Gareth Ainsworth hails Fleetwood Town as best footballing team to visit Wycombe all season

Chairboys boss Ainsworth and his Fleetwood Town counterpart Joey Barton were full of praise for each other’s team after Monday’s League One play-off semi-final.

Fleetwood dominated periods of the game but had to settle for a 2-2 draw in the second leg, meaning Wycombe’s 4-1 win at Highbury three days earlier proved decisive in clinching their place in the final to face Oxford United.

Ainsworth, the longest-serving manager in the top four divisions and approaching eight years at the Wycombe helm, has seen many teams visit Adams Park but singled out Fleetwood as something special.

Describing some of Town’s attacking play as “almost like Manchester City”, Ainsworth said of his players: “It was a tough ask but they’ve defended unbelievably against what I would say is the best away footballing team we’ve had down here all season.

"They've got something good going on up there.

“I can’t thank the boys enough. All four weeks since they got back from lockdown all they’ve been focusing on doing is being their best and I asked them to be better than they were on Friday.”

Ainsworth was disappointed the game was not witnessed by spectators in a packed stadium and he praised season-ticket holders who had waived their right to refunds.

He added: “For people to say, ‘Look, keep my season ticket money and put it towards the playing budget or put it towards the club,’ I can’t thank them enough.

“This is money we’re talking about. This the food on table sometimes and they’ve given it to us because they love the club.”