Ains feels pain as Chairboys torn apart

WYCOMBE boss Gareth Ainsworth was left fuming after seeing his side wave the white flag against Southend and continue their miserable winless home record.

Ainsworth’s men may have scored two late goals through Craig Mackail-Smith and Adebayo Akinfenwa – but the damage had been done earlier.

Theo Robinson had broken the deadlock for Southend, Tom Hopper made it two eight minutes after the restart and, five minutes later, Simon Cox fired home for number three.

Ainsworth said: “We were far too open at times, even though we did show some spirit at the end.

“You just can’t defend like we did and expect to get a result. Some of the defending was terrible.

“I didn’t think there was too much between the two teams in the first half. We had a few chances here and there, but we weren’t clinical enough. Their second goal was a real killer.

“We had been chucking things at Southend to a certain extent until then, and maybe even gambling a bit too much, but some suicidal defending has proved costly in the end.

“Credit to the lads for getting the two goals towards the end, and if we had have got another that would have been phenomenal, but a draw would have been harsh on Southend.”

Robinson broke the deadlock for Southend after missing two earlier gilt-edged chances. In the 38th minute he tapped home a smart cross from Tom Hopper.

Southend doubled their lead eight minutes after the restart when Hopper smashed Ben Coker’s cross into the roof of the net. It was three when Simon Cox fired home clinically into the corner after being sent through by Jason Demetriou.

Wycombe sub MackailSmith volleyed home a late goal, before Akinfenwa pounced from close range to ensure a tense final few minutes for Southend.

Southend manager Chris Powell said: “The goals at the end made it a lot harder for us than it should have been. For 80 minutes we were absolutely cruising. We put in a terrific performance.

“We looked a threat time after time, and we really ought to have scored more.

“It would have been so hard on us if Wycombe had got another in the final minutes.”