Gareth Ainsworth lauds ‘awesome’ Wycombe after comeback victory over Carlisle

Posted Sunday, February 04, 2018 by PA

Wycombe manager Gareth Ainsworth was almost lost for words after Marcus Bean’s first goal for the 10-man Chairboys snatched an astonishing 4-3 victory over Carlisle.

Wycombe kept themselves second in League Two, but they saw a 2-0 half-time lead become a 3-2 deficit in the second half before they scored twice in stoppage time to claim a fifth straight league win.

Ainsworth said: “It was one of those things that just pays off and the boys deserve all the credit, they were awesome today.

“The finish? What can we say.

“In four years, there have been ironic cheers, comments in training, but Beany has been awesome for me since he signed.

“He shows 100 per cent commitment, desire, everything you want from a player.

“The only thing that has ever been missing was a goal and what a way to score your first goal for Wycombe Wanderers – 96th minute winner, a volley, bottom corner and I’ve never seen him run so fast in that celebration.

“There’s a big smile on his face and he deserves all the plaudits.

“The boys work really hard, they don’t know when they’re beaten and it’s a great place to be as a manager.

“I’ve no idea what to say at the moment – that was a phenomenal ending to a bonkers game.”

Wycombe led 2-0 after 31 minutes as Matt Bloomfield’s scruffy finish was quickly followed by a goal from Luke O’Nien on the rebound.

But after O’Nien was sent off for handling Kris Twardek’s shot on the line, Carlisle turned the game around through Danny Grainger’s penalty and headers from Jamie Devitt and Cole Stockton.

However, Wycombe refused to admit defeat and after Paris Cowan-Hall’s diving header levelled the game, Bean won it with a brilliant volley from outside the box.

Carlisle manager Keith Curle said: “You’ve got to say it was a great response from the players after we changed our shape at half-time.

“We showed a good understanding and a good mentality to go into the game and a good start to the second half, with us getting a penalty to get us back into the game.

“Then you’re sat there at 3-2 thinking ‘close the game out or go and get another one and put the game to bed.’

“Their third goal came from poor defending at the back stick, letting somebody inside you can’t happen.

“The fourth goal comes from giving away a cheap free-kick and then you know what to expect – you’re going to get a hand grenade thrown into your box that you’ve got to deal with.

“You’ve got to work on first contact then you’ve got to get people in and around for the second contact and we didn’t do that.”