Gareth Ainsworth salutes firepower on bench after win at Crewe

Posted Sunday, January 21, 2018 by PA

Gareth Ainsworth saluted the firepower he was able to unleash off the bench as Wycombe pinched a late win at Crewe.

Experienced strikers Nathan Tyson and Craig Mackail-Smith scored in a dramatic finish at Gresty Road which saw Crewe boss Dave Artell sent to the stands by referee Martin Coy after claiming the official let a handball by Adebayo Akinfenwa go unpunished as Tyson put Wycombe 2-1 ahead.

Crewe hit back through Aston Villa loanee Harry McKirdy, but Mackail-Smith made the most of a defensive blunder to poke home a stoppage-time winner.

The Chairboys boss said: “Having those kind of forwards can change the game and we needed them as this is a difficult place to come with Crewe fighting for their lives.

“The firepower we had on the bench was phenomenal and in a finish like that you need those kind of players who are going to score goals. To get three points late like that is great as it looked as though we might have to settle for a draw.

“We’re still in touch with the top teams and we have got to keep on putting points on the table.”

Wycombe, though, started tamely and trailed for nearly an hour after Chris Porter converted from the spot when Charlie Kirk was brought down by Nathan McGinley.

But Paris Cowan-Hall, who had wafted an effort past the post, made the most of Akinfenwa’s delicious flick-on to bury a half-volley for the equaliser on the hour.

And while Akinfenwa appeared to help the ball on with his hand, Tyson made the most of his assist to force the second home in the 82nd minute.

With veteran striker Porter hobbling off, Crewe’s attacking resources looked depleted. They had sold creative playmaker George Cooper to Peterborough and a knee injury ruled out Chris Dagnall.

But boss Artell had taken the precaution of signing 20-year-old striker McKirdy on loan and he made an impact when he replaced homegrown youngster Lewis Reilly.

McKirdy finished off after the Ryan Wintle’s effort was parried by Scott Brown, only for Mackail-Smith to nip in between Michael Raynes and Ben Garratt to grab the winner.

“Tommy Mooney at Aston Villa says he’s the best piece of business done in the transfer window and hopefully Harry will carry on in that vein,” said Artell.

“Our bench was a lot stronger today and we didn’t deserve to lose.

“But we can’t concede three goals at home and blame one man (the referee), although he deserves every bit of criticism that comes his way.

“We’ve got to be better, but if we had won three or four nil nobody complains. But the best team has lost and we have got to make sure that performances turn into results quite quickly.”