Bristol Rovers manager Joey Barton has labelled Wycombe Wanderers’ football as ‘horrendous’ and believes the Chairboys will not be promoted to the Championship.
The 40-year-old saw his side lose 2-0 at home to Matt Bloomfield’s side on March 14, which was the club’s seventh league loss at home this season in 18 matches.
READ MORE: 'I think Tjay has been class' - Hanlan hails praise towards Wycombe's De Barr
Goals from Brandon Hanlan, who played under Barton for Rovers during the 2020/21 season, and a Chem Campbell header gave Wanderers the win.
However, the home boss was not impressed with Wycombe’s style of play at the Memorial Stadium, and believes that if the Chairboys were to achieve a place in the second tier, it would be a ‘hell of an achievement’.
Joey Barton: 'You have got to give credit to Gareth Ainsworth at Wycombe as he's done a brilliant job, but I wouldn't swap for any of their players, their style of football or their ground...albeit the pitch here is very nice.' #Chairboys #BRFC
— James Richings (@James_BFP) December 26, 2022
Wycombe are currently three points off the play-offs following their win over Bristol Rovers.
Speaking to the Bristol Post, Barton said: “I don’t think Wycombe are going to go up.
READ MORE: Matt Bloomfield on Wycombe's injuries and why one sub was used in Bristol Rovers win
“They’ve got a bit of work to do, it’ll be a hell of an achievement for them to go up based on what I’ve seen over the two games against them.
“The group there - Derby and Barnsley - certainly from our skirmishes with them, seem to be a little bit ahead of them.
More recation from Bloomfield along with a chat with Hanlan will be up tomorrow.
— James Richings (@James_BFP) March 14, 2023
That's three clean sheets away at Bristol Rovers for Wycombe in their last three visits.
And three points tonight has moved Wycombe three points off the play-offs.
Three is the magic number.
“I expect to see them in the division next season, if we can get the required points between now and the end of the season to stay in the division.”
On Wanderers’ football, which has seen the Chairboys take maximum points from the Gas this season, Barton added: “ They’ve beaten us twice but I don’t think, if you watch them play, I wouldn’t want to play like that - it’s horrendous football, you just boot it.
READ MORE: Brilliant in Bristol - De Barr and Hanlan praised as Wycombe beat Rovers
“Again, Gareth Ainsworth has been successful there, he’s now moved along and I think it’ll be very, very difficult to maintain the standard that Gareth has set and the culture he’s built.
"But Matt (Bloomfield) has made a good fist of it so far and it’ll be interesting to see what he does there.”
FT: Bristol Rovers 0-2 #Chairboys
— Wycombe Wanderers (@wwfcofficial) March 14, 2023
A more than competent performance to complete the league double over Joey Barton's side.
YOUUU BLUUUUUES!#BRRvWYC pic.twitter.com/Mhmal1kfyn
Wycombe are currently unbeaten in their last five matches against Bristol Rovers, where they kept three clean sheets in their last three visits to the Memorial Stadium.
Additionally, Joey Barton has faced Wanderers eight times in his managerial career, winning just once.
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