Gareth Ainsworth points to threadbare Wycombe squad for latest setback

Wycombe manager Gareth Ainsworth believes the congested fixtures over the festive period has “stretched” his club after a 4-1 home defeat to Coventry

The Sky Bet League One leaders suffered their latest setback with a third successive defeat as they were well beaten by Coventry at Adams Park, with Matt Godden scoring a hat-trick for the visitors alongside Sam McCallum’s strike.

And this result, which saw Adebayo Akinfenwa score Wycombe’s only goal, also comes off of the back of a growing injury list for Ainsworth, who stated that his side have been hit particularly hard by a tough run of games.

“It’s been a tough Christmas period for us with so many players out and the run of fixtures – I don’t think any club will have had a tougher run – but like I say, all credit to Coventry; there are no excuses from us,” Ainsworth said.

“Coventry were well worth the win, I’m not going to say otherwise. They were fresh, lively and full of energy and if you give a side like them a two-goal lead, you’re asking for trouble.

“We’ve got to get dusted off now ahead of Wednesday against Ipswich. Obviously, there’s disappointment in that changing room but today will help bring in a bit of realism.

“At the start of the season staying in League One was the aim, and now we’re top there’s an expectation – we’ll keep doing our best, yes, but we are stretched.

“My thing now is effecting tomorrow, then Wednesday. We’ll have a look at today and there’s some real uncharacteristic errors from us, but that’s football sometimes and this will make us tougher.”

There was joy for Coventry boss Mark Robins, who reserved special praise for hat-trick hero Godden.

He said: “It’ll do Matty Godden the world of good, but he’s deserved this. He’s a real team-player, and he’s also carried a bit of a knock, but there’s plenty out there today who were excellent.

“Sam (McCallum) was really good, Jordan Shipley did his bit and we’ve signed off the year brilliantly.

“It was a great day to do it. It felt like a home game with the support we had, and we settled quickly which set the tone.

“The result was justified and deserved, I have to say. It’s some of the best football we’ve played this season in difficult conditions.

“They’re a very difficult side to play against, but things clicked today and we did something we’ve perhaps been guilty of not doing this season in taking our chances.

“We didn’t have a Boxing Day game and that’s given us the opportunity to let the lads enjoy some family time, and you’ve seen the effect of that.”