Wycombe manager Gareth Ainsworth has confirmed that the club will appeal Josh Knight’s red card, after the defender was sent-off in the Chairboys’ 3-1 home defeat to Luton Town.

The home side were 1-0 up and were on course to secure their first-ever home win over the Hatters, as well as their third consecutive Championship victory.

But after Knight was shown the straight red for a tackle on Luton’s Jordan Clark on 57 minutes, the Hatters threw everything at Wanderers, which ultimately led to them winning.

The boss confirmed it after the game

It was a bitter pill for Wycombe to swallow, as Luton’s three goals all came in the final 10 minutes through a George Moncur free-kick, a Kazenga LuaLua screamer, and an Elijah Adebayo header.

READ MORE: Match report at Adams Park: Wycombe Wanderers 1-3 Luton Town

Both Moncur and LuaLua had come on as substitutes moments before scoring.

Ainsworth said: “It is not a red card in my opinion as the referee has gone to his pocket quicker than I have ever seen, and Josh wasn’t even off the floor when he was sent off.

“I thought there was a little slip in there as there was nothing malicious [in the tackle] and even in the game.

It completely changed the game

“We will be appealing that as I don’t think it was a red card.

“Alex Mowatt’s challenge a few weeks ago for Barnsley on Scott Kashket got rescinded and I thought that one was probably more aggressive than the one today [Saturday, April 10] from Josh Knight.

“He is the victim of a slip and the ref has got to see that better for me.”

If Wycombe had won, it would have put the Chairboys just six points away from safety, after Sheffield Wednesday, Rotherham, Derby, and Coventry all failed to win their respective matches.

However, with five games remaining, Ainsworth is still keeping the belief that Wycombe can avoid an immediate return to League One.

READ MORE: Wycombe Wanderers 1-3 Luton Town: As it happened

He continued: “We are still going to give this a go as we can still win five from five.

“If we keep playing the way we are playing and get Josh’s red card overturned, we will see what happens.

Bucks Free Press: Despite the loss, Anis Mehmeti had a good match (Prime Media)Despite the loss, Anis Mehmeti had a good match (Prime Media)

“There were so many positives from the performance as they were hard-working and, they took a team like Luton who have built on from last season to being a Championship side who put their backs to the wall against a Wycombe team who have just come up.

“So the positives for me are numerous.”

Up next for Wycombe is an away trip to Swansea City on Saturday, April 17.