Wycombe Wanderers fell to their third consecutive league defeat as they lost 3-1 away at Exeter City.

Goals Harry Kite, Archie Collins, and Tim Dieng, sandwiched between a brilliant David Wheeler strike succumbed Wanderers to their worst league start since September 2020.

The opening stages of the first-half was a slow and patient affair, as both sides enjoyed spells with the ball without really penetrating each other’s defence.

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However, based on the balance of possession and getting the ball into the final third, it was the Grecians that started to take control of the contest as they took the lead midway through the opening 45 minutes.

Collins’ in swinging corner was met by the towering Pierce Sweeney, but his header crashed against the inside of Tyla Dickinson’s left-hand post.

The ball then fell to Kite who buried his third goal in five games to put Exeter a goal up at St James Park.

It was soon 2-0 as some slack defending caught Wanderers off guard.

One ball over the top completely took out the Wycombe backline and allowed Matt Jay to latch onto the pass.

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The midfielder, who had acres of space, laid it off to Collins who was on hand to score his second goal of the campaign.

It was his first league goal since April 2021.

Wanderers needed the break and I think it’s fair to say that Gareth Ainsworth might have said one or two choice words, as Wycombe came out a different team.

Daryl Horgan, Garath McCleary, and Anis Mehmeti were stretching the Exeter defence apart, and this led to the Chairboys getting back into the match.

Alfie Mawson, who was making his first start for Wycombe in seven years picked out McCleary with a brilliant long ball.

The Jamaican then knocked it down Wheeler, who smashed in a half-volley from 20-yards.

The wind was with Wycombe as a substitute, Ali Al-Hamadi, who made his league debut, came close two scoring on two occasions.

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His first attempt saw his close-range header go wide before his effort from outside the box was palmed away by Blackman.

However, it was all in vain as the hosts regained their two-goal through a Dieng header from a Jevani Brown corner with 15 minutes left.

Wanderers nearly pulled a goal back but Josh Scowen’s header was brilliantly saved by Blackman, as Wycombe lost their third league game in a row since March 2021.

Wycombe are now 20th in the table.

Up next is Barnsley on Saturday at Oakwell.