CHAIRBOYS ARE READY TO GO AGAIN – HARRIMAN
WYCOMBE defender Michael Harriman insists the plummeting Chairboys can recover to reach the League Two play-offs.
Fifth after a 2-0 victory over Newport on New Year’s Day, Gareth Ainsworth’s side dramatically hit the skids following a heart-breaking FA Cup exit at Spurs, winning just TWO more matches in 2017.
They went into the weekend in 11th place, five points behind seventh-placed Exeter. But, while wins remain hard to come by, Wycombe were unbeaten in four.
And, with all but one of the division’s bottom five sides to play during the run-in, Harriman is optimistic.
“Nobody here has given up on those play-off spots,” said the 24-yearold, signed from QPR in January 2016.
“That Spurs game did take it out of us. There were a few tired legs, a few changes. Then we lost a couple of games on the spin and it’s always hard to bounce back from that.
“But every team experiences that little hiccup at some point. It’s impossible to be totally consistent over 46 matches.
“I think you’ve seen in the last few games that we’ve found that little bit of form again. Now we’ve got nine games left to really attack and see where we finish.
“Anyone who gets on a run can nick a place at the end, and we’re starting to gather momentum.”
Harriman was speaking from the Chiltern Way Academy in Wendover, spreading the message of anti-discrimination charity Kick it Out. The session, led by exCharlton midfielder Paul Mortimer, focused on the power of language and how words, even inadvertently, can cause offence. “Inequality and discrimination is still a massive thing,” said Harriman, who has four caps for the Republic of Ireland Under-21s and made two Premier League appearances for the Hoops. “The fact you’re still hearing about it now, in 2017, tells you how important it is. “Thankfully, I’ve never experienced anything first hand, but I know players who have. “Seeing how it affects them and leaves scars, it’s not nice. That’s why it’s great to be involved. “The questions I get from the kids are generally football-related. Best player you’ve played against, that sort of thing. “But, within that, I’m helping Paul to educate them. How to recognise discrimination, how to report it if they or someone else is suffering. “It’s about letting them know that everybody needs a helping hand and it’s all right to come forward and report something like this. “It’s also about the right way to phrase things. They might not be doing it on purpose, so it’s being aware of what you’re saying and how it can offend someone. It’s important to help them understand the power of words and I do think we opened their eyes to that. “At the end of the day, we want football to be an enjoyable place. “If we can stamp it out at grassroots level, hopefully we won’t be hearing about it in ten or 15 years’ time.”