WANDERERS have already had a good look at their first opponents in this season’s EFL Trophy.

Salford City impressed Ian Evatt when the two sides met in July as Aaron Morley and George Thomason got on the scoresheet in a 2-1 win at the Peninsula Stadium.

Neil Wood’s side have reserved their best performances for the cup competitions this season, winning two ties on penalties against higher division opponents to book a third round tie with Burnley later this month.

Evatt says his familiarity with Salford’s style makes him confident it will be a stern test for his team after their win against Derby County.

“They looked like they had a good idea of what they wanted to do and I think Neil is a very good coach,” he said.

“They are dangerous, and they have had some good results in cup competitions, beat Leeds United, beat Preston North End, and so they will come here and give us a good go.

“I just think we need to focus on performances because on the back of them the results will follow.”

Salford’s front line is led by experienced target man Matt Smith and the bullets supplied by creative types like Conor McAleny and Callum Hendry, who have both started the season well.

Wood has toggled between a three and four-man defence this season and come into the match on the back of a 1-0 defeat at Morecambe, during which midfielder Matty Lund was sent off.

Wanderers negotiated pre-season without defeat after picking their opponents carefully – and while they could not have foreseen the EFL Trophy draw at the time, Evatt says it will mean he goes into this game with his eyes wide open.

“We always want to play teams in pre-season who give us a stylistic challenge and Salford certainly were that sort of side,” he said.

“To get drawn against them in the cup does present a challenge but we are looking forward to it, we think it will be a good game, a good test.”

The game will be refereed by Aaron Jackson, who has issued three red cards in his two outings already this season.

He has not yet refereed at EFL level but has four previous seasons in the National League under his belt.

In 2019 he was involved in an incident during a game between Yeovil and Bromley where he was forced to send off a ball boy for refusing to give the ball to one of the visiting players on a couple of occasions.