Gareth Ainsworth amazed by Wycombe’s progress

Posted Wednesday, November 28, 2018 by PA

Gareth Ainsworth admits he is pinching himself after his side moved up to 10th in Sky Bet League One following their last-gasp 2-1 win over Accrington.

Stanley went ahead through Sean McConville’s 15th-minute goal and then on-loan Birmingham goalkeeper David Stockdale made a number of top-class saves and Billy Kee hit the woodwork.

However, Wycombe turned the game around when substitute Scott Kashket fired home an equaliser before Alex Samuel slammed in a stoppage-time winner for the Chairboys.

It is the first time Wanderers have beaten Stanley in 12 league games.

“The boys dug deep,” said Ainsworth. “Our aim is to stay in this league so to be in 10th place, we are pinching ourselves.

“It’s amazing, there are some big sides in this league and we are above them. We are proud to be in 10th.

“Accrington have been our nemesis over the years. It’s a tough place to come and we haven’t had the best of it over the last five seasons.

“We’ve had a lot of ups but Accrington hasn’t been an up, so I’m pleased to get that monkey off our backs.

“There were some outstanding performances. David Stockdale is a fantastic keeper and we will look to keep him.

“Alex Samuel is a diamond and he can play as high as he wants to. He never gave their centre-halves any peace and it was a great strike with his left foot, he deserved that.

“He is a pleasure to work with and I’m so proud of all of the boys. We may not have the finances but we make up for it with heart and togetherness.”

John Coleman’s side, promoted with Wycombe last season, slipped to 11th and made it six league games without a win.

“We’ve got ourselves into a rut and have found a way not to win games,” said Coleman, who chalks up his 1000th game as a manager on Saturday.

“With 13 minutes to go we were 1-0 up and in control but then we defended too deep and allowed their lad to control the ball and score. The second one is an individual mistake and we’ve set it up on a plate for them.

“Our inability to kill games off has come back and bitten us on the backside. They’ve had two shots on target and scored with both.

“Some of our football in the first half was outstanding and their keeper has made around five world-class saves, but it’s about putting the ball in the net and we’ll have to work harder to do it.

“We have to turn it around quickly or else we will plummet down the league.”