Wycombe defeat was frustrating, according to boss Gareth Ainsworth

Wycombe Wanderers lost to the odd goal in five against Walsall this weekend, leaving manager Gareth Ainsworth to lament his side’s luck.

They started brightly and could have taken a lead before Walsall bagged the opener. The visitors took a two-goal lead into the final ten minutes, but three more goals saw the visitors on the wrong side of a 3-2 defeat.

Whilst there was little shame in their narrow loss, Ainsworth was frustrated not to grab a third win on the spin.

“Just after Paris (Cowan-Hall) hit the woodwork it was very frustrating to concede, and from a set-play as well,” he told local press. “It is something we work hard on. We told the boys they have great delivery into the box and they are a big side and that means don’t give set-plays away in dangerous areas.”

He felt that his side had handed the advantage to Dean Keates’ Saddlers and that isn’t something that he takes lightly.

“We have given them one and they didn’t disappoint with result so it was a tough one to take. The frustrating one was the third goal going in as that took us two goals away with 10 minutes to go but that is the way football goes sometimes.”

Wycombe have adjusted to life in League One, albeit not quite as confidently as the other three promoted sides. They’re nine points shy of seventh-placed Coventry, the next lowest of the promoted sides, but four clear of the relegation zone.

Our View

Wycombe were never going to challenge at the top of the table, their brand of football is all about not being beaten and getting the ball quickly forward. Whilst it will yield results, it won’t beat the very best teams.

Walsall have surprised a few this season and perhaps the biggest shock was these two serving up such a thriller.