Gareth Ainsworth on Wycombe's defeat against Barnsley

In a relatively quiet first-half, the match came to life when Ryan Tafazolli was judged to have brought down Michal Helik in the penalty box.

Barnsley’s number nine in Cauley Woodrow slotted the resulting spot-kick in the bottom left-hand corner, despite David Stockdale diving the correct way.

The two used to be teammates at Fulham in the 2013/14 season – the year the Cottages were relegated from the Premier League.

READ MORE: Live at Adams Park - Wycombe Wanderers 1-3 Barnsley - As it happened

The Chairboys struggled to recover from the sucker punch as the Tykes’ on-loan American striker, Daryl Dike, proved why he has been one of the best January signings in the Championship this season, as the 20-year-old scored his fourth and fifth goals for the club in just his 11th match.

The striker, who is on loan from Orlando City, scored his first with a poacher’s header from inside the six-yard box, with his second being a low finish which went underneath the diving Stockdale.

Uche Ikpeazu scored a consolation just before full time, but the biggest flashpoint of the match would have been when Barnsley’s captain, Alex Mowatt, was sent-off for a late challenge on Scott Kashket on 73 minutes.

This led to one of two melees that referee Darren Bond had to control.

Jason McCarthy was playing against his old club in the 3-1 defeat against Barnsley on Wednesday night. He spent the 2017/18 season at the club, playing 24 times for the Tykes (Prime Media)

The second bust-up was initiated on 90 minutes which resulted in Joe Jacobson and Toby Sibbick being booked for a nose-to-nose, which eventually caused a scrap between both sets of players from both teams.

Speaking after the match, Ainsworth said: “I’ve said so much this season about the officials - if that’s a penalty then wow.

"There should be five or six penalties a game because for me it’s not a penalty at all.

“I’ve got to look at the rules because I think touching someone’s finger might now be a penalty and that’s a rule I missed.

"So I’ll relook at the rules and see if touching someone’s finger is a penalty.

“I know the ball touching someone’s finger is, but I don’t know how much contact, if any, there was but it puts us 1-0 down at half-time which is a real blow after giving everything against the form team in the league.”

READ MORE: Opposition's view: What the Barnsley Chronicle think ahead of the Wycombe match

“But the referee’s given it and it puts us on the back foot after a great first-half.

“The players came out second-half and did really well.

“Some full-blooded challenges and both teams were really going at it - it was a real good game of football and unfortunately we’re on the wrong end of it.

“But, if we carry on playing like that we’ll be picking up some points."

David Stockdale was helpless as Wycombe shipped three goals against Barnsley (Prime Media)

The defeat has put a huge dent in Wycombe’s slim chances of survival as they are now 12 points from safety with nine matches to go.

And with Sheffield Wednesday and Birmingham City picking up important points on the same night, Wanderers are beginning to be cut adrift from those around them.

READ MORE: Gareth Ainsworth on a 'thoroughly deserved win' as Wycombe defeat Preston to stop losing run

However, Ainsworth is remaining positive for the games ahead.

He continued: “We are learning every single game.

“We started the campaign badly with seven defeats and that’s probably where it’s cost us because five or six points extra and we would be right in the mix and battling with the bottom five teams. We’re just that bit adrift but I still believe we can catch it.”