Gareth Ainsworth questions Wycombe’s desire after defeat

Posted Wednesday, March 13, 2019 by PA

Gareth Ainsworth bemoaned Wycombe’s performance and character after they collapsed to a 3-1 home defeat at home to Accrington.

Billy Kee scored two penalties as John Coleman’s men bossed the game from start to finish as Stanley ended a three-game losing streak.

The hosts had taken the lead through Paris Cowan-Hall but Kee levelled from the spot deep into first-half stoppage-time before adding a second midway through the second half, with Paul Smyth sealing the win.

Ainsworth felt his side had not performed at their maximum throughout and questioned the desire of his team.

“I’m really disappointed,” he said. “I think Saturday against Sunderland really took its toll as some players were unrecognisable from that game.

“I made five changes due to injury and illness and that didn’t help, but we must defend better than that.

“We gave them two leg-ups with two penalties and you can’t do that.

“We were the better side in the first half and then we gave them a penalty and in the second they were the better side by some distance.

“We were one dimensional. Fair play to Accrington, who took their chances.

“The second penalty was very soft, but the first one looked like a penalty to me.

“We have to dust ourselves down. We only had one midfielder on the pitch and had players out of position. I’m disappointed, I’m down, but have to get up for Saturday at Shrewsbury.”

Accrington manager John Coleman said: “Our performances haven’t merited the bad results we’ve got, but football is a cruel game sometimes. You don’t always get the results you deserve.

“We had chances tonight and didn’t take them, but thankfully the boys managed to get two penalties which were good penalties and we got a third – we could have got more.

“After that first half when we hit the woodwork twice we could have been forgiven for thinking it was one of those nights, but our boys are made of stern stuff and they knew the importance of the win.

“We’ve got some massive games coming up so we’re not going to think that’s it and we’re safe. There’s a long way to go and we’ve taken a step in the right direction.”