Wycombe Wanderers manager Gareth Ainsworth firmly believes that his side will secure a play-off place before the end of the season.
The Chairboys defeated Doncaster Rovers in their most recent match 2-0 at Adams Park, which was their fourth win in six games.
They have also kept five clean sheets in that time becoming one of League One’s most in form teams.
An hour and a half after Wycombe’s match against Doncaster ended, @daRealAkinfenwa was still seen signing autographs and taking photos with fans that remind behind. He also posed with this week’s @bucksfreepress which has been dedicated to him. We’re going to miss you, B 🔵 pic.twitter.com/MEvnrmG3gt
— 🏴 James Richings 🇲🇾 (@James_BFP) April 2, 2022
On the same day as their win over the struggling Donny, play-off rivals Oxford dropped out of the top six following 1-0 loss away at fellow promotion pushing Plymouth.
Wigan Athletic drew 1-1 at home to Bolton, Sunderland 1-0 against Gillingham, MK defeated Shrewsbury 2-0 and Sheffield Wednesday were 2-1 winners over Wimbledon, whilst league leaders Rotherham didn’t play due to their appearance in this year’s EFL Trophy Cup final against League Two Sutton United.
This means that with less than a month to go before the regular season finishes, there are just 12 points separating Wycombe in eighth on 69 points, to Rotherham who are on 80.
Ainsworth said: “This is going to chop and change from now, to the end of the season.
All smiles on Bayo’s big day!#WYCvDON pic.twitter.com/4FfG8t8rm8
— Wycombe Wanderers (@wwfcofficial) April 3, 2022
“We’re going to get back into the play-offs and I’m telling you that.
“Once you’re in the play-offs, it’s about staying in there and when that happens? I don’t know but I’m hoping we’ll be ready for the play-offs.
“It’s going to go down to Burton on the final day!”
The victory over Doncaster was memorable for several ways as it focused on the career of Adebayo Akinfenwa, who is retiring at the end of the season.
The game also saw Joe Jacobson make his 600th career appearance, and despite keeping with the same starting 11 for the fourth consecutive league match, Ainsworth believes changes will be made to keep their promotion hopes alive.
He continued: “JJ picked up a knock, Sam Vokes and Garath McCleary came off due to tired legs and I’ve got some fantastic players, like Akinfenwa that I can rotate into the squad, and I’ll do what I need to do to win these games.”
It was a good day.#WYCvDON pic.twitter.com/4Fv09ByMxZ
— Wycombe Wanderers (@wwfcofficial) April 2, 2022
Finally, the boss has revealed that he asked his players to ‘embrace’ the day which was dedicated to Akinfenwa.
He concluded: “The fans were brilliant, thank you so much.
“We knew that today wouldn’t be a distraction and I said in my team talk to embrace this.
“Embrace Akinfenwa, embrace Joe Jacobson’s 600th appearance and embrace the day.
Speaking of legends...
— Wycombe Wanderers (@wwfcofficial) April 2, 2022
That's 600 career appearances for @joe_jacobson.
A truly fantastic professional.#Chairboys pic.twitter.com/2s0GJsZ8l5
“Embrace the day.
“We’re not going to say, is this going to distract from the game.
“Embrace it.
“He is one of us.
"This club would not be anywhere near where we are if it wasn’t for Adebayo Akinfenwa.
“We embraced it, and thankfully, we got the win."
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