Kyle Dempsey expects Wanderers to come out all guns blazing to get their campaign moving back in the right direction on Saturday, writes Pete Oliver.
The Whites will be bidding to make it back-to-back home league wins when they face Peterborough United.
And a week on from letting a lead slip at Reading to suffer a first away loss and slip just outside League One’s top six, Dempsey is predicting a positive reaction.
“One thing from us, which probably everyone has seen, is when we do suffer a defeat in that manner, there’s always a response and a bounce-back. And that’s all we can do this week,” said the midfield driving force.
“We can show the real us and we’ve got to put in a performance because they are a dangerous side and a good team.
“We know what to expect from them but, for us, the main focus is being ourselves and delivering what we know we can.
“It’s been an okay start but we know it can be miles better. We know we can find a lot better level of consistency and that’s what we’re working hard on now.
“When we’re on our game and we’re fluid and we’re hunting in packs, you can just tell what type of game it’s going to be from us.
“Now, it’s finding that consistency of delivering that on a more consistent basis because when we do play like that we more or less win every game.
Wanderers let Reading off the hook with a clutch of missed chances before conceding two late goals to record just a second league loss of the season.
Ian Evatt’s men can’t afford to be so generous in front of goal again and Dempsey is backing the front men to strike back and look to contribute himself to add the one ingredient missing from his impressive start to the campaign.
“I’m playing with a massive confidence. The fans definitely gave me that towards the back end of last year. The support they showed me, I just want to re-pay that,” added the 28-year-old – an ever-present in League One so far this season.
“The gaffer and the coaching staff – working hard with them every day – are developing my game and I just want to continue doing that and just start adding these goals now.
“I’ve been working really hard and watching certain players when they arrive (in the box) and getting in those better moments because I feel like when I’m in those moments I will take the chances and I will get the goals.
“You see with all good players. They put those chances behind them and you know they’re going to get another coming their way. It’s just about being clinical. We’ve all been working on that this week, of being in those areas and putting those chances away.
There’s definitely a good feel. Confidence and positivity has been high in training this week. You have put that game (last week) to bed and move on to this week.”
With Saturday’s game against a Peterborough side level on points with Wanderers and one place below in eighth spot the Whites’ first ‘Community Day’ of the season there will be another 20,000-plus crowd backing Evatt’s men.
Dempsey believes the supporters made a difference when Wanderers beat Derby at home to kick off the month and is hoping for more of the same to help inspire a fourth home league win which could get the Whites right back among the early pace-settters.
“I’ve always said the fans are absolutely massive for us,” he said. “I think Derby was one of those games when they had the sending off and we just couldn’t break them down they kept with us.
“Then when we got that goal and even probably in the last 10 minutes, Derby came back with a lot of firepower and the fans stayed behind us.
“They’re a massive figure for us. Especially when games aren’t going our way and they’re still behind us, it gives us that lift and that belief and hopefully we can perform on Saturday the way we know we can for them.”
Tickets for Saturday’s game are reduced to £10 for adults and £5 for over-65s and under-18s. Details of how to buy can be found HERE
Watch Dempsey’s full pre-match interview on Wanderers TV HERE
