Patience pays off for Mike Dodds as his side reignite their promotion push

Wycombe head coach Mike Dodds believes there will be more twists and turns in the push for promotion following their late 1-0 home victory over Stevenage.

Caleb Taylor’s stoppage-time strike and second-placed Wrexham’s 0-0 draw at Wigan saw the Chairboys close the gap on their automatic promotion rivals to just one point with four games left to play.

It looked like it was going to be a second successive home goalless draw for Wycombe as Stevenage defended well.

But Taylor’s first Adams Park strike secured Wycombe’s first home league win over Stevenage since 2018 and ensured they took advantage of Wrexham’s slip up.

Dodds said: “We spoke in the week about how that we knew it was going to be that kind of game and we needed to be patient.

“Ideally, not in the 90th minute, but I am pleased with the group.

“I thought the results against Shrewsbury and Reading were harsh as we had decisions go against us, so we deserved that today for those two games.

“From my point of views, after Reading, everyone thought that was it as Wycombe were wobbling but we’ve shown in the last two games we are capable of big performances and we’re still in it.

“We created chances and at this stage of the season, the first goal is vital and the longer it was 0-0, they made it hard for us.

“It wasn’t ever going to be a high-scoring game as they have kept lots of clean sheets this season and for us, we have been good defensively too.”

Stevenage sit 14th after their third defeat in four games.

They are not in danger of going down and cannot reach the play-offs, but mathematically can still end the season in seventh.

Their manager, former Wycombe player Alex Revell, was frustrated his team did not show the same composure on the pitch as they do during training sessions.

“We need to see what we’re doing in training on a Saturday,” he said.

“I think it’s the moments because you’re not under pressure in training.

“Whether it’s a pass or a slide (tackle), you can’t replicate that because when you’re in that pressure moment, that’s when you have to produce.

“This is where we need to improve because you can work on possession and defending but you need to do it when it matters.”