IAN Evatt believes Wanderers must think big if they are going to get anywhere this season.

After beating Ipswich Town 5-2 at the weekend the Whites pushed their way to third in the table with just one defeat in their first seven games.

Evatt began the campaign by saying his side should be taken seriously as promotion candidates after escaping League Two at the first time of asking. And having made a solid and eminently watchable start to the campaign, he sees no reason to change his view.

“We have been dreaming since day one,” he said. “If you don’t believe you can be the best at something then you have no chance of being the best. We have that belief.

“It isn’t arrogance, it is self-confidence and belief in our ability.

“We have a long, long way to go and we can still improve in a lot of areas but I think we are a good team, so why not?”

Central to Wanderers success so far this season has been the form of winger Dapo Afolayan, who has scored five goals in all competitions so far and made more successful dribbles than any other player in League One.

Again, Evatt has not been shy to put the former West Ham man on a pedestal after securing his services on a three-year deal this summer.

But the Wanderers boss has warned Afolayan that increased attention from opposing defenders will bring with it a need to stay calm and focussed.

“Dapo is one of the best players in the division, I will tell you that for nothing,” he said.

“But he does need to focus on himself, focus on the job he is doing for the rest of the team.

“He has a big role to play for the team and he has a part to play for himself. He trusts me, he respects me and listens to me, and I think when he does that, as you can see, he’s an outstanding young player with a very bright future.”

Evatt was delighted with some of Wanderers' build-up play on Saturday at Portman Road.

“I speak a lot about Man City and it pains me because I’m not really a Man City fan, but I’m a Pep fan, and that third goal, finding solutions, rotation in midfield, drawing them under the ball, and then attacking quickly," he said.

“Joel - the English Ederson - sprayed the ball to our full-back Gethin, who knocks it around the corner to Eoin or Izzy - that was a counter attacking Man City goal.

“We don’t want to be them, but it’s not a bad thing being like them and being compared to them!"