Gareth Ainsworth has praised Joey Barton as the latter openly complimented the Chairboys manager.

The Wycombe manager believes that Barton does not get the credit he deserves for his achievements at Fleetwood.

Ainsworth said: “He’s only in his second season in charge and they’ve made the play-offs for the Championship.

READ MORE: Joey Barton praises Wycombe manager Gareth Ainsworth

“People judge Joey Barton on other things more than football sometimes.

“Although he has this passion that can spill over sometimes, he’s done an incredible job to be in the play-offs for the Championship.

“Let’s say his full season in charge.

“Wow - you’ve got to give him some respect.

“They’ve got a good side, they’ve got some real talented players, they’re a good club and they’re run really well.

“They come out in the non-league, which has probably helped them.

“They’ve got a good investor and he’s backed Joey, with some good signings.

“But Joey has got to put that team together and get them playing football.

“Ainsworth believes Barton realises and loves that Wycombe has had to fight hard to make the playoffs.

READ MORE: Wycombe Wanderers on dealing with the pandemic

He continued: “I think, what’s good about Joey is he recognises Wycombe as a club.

“He knows that we’re a small club.

“He knows that what we’ve had to do to survive, what we have to do to scrap and what we have to do to get results.

“I think Joey loves that.

“He appreciates what we do with limited resources to get where we are.

“The compliments are great to have.

“It’s not it’s not a love fest between me and Joey.

“Somebody in his second full seasons to get to the play-off for the Championship.

READ MORE: Wycombe Wanderers fans waive refunds to help the club financially

“I think that a good achievement and perhaps sometimes gets overlooked with some of the other news issues that surround Joey and that’s football.

“But we’ll definitely have a beer after the two legs.

"And I’m sure whoever reaches that final will be wishing the other one food luck.

“I don’t want him laying mind games trying to put me off either.

"I’m sure he’s not going to be expecting any more than the two games which were played against them, which were good battles.”