Having edged tentatively past Barnsley in the League One play-off semi-final, a Wembley date awaits on May 18 to decide who gets the third promotion spot.
Thomason admits there were some home truths told in the dressing room after Tuesday night’s brush with danger – during which Bolton nearly let a 3-1 first-leg lead slip through their grasp – but having now booked a place in the final a week on Saturday he feels the moment has come for the club to realise their target.
The midfielder has played alongside 75 different team-mates since making his senior debut for the Whites in 2020 and alongside Ricardo Santos and Gethin Jones has played in each season under Ian Evatt.
The team’s pre-season goal was to get back to the second division for the first time since 2019, and Thomason thinks the team is committed to making that happen.
He declared, “I think we are prepared to move forward.” “There have been numerous players who have come and gone, including the three of us who have been here since the coach took over.
However, I believe there is now a strong sense of continuity. We are all aware of each other’s advantages and disadvantages; we are a pack.
“We push one other and expect more from each other, even though it may mean saying things that others don’t like to hear at the moment. We all know it’s best for the group and for each other.
“The dressing room is filled with quality, but if we don’t put in the work, it won’t matter.” That is the very least.
“And if we want to finish the job at Wembley, we will have to do that.”
The Wanderers have great memories of the national stadium from their recent victory against Plymouth Argyle to win the Papa Johns Trophy.
Thomason believes they will benefit much from the experience.
He said: “A lot of the boys are still here who played last season, know the occasion, know the atmosphere, the surroundings, because it is a big old ground and once it gets filled it can be overwhelming. The fact we have been there, done it, know how it feels, can only put us in good stead.”
Thousands of supporters stayed on to applaud the players’ efforts after generating one of the most memorable atmospheres in recent memory.
Thomason said he hadn’t experienced much like it in nearly five years with the club.
“It was electric, when I came in at half time and full time my ears were absolutely ringing,” he said.
“You do get caught up in the game and you don’t take it in as much but when little things happen like a shot at goal, a corner or you win a big tackle or a duel and raise the energy of the stadium you really feel it.
“The fans have been phenomenal all year long for us away from home, we just need them for one more game. I am sure they will pack Wembley out for us and hopefully it will be a memorable day.”
Even though the night’s match against Barnsley did not go as planned, Thomason believes they did enough to shade the tie through both games.
He described it as a “mixed bag of emotions.” There was some relief at the conclusion of the match. It was presumably supposed to have been a happy and joyous evening.
“We made it to Wembley and gave ourselves a one-game shootout to win the Championship. It felt a little nervous and tense at first, but now it is starting to sink in.”
