WANDERERS manager John Gorman says his side could have beaten Aston Villa if they had played ugly football.

He insists they would have won if they'd played hoofball instead of slick soccer during the second half.

Blues established a 3-1 half time lead by out-footballing the Premiership side, but instead of defending it and sticking men behind the ball in the second half, they continued trying to thrill and paid the price.

Gorman said: "If we were a rubbish team we would have got a result.

"We could have just kicked the ball out of the ground, played long ball and football that the opposition really couldn't handle and aren't used to.

"I could have said to the boys let's defend in depth, boot it clear and hope for the best. But we wanted to keep playing the way we were but couldn't maintain it.

"We played magnificently in the first half and we embarrassed them into having the performance that they embarrassed us with.

"It was no fluke that we were 3-1 up in the first half, everything we did was quality.

"But I knew it was going to be hard to keep people like Baros and Angel quiet for 90 minutes.

"Our lads folded a little bit but I am proud of them.

"The scoreline was unjust. The heart was taken out of our team.

"I'm not angry about it. I'm not worried and I won't lose any sleep.

"We ended up finishing on a very poor note but I take lots of positives from the game."

The big match quotes

Blues boss John Gorman: "I'm more worried about the injuries we've got than I am about losing the game. The league is much more important to us.

"Nathan Tyson's got a dead leg and Joe Burnell is struggling with his back again."

Villa boss David O'Leary: "A few things had to be said at half time but what was said will stay in the dressing room."

Villa's two goal hero James Milner: "I don't think I've ever been in a team that's scored seven goals in a half before. It's one of the best attacking performances I've been involved with.

"Wycombe played well and Tommy Mooney was brilliant with his one touch stuff."

Blues' Tommy Mooney: "The scoreline is embarrassing because we are professionals but we have to take heart from how pleased we were after 45 minutes "In the first half we were by far and away the better side but they ripped the heart out of us in the second half.

"David O'Leary has gone from almost getting the sack in the first half to being Lord Mayor of Birmingham in the second. That's how much the game has swayed."

Blues' own goal man Clint Easton: "I've never played in a game like it. I said I wanted to score this season but not like that. It's the first time I've scored an own goal. I wanted the ground to open up. I covered my eyes and thought I want to wake up from this nightmare.

"At half time I really thought we were set to win it but as soon as they scored so early in the second half it gave them hope and it was backs-to-the-wall. Everything they touched went into the net."

Stefan Oakes who had a hand in all three Wycombe goals: "We were superb in the first half. Everything was going right for us and we were buzzing at half time.

"We knew they'd get a rollicking at half time and that they'd step up a few gears and that's what they did. It's unbelievable to go from 3-1 to 8-3 down. We didn't know where to turn."

Blues captain Roger Johnson: "The first 45 minutes were the best I've ever played in.

"We came in at half time and knew it was going to be hard and we weren't helped by a few decisions, the deflection, an own goal and a penalty. Then we crumbled and stopped doing the basic things."