Boss Rob Edwards remains confident Luton Town can overturn their semi-final first leg deficit against Sunderland on Tuesday and reach the Championship play-off final at Wembley on May 27.
The Hatters were beaten 2-1 by Wearsiders at the Stadium of Light, despite taking an early lead.
Finishing third gave Luton the lead for the crucial second leg.
“There’s still a long way to go, we have to see it that way,” Edwards told BBC Three Counties Radio.
“We believe. I told the guys that I definitely believed in them that they could do it, and they would.”
Elijah Adebayo’s opener against the Black Cats was as good as it gets for Luton on Wearside as their usual rhythm was interrupted by the energetic hosts.
Edwards hinted that the smaller Kenilworth Road ground will suit their efforts, particularly to bring top scorer Carlton Morris more into the game.
But whatever the approaches, systems and tactics, the message could not be clearer for players and staff.
“We have to win, we know that,” Edwards continued. “In a league game you don’t always have to win and sometimes you can take that point, but not in the play-offs.
“We now know what we have to do, and we have to go for it.”
Mowbray expects ‘a bit of chaos’
Having seen his own game plan executed to perfection in the home game, Tony Mowbray is now taking his Sunderland side south in a bid to finish the job.
Mowbray praised his side’s “bravery” as they took on Luton with a sharp passing game, despite caving in physicality and size to their opponents.
The 59-year-old is, however, wary of the threat from the home side and what the desperation of knockout football can do to a team.
“Generally in these situations there’s always a bit of madness, a bit of chaos at some point,” Mowbray told BBC Radio Newcastle.
“It’s when you really activate it. They don’t really need to activate it from the start. Their way of playing is quite dynamic.
“They might ask us questions, and if they get a goal the crowd will be ready, they’ll believe they’re going to have a winner.
“We’ll see what happens, but we have to be ready from the first whistle for the intensity of the game.”
Bring the noise, urges Edwards
Luton’s welcoming Kenilworth Road may not have the vast, towering concrete stands and endless rows of seats of the Stadium of Light, but its compactness lends an intimately special atmosphere all its own.
Edwards called on the Hatters faithful to recreate the sound barrier that helped Sunderland cross the line on their home turf on Saturday.
“We can make noise in Kenilworth Road and we will need it, we have to bring that,” added Edwards.
“They were up for it, and I know our lot will be up on Tuesday.
“It’s half-time, I have to stress that. We’re right in the game, everyone knows that. It’s 2-1 with at least 90 minutes of football to go.
“We need everyone behind us for the duration of the game and the guys will give us everything – we know that.”
