each game is going to throw up a different challenge.
"MK Dons coming up away, we know what to expect from them, Oxford away, we know what to expect from them, Morecambe away and Burton away are completely different challenges. For me it’s mind and mentality over matter on Saturday and we must go with the correct mindset and mentality to go and win the game.”
What do you think of how Morecambe have performed in their first ever season at this level?
“I think they’ve done really well. I think they are a team very much in touch and capable of staying up. They’ve got some very good players. Cole (Stockton) has done fantastically well and continued his good form from last season into this season.
"They’ve got some good attacking threats and we have to make sure that we’re on our game. Arthur (Gnahoua) is there and we know Arthur well from last year. He’s capable of really good performances, so we have to go with the right mindset and mentality and perform the way we have done these last four games.”
