'˜Relief' for Paul Cook after Pompey victory

Wycombe boss Gareth Ainsworth felt his side gave Pompey boss Paul Cook a real scare at Fratton Park.
Wycombe Wanderers boss Gareth Ainsworth. Picture: Joe PeplerWycombe Wanderers boss Gareth Ainsworth. Picture: Joe Pepler
Wycombe Wanderers boss Gareth Ainsworth. Picture: Joe Pepler

The 2-1 defeat dished out by the hosts ended any hopes of a place in the play-offs for the Buckinghamshire side.

Meanwhile, the result pretty much guaranteed Pompey will be extending their own campaign.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

But Ainsworth was impressed with the way his team performed.

You could certainly sense relief in the stands with the home fans at the end of a hard-fought contest.

Wycombe made it a tense occasion, especially after Sido Jombati’s superb free-kick got them back in it at 2-1.

Ainsworth felt his opposite number Cook must have felt relief at the final whistle, with strikes from Gary Roberts and Conor Chaplin proving enough for the win.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

He said: ‘At the final whistle there was one man who was relieved and that was Paul Cook because he knows he was in a game.

‘We let in a sloppy goal in the first half.

‘I changed things in the second half and we let another sloppy goal in.’

Jombati’s impressive free-kick on 74 minutes came as a surprise to many of the away fans watching on.

It’s fair to say the Wycombe left-back has not been well known for his ability to find the back of the net.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

But Ainsworth believed the Portuguese player would have the quality to do some damage.

He added: ‘He is Portuguese and he has that flair.

‘The players on the continent tend to be good at free-kicks.’

Wycombe could still have a big say in the final positions in the race for promotion.

They finish the season with matches against Accrington Stanley and then Oxford United.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Ainsworth said: ‘I want to finish well, starting with a win against Accrington before we go to Oxford.

‘Again, if we can get something there we might have a say in who goes up and who stays in the play-offs.’