Portsmouth's title rivals Sunderland are 'the best team in League One'

The Blues were without a game this weekend but remained top of the table as the Black Cats were held at home by the Chairboys.

Fred Onyedima fired Wycombe ahead before Josh Maja struck his 11th goal of the season, levelling things up as it ended 1-1 at the Stadium of Light.

That meant Jack Ross' second-placed Sunderland missed the chance to go top, remaining two points behind leaders Pompey.

But Wycombe boss Ainsworth was full of praise for the Black Cats after the draw.

The Chairboys came away with a point after drawing 2-2 at Fratton Park back in September.

And having now faced the top two in League One, Ainsworth says Sunderland are the best in the division.

He told The Sunderland Echo: 'We could have nicked it but perhaps that would have been unfair.

'I'm immensely proud of the Wycombe boys, we competed with what I think is the league's best team. 

'They are going to be right up there at the end of the season, Jack Ross has done a fantastic job, he is a great manager and this is a proper football club, everyone shakes your hand, welcomes you, it is fantastic for a club like Wycombe to come here and experience it and get something from the game.

'It was a superb performance by the boys, I thought we were the better side in the first half and up to the goal it was very even. 

'After we scored Sunderland then piled some serious pressure on us and they deserved the goal after the pressure in the last 15 minutes.'