Wycombe manager Gareth Ainsworth still believes his side can avoid relegation to League One after the Chairboys defeated Preston North End 1-0 at Adams Park.
In a game that was dominated by the homeside, Wanderers went 1-0 up through Ryan Tafazolli’s bullet header from a Joe Jacobson corner in the 27th minute.
The former Hull and Peterborough centre-back rose the highest and buried his attempt, which was his third header of the match as his previous efforts went wide and were saved by Preston’s goalkeeper, Daniel Iversen.
But the Danish keeper, who is on loan from Leicester, was helpless at the English-Iranian's third attempt, as Tafazolli scored his second goal of the season.
The much-needed win ended a run of four straight losses and four straight games without a goal, and following the victory, Gareth Ainsworth revealed that survival is still very much a possibility.
READ MORE: Wycombe Wanderers 1-0 Preston North End - As it happened
Speaking after the match, he said: “The style of the win was really good, and it shows how far we have come as a club.
Both of Tafazolli's goals this season have been headers in wins (PA)
“People will look at the result and go ‘it’s from a corner, and that’s what they do all the time’, but I hope they actually watch us play because going forward, we played some fabulous stuff.
“We were close to one or two more and I thought it was a thoroughly deserved win following our first-half performance.
“We took the game to Preston which I asked them to do and I told them that they can rely on me and to rely on each other, because there is no reason why can’t go and win every single game.
“People will be laughing at but why can’t we?
“We’re looking forward to Barnsley as we can’t wait to get stuck in and I am very happy.”
The win was much-needed as it now means Wanderers are only nine points away from safety following today’s [Saturday’s] results.
Birmingham lost at home to Bristol City, Derby lost at home at Millwall, and Rotherham and Coventry, who were due to play each other, was called off following a Covid outbreak in the Millers’ camp.
The result also ended a run of 12 consecutive league games against North End without a win.
Overall, Wycombe have played Preston 18 times with Wanderers only winning four of those games.
Two of those wins came this season when the Chairboys defeated PNE in the FA Cup back in January and of course, today’s [Saturday's] win, with the other two victories coming in the 1993/94 season.
Wanderers won 3-2 at Deepdale in November 1993, which was the first-ever meeting between the two sides, and then in the Division Three play-off final that season, which Wycombe won 4-2 at Wembley.
Daryl Horgan used to played for Preston (PA)
Gareth Ainsworth was in the PNE team that day.
He continued: “Goals change games and just as QPR were able to shut up shop against us on Tuesday when they were 1-0 up, we were able to shut up shop ourselves today [Saturday].
“I put Jack Grimmer on, I had Jason McCarthy who went into the midfield to clear things up and it helped us get this huge win which is important.
“But we carry on, we keep winning games, and I can’t wait to get stuck into the next one.”
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