Ainsworth bemoans poor defending after Coventry net late winner

Wycombe boss Gareth Ainsworth was left “gutted” after his side conceded late on to lose 1-0 at Coventry.

Conor Chaplin’s header eight minutes from time secured back-to-back League One victories for Mark Robins’ Sky Blues.

Ainsworth has built a strong defensive unit at Wanderers and letting one of the shortest players on the pitch get a free header incensed the visitors’ boss on a blustery afternoon at the Ricoh Arena.

“It’s tough to take,” admitted Ainsworth. “We are absolutely gutted, my dressing room is absolutely devastated. I’m just frustrated with the goal we conceded to be honest.

“I thought a nil-nil would have been a fair result, I really do. They’re a good side.

“There was one moment and it was a moment where probably the smallest player on the pitch scores a header.

“It’s a real kick in the teeth. We’ve got to defend better as a team, we limited them to shots from distance. We can’t let that happen with that goal, it’s really disappointing.

“I thought we frustrated Coventry, we really frustrated them. We weren’t at our best. We usually score, we’re usually good for a goal.

“When you’re not great try and get a point and we almost did. That was the disappointing thing.”

Both goalkeepers stood out with the game heading towards a goalless draw.

Sky Blues stopper Lee Burge completed a hat-trick of saves to frustrate Scottish striker Craig Mackail-Smith and Ryan Allsop denied Jordy Hiwula, twice, and Chaplin before being beaten at the death.

Robins praised the contributions of Hiwula and match-winner Chaplin.

He said: “It’s a great win, a really good win. There were difficult conditions, it was tough.

“I thought there were some good performances today. Jordy was instrumental in the good things that we did and Conor kept plugging away, he was busy and got a great goal at the end.

“He got in the box and he showed you don’t have to be six foot three to score a header.

“He got his just rewards because he was busy, he was working and it just didn’t fall to him just right until he scored.

“They [Wycombe] play in a way that suits them, we played against it last year so we were prepared for the strengths they have.

“It just felt like we needed a bit more tempo and a bit of urgency and then we could get a goal.

“We just created great openings and took the wrong option right at the death.”