Ainsworth hopes cup win inspires league campaign

Posted Wednesday, August 15, 2018 by PA

Manager Gareth Ainsworth has challenged his Wycombe side to transform their EFL Cup form into League One points.

The Chairboys narrowly squeeed past Northampton 7-6 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in 90 minutes.

Adam El-Abd scored the decisive penalty but after a winless start to their League One campaign, Ainsworth has called for more of the same.

Randell Williams scored his first goal since re-signing on loan, with Northampton substitute Sam Hoskins equalising with less than ten minutes remaining.

“We’d definitely love a nice big tie or progression to round three and we’ll see who we get in the next few days,” said Ainsworth.

“It’s the first time we’ve won a League Cup game for quite some time, so I’m pleased for that.

“But we want to retain our League One status. I’m pleased to get through, but we want to start winning games in League One.

“I thought we were the better team. We certainly asked more questions of their defence than they did of ours. I was disappointed with the goal we conceded, but in terms of creating chances we created a lot going forward and pressed them well.

“Everyone wants to win on penalties so it’s nice for the fans – 7-6 is a good penalty shootout and there were some really cracking ones with some good saves.”

Northampton also had a penalty saved in normal time as Wycombe won their first League Cup tie since 2011.

After Wycombe shaded a goalless first half, the deadlock was broken five minutes after the break.

Williams burst forward and moved the ball out to Craig Mackail-Smith, whose return cross was met by Williams to head past the keeper.

Northampton looked toothless for long periods but were handed a lifeline late on. Jack Bridge was brought down in the box, with Northampton captain Ash Taylor’s spot-kick saved.

The visitors drew level two minutes later, the ball deflecting into the path of substitute Hoskins, who tucked the ball home.

The sides exchanged misses in the shoot-out, with Hoskins hitting the post and Mackail-Smith blazing over, while Taylor gained a measure of redemption.

After Northampton’s eighth penalty from Jordan Turnbull was saved, up stepped El-Abd to win the tie for Wycombe.

Northampton manager Dean Austin said: “It’s never nice but I think we need to be encouraged by the performance and the way the boys played.

“I thought we were fantastic apart from a little spell in the second half, where we lost our way a little bit, but that’s part of the learning process for us.

“We are just lacking the rub of the green now, but that will turn if we keep playing like that. I know what I’ve got in the dressing room.

“Every game that we play we have our designated penalty-takers and we take penalties in training. We had penalty competitions on the last week of pre-season and Ash Taylor only missed one penalty of 26 or 27 he took.

“Anyone can miss a penalty. It happens to the best, even I missed one once. People have to have the courage to step up and take them.”