Wycombe boss Gareth Ainsworth has shared his thoughts following his side’s amazing 3-3 draw at home to Sunderland.
The point, which was rescued in the seventh minute of injury-time by Joe Jacobson, means Wanderers are now up to third in the League One table and are four points off the automatic promotion spots.
The left-back’s last minute strike came after Sunderland thought they had won the match with Ross Stewart scoring his second of the game in the second minute of time added on.
We never give up!#WYCvSUN pic.twitter.com/VFlh8rWT0b
— Wycombe Wanderers (@wwfcofficial) January 8, 2022
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However, a draw it finished, and the result also means the Chairboys have only lost two home games in the league all season.
Those defeats came against Ipswich and Portsmouth in November.
Speaking the draw, Ainsworth said: “This team never, ever gives in.
"They don’t know when they are beaten and the belief in the boys is incredible.
“I think we were slighter better in the first half whilst Sunderland definitely had the better of the second half but what a game and what a finish.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. Never leave AP early!!!@wwfcofficial
— joe jacobson (@joe_jacobson) January 8, 2022
“It was on TV, the chaos before the game, people pulling out with injuries and due to the Covid situation…I can’t really dissect the game as much as I would like to.
“There were mistakes, a goal line clearance, a penalty, today had all sorts but I am glad that the graft and the hard work the boys have put in got a point.
“Some teams get it once or twice a season…we get it five or six a season which is crazy, but, that’s testament to the boys that I have got, the belief we can put into them and the hunger they have got to go back to the Championship."
The game was a spectacle from start to finish with the manager also praising the quality he has in the attacking part of the field.
Garath McCleary, Sam Vokes, Brandon Hanlan and Anis Mehmeti all had a part to play in each of Wycombe’s three goals at Adams Park, and even the result wasn’t a win, the belief and desire gives Ainsworth much hope for the second half of the season.
So much going on here!#WYCvSUN pic.twitter.com/ge2twwhaIz
— Wycombe Wanderers (@wwfcofficial) January 8, 2022
In the 25 league games Wycombe have played this season, they have won 13 times, drawn seven, and have lost five.
Those five defeats have been against sides in the top 10 of the table, and, the 3-3 draw against Sunderland means the Black Cats are yet to win at Adams Park in three attempts (two draws and one defeat).
He continued: “People can label us as this long ball team, yeah, we get the ball forward and once we are in that final third, there are no better players than Garath McCleary, Brandon Hanlan and Anis Mehmeti on the ball at times.
“We want to be picking up points against the teams around us because everyone at the top seems to be winning the games that you’d look at and they should win, but, you’ve got teams improving in the January transfer window and I think they’ll be a different look to the second half of the season.
“I’m really pleased with where we are sitting right now.
“I think we have enough to see the season out with maybe one or two coming through the door and I’m really pleased.”
Wycombe’s next game is against Bolton on January 11.
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