GARY Waddock was delighted with the way Wanderers handled the pressure of today’s crucial relegation six pointer against Rochdale.

With so much at stake the match was understandably nervy but once Blues were in front thanks to a clinical Stuart Beavon goal they never looked back and strolled to a 3-0 win.

Wanderers had to handle the pressure of a promotion push at the end of last season – now Waddock wants his players to do the same again as they look to ease themselves out of relegation trouble.

The Blues boss said: “We have to go out there and try to enjoy ourselves as well. We were under a lot of pressure last year to go up and the players stepped up and took that in their stride.

“That was a different type of pressure. Today’s game was a pressure game and they dealt with that again, but there’s no point being frightened or worried or scared. It’s in our hands.

“It was a massive game – you couldn’t play it down at all. Credit to the players, how they went about it. They put in a lot of effort, a lot of determination.

“Sometimes it wasn’t pretty because of the conditions as well, but to get a 3-0 scoreline, clean sheet, Bevs with a couple – it was a very good afternoon for us.

“The fans deserve it and the players deserve it. It’s been a difficult period for us.”

The clean sheet that accompanied the win was the first since the 1-0 win over Sheffield United 17 league games ago and only the second of the season but Waddock said he was more concerned about the win.

Asked what the most important aspect of the game was, he said: “The three points, without a shadow of a doubt. If it had been 5-4 and we’d won I’d have taken that. To get the three goals and the clean sheet is a bonus. The three points was the target.”

Wanderers were helped in getting a blank scoresheet thanks to an accomplished display from debutant Louis Laing, who started alongside the returning Dave Winfield, and Waddock was full of praise for him.

He said: “He looks a player doesn’t he? He’s a young lad who’s come in today and looked very composed in a game that was a very difficult for both teams, so I’m delighted for him and very pleased with his performance.”

Waddock also heaped praise of goalscorer Beavon after another wonderstrike to add to goals against MK Dons and Colchester this season that have had fans rubbing their eyes in disbelief.

He said: “He doesn’t get tap ins this season. His touch and finish was top class. He worked so hard for the team, his all round play is extremely good and this season he’s stuck a few goals in as well.

“He’s right on top of his game. Last couple of weeks he hasn’t hit the target – today he did and we’re delighted for him.”