PLAY IT AGAIN, SAYS GARETH
ROCK-LOVING Wycombe boss Gareth Ainsworth will get the Chairboys in the mood for an upset – by playing them their greatest hits.
The 47-year-old Championship chief will replay his side’s epic FA Cup clash from their trip to White Hart Lane four years ago.
The tie ended in heartbreak as an injurytime Heung-min Son goal tipped a seven-goal thriller in favour of Mauricio Pochettino’s Tottenham stars.
But Wycombe stunned Spurs by taking a two-goal lead. And Ainsworth, who has fashioned his own small miracle in his corner of Buckinghamshire by leading Wanderers to two promotions, believes it shows what can be done.
He said: “I’ll definitely be playing the boys the highlights from four years ago – to point out what we achieved as a League Two team with similar players – Adebayo Akinfenwa, Anthony Stewart, Scott Kashket, Dominic Gape – they all played that day.
“There’s definitely comparisons to be drawn.
“We were a League Two team and went to White Hart Lane and did this.
“We were actually the last team to score three goals at the Lane.
“And we’re now a Championship team.
We’ve come on. But, without a doubt, I will be playing those highlights.”
Ainsworth fronts a band in his spare time and even released a charity single last Christmas with former Chelsea keeper Petr Cech, who plays the drums. But he was beating out a different tune as he spelled out what can be done. He said: “As a player, I played for Preston and we were drawn at Kidderminster who were non-league. They beat us 1-0. That was a huge shock.
“We got done over. Ironically, I was also part of the Wimbledon side that was beaten on penalties by Wycombe, the year that they reached the semi-final.
“And we were so close at Spurs. It was a couple of mistakes that cost us right at the end. It wasn’t that we had been ripped apart, we were still pressing, still pushing.
“When six minutes’ injury-time went up and they scored in the seventh, that was a sucker-punch but it’s possible.
“It was one of the few times I’ve got choked up. I am an emotional guy. I don’t mind admitting that.
“I think it’s a strength. People will say it’s a weakness when you are too emotional. I think it’s one of my biggest strengths.
“I will be in tears. If someone wins a gold medal or breaks a world record, I will choke up because I know what they’ve gone through to do that. That gets me.
“So when I went to the fans – I started choking up. Seeing the faces. That was a moment for me.
“I try and hold it together when I’m on the pitch and usually I do.
“But there’s some moments when you just do get carried away with that emotion.
“Not many get to feel that. I’m so lucky.
“And that’s why I’ll never take one day for granted in this job.
“Hopefully I’ll get another moment like that tomorrow.”