Gareth Ainsworth has revealed that Portsmouth ‘celebrated like they’ve been promoted’, after the South Coast side defeated Wycombe 1-0 at Adams Park.

Marcus Harness got the only goal of the contest as Danny Cowley’s men won away at Wycombe for the first time since April 2019.

It’s only their second league win away from home this season, and their first since the opening weekend.

READ MORE: Gareth Ainsworth on Wycombe's missed chances against Portsmouth

He said: “For a club like Portsmouth to come here and do that to us, shows how much respect we’ve got.

“They’ve celebrated in their dressing room like they’ve been promoted, never mind winning 1-0 today, and that’s all respect to Wycombe Wanderers so fair play to them.

“They’ve come here and did a job, even though I thought we were better in spells.

"Sometimes you have got to take that on the chin and give credit to Danny and Nicky.

“There are teams in this league that are tough, but, we will win games and score goals.

"We just need to take our chances.”

The boss also gave his opinion on the penalty shouts that were waved away at Adams Park.

After Harness was bundled over in the box, referee Neil Hair told the striker to get up, only to give Wycombe a spot-kick seconds later, when Anis Mehmeti was barged to the ground by Sean Raggett.

READ MORE: Live updates at Adams Park: Wycombe Wanderers 0-1 Portsmouth

Joe Jacobson took the resulting kick, but hit it straight at Alex Bass, who made a comfortable save.

Then, in the second-half, Wanderers striker Brandon Hanlen looked like he was tripped in the area, but again, no penalty was awarded.

Ainsworth added: “For me, I think there was another penalty for us, and the referee doesn’t give it because he’s already given us one, and he didn’t give them one.

“I think theirs is a penalty, I think ours is a penalty and I think there was another one for us in there.

“Referees think that because they have given us one, they can’t give us two.

“If it’s a penalty, it’s a penalty.

“And I don’t know how the challenge on Brandon Hanlan on the edge of the box wasn’t given.”

Finally, the boss revealed that Garath McCleary could be back for Wycombe by the end of the month.

READ MORE: 'Performances is what I am about' - Gareth Ainsworth's analysis after Wycombe lose to Portsmouth

The winger has missed the last five matches since getting injured in the 2-1 win against Crewe on October 23.

He said: “I’m hoping to get Garath McCleary back soon, along with Daryl Horgan and Sullay Kaikai.

“Garath McCleary is one of those players that gives us that X-Factor.

“We all know that he is too good for this level because when he gets on the ball, things happen, and he is a big loss at the moment.

"But we need to step up because how we haven’t scored today is beyond me.”