Gareth Ainsworth has explained his tactical changes following Wycombe’s 1-1 away draw at AFC Wimbledon on Easter Monday.
The Chairboys were 1-0 down at half-time thanks to a brilliant Jack Rudoni header which was his 10th goal of the season, as Wanderers struggled to get into the contest.
However, ten minutes into the second half, the boss made two tactical changes as he brought on Adebayo Akinfenwa and Anthony Stewart for Daryl Horgan and Brandon Hanlan.
100 goal contributions for @daRealAkinfenwa for the #Chairboys.
— Wycombe Wanderers (@wwfcofficial) April 18, 2022
60 goals.
40 assists.#AFCWvWYC pic.twitter.com/V4RoUEJmez
This meant there was a change of shape from the original 4-2-3-1 formation the Chairboys started with, to a 3-2-2-1-1-1.
Sullay Kaikai also came on for Jason McCarthy with 14 minutes remaining and the changes worked, as it was the former’s cross that found an unmarked Akinfenwa who headed home Wanderers’ equaliser against his former employers.
It was the 39-year-old’s sixth of the season and his fifth in the league.
Speaking on the tactics, the boss said: “We went three [at the back] at the start of the season and we went on this brilliant run.
“At one point, we went top of the league.
80 - GGOOOOOAAALLL!!!!!!!!! @daRealAkinfenwa HAS DONE IT AGAINST HIS OLD CLUB!!!!! GAME ONE!#Chairboys #AFCW
— 🏴 James Richings 🇲🇾 (@James_BFP) April 18, 2022
🔵🟡 1-1 🪑
“Then we sort of lost our way a bit so I changed to four at the back.
"We also did a lot of mental work in training, but today [April 18], I thought we needed to go with a three again.
“I thought we needed the wingbacks to be high, we needed to step on and I thought Josh Scowen and Dom Gape were brilliant in protecting the backline.
“Chris Forino was also getting involved in battles that he’s got to get used to and learn from now, but we’re getting there.
“Our legs probably went out and we need to remember that Wimbledon are fighting for their lives.
57 - Double change and a change in formation. Akinfenwa and Stewart are off as Horgan and Hanlan make way. #Chairboys #AFCW
— 🏴 James Richings 🇲🇾 (@James_BFP) April 18, 2022
🔵🟡 1-0 🪑
“They are fighting for League One survival which is something that they deserve.
“And if they played like they did today, they will win their remaining games.
“For me, we now need to prepare for Sheffield Wednesday so we need to rest and recover as that’s really important for what will be the biggest game of the season [so far] and I can’t wait for it.”
The result was Wycombe’s 10th in a row without a loss in the league.
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