ACCRINGTON Stanley boss John Coleman has praised the job done by his opposite number tomorrow Gareth Ainsworth.
Wycombe, under Blackburn-born Ainsworth, only survived relegation to the National League on the final day of the 2013/14 season thanks to a 3-0 win at already relegated Torquay.
But former Blackburn Rovers midfielder Ainsworth masterminded a remarkable turnaround in the space of 12 months.
Operating on limited resources the Chairboys were within seconds of promotion in the Wembley play-off final in May.
Leading 1-0 heading into the final seconds of extra-time against Southend, Joe Pigott equalised for the Shrimpers, who they won a dramatic penalty shoot-out 7-6.
“I think Gareth has done a great job. He’s galvanised the team, he’s got them believing,” Coleman said of tomorrow’s opponents..
“They were very, very unfortunate not to go up in the play-offs last year.
“I was at the final and I don’t think they know how they haven’t gone up.
“It shows what a cruel game it can be.”
But Coleman is dismissive of the restraints Wycombe operated under last season, despite their relatively small squad size.
“Wycombe have always been a well resourced club,” he said.
“I know they said they’ve had their problems and they had a small squad last year but I wouldn’t have minded having their budget last year.”
Wanderers are ninth in League Two this season, just two points outside the top seven with a game in hand.
They have only lost twice in 10 away games this season and recorded an impressive FA Cup success last weekend, winning 2-1 away at League One side Millwall thanks to Michael Harriman’s injury-time strike.
That victory means they have lost just one of their last eight games and handed them a third round clash at home to Premier League strugglers Aston Villa.
“We’re preparing for a really tough game,” said Coleman.
“But just by what has gone on so far this season people are expecting a tough game of us as well.
“We know it’s going to be a tough game. They’ve had a good win against Millwall and they would be one of the fancied teams having come so close to promotion last year.”
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