Ainsworth rollicking does the business
GARETH Ainsworth insisted his half-time blast was what inspired the Chairboys to inflict a first home defeat on Exeter – and send his side soaring to second in the table.
The Wycombe boss ripped into his players after they gifted Exeter a number of first-half chances.
And the rocket had the desired effect as Joe Jacobson fired home a stunning free-kick before Garry Thompson sealed the win with an emphatic finish.
Ainsworth admitted: “We weren’t good enough in the first half by a long shot.
“There were some choice words said at half-time and I gave them a rollicking. Our passing was terrible and we changed our game a little bit.
“Exeter tried to slow the game down and we started playing at their pace. That is not us – we are a high energy team and we weren’t clicking.
“I told the lads I wanted a reaction and they answered the call.
“We took our chances really well in the second half and saw the game out well.
“This is a tough place to come and I am delighted to get the three points.”
Matt Ingram twice came to Wycombe’s rescue in the opening stages after nicking the ball off Joel Grant and sticking out a leg to deny David Wheeler.
Exeter continued to threaten with Will Hoskins hooking a volley wide and Grant wasting a glorious chance by firing over from close range.
A moment of controversy came on the stroke of half-time after it appeared Jordan Moore-Taylor was hauled back as he shaped to shoot on the edge of the six-yard box.
But referee Stephen Martin sparked outrage amongst the home supporters by waving away appeals to leave the game goalless at the break.
Exeter were left to count the cost as on 51 minutes after Lee Holmes tripped Luke O’Nien on the edge of the box and Jacobson whipped a delightful freekick into the top corner for his first goal of the season.
Even worse was to follow six minutes later after Grant gifted possession to Michael Harriman and he picked out the run of the unmarked Thompson who smashed the ball into the bottom corner.
Exeter boss Paul Tisdale said:“We didn’t take our chances when we had them in the first half.
“And other than the lead up to their second goal, which was poor play, I thought we generally did pretty well in this game.
“They play very well as a team, they defend extremely well and work hard for each other.
“But we had the chances to win and we need to convert those into points.”