THREE of the four teams promoted from League Two last season have already made a dent in the higher division – and Ian Evatt is not surprised.

Stockport County, Wrexham and Mansfield Town have carried through the form which clinched them a top three spot last year to occupy places in the top 10 at the quarter-way stage.

Evatt has been impressed, and though Stockport were humbled at home by Wycombe in midweek, he feels Dave Challinor’s side have an in-built resilience, fashioned by their success in recent seasons.

“This is a tough league, it isn’t easy,” he said. “What you normally find is that the teams which get promoted have that continuity, they are used to winning games, and it follows into the season.

“Eventually it wanes, and you get used to a new level and what is required. It was never going to be easy for Stockport, Wrexham or Mansfield and all three have done incredibly well so far, but it’s a marathon not a sprint.

“Stockport have had some hefty investment, they have a good squad of players, and there is expectation there too. They have had success, they know what it takes to win games and get on runs of good results, so I think we will face a very different team than Wycombe did in midweek, especially when you factor in the atmosphere.

“We just focus on our requirements and expectations, consistency and the key word, momentum. We know you can lose it in a heartbeat and it can take weeks to build.

“We have got into a position where it has built now and we need to maintain it.”

Wanderers have Nathan Baxter back from injury and must decide whether to put him back in place of Luke Southwood, who has started the last five league games.

Gethin Jones and Jordi Osei-Tutu could also be named on the bench after their return to fitness but Ricardo Santos is in line for a recall after sitting out the FA Cup defeat at Walsall last weekend.

Wanderers have not played in the league at Edgeley Park since October 2000, when they were beaten 4-3, with Aaron Wilbraham scoring a last-minute winner for County.

Ian Marshall scored twice for Bolton, with Michael Ricketts adding the other. Stockport’s first three goals came from Andy Tod, Jarko Wiss and Ian Thomas-Moore.