Westley praises Ainsworth ahead of Adams Park showdown

Ingram gets fingertips to a curling shot from Charlie Lee (Image: Archant)

In his third season in charge of the Chairboys, Gareth Ainsworth has his side flying high in the automatic promotion spots. It’s a stark contrast from last season when Wycombe escape relegation by the skin of their teeth, avoiding the drop on goal difference on the final day of the season.

Westley believes coming so close to relegation gave Ainsworth a ‘shot in the arm’ to come back stronger.

“Gareth has done an unbelievable job. He was very close to taking Wycombe out of the league last year, which obviously gave him a shot in the arm. He has produced an outstanding season,” he said.

Westley and Ainsworth are kindred spirits in a way. Both are managers for clubs with limited resources yet are competing with the big-hitters in the division. That link makes Westley appreciate the job Ainsworth is doing even more.

He also praised his counterpart’s team building ability, highlighting goalkeeper Matt Ingam, centre-back Aaron Pierre and striker Paul Hayes, who is suffering from a calf injury, as the heartbeat of the team.

“Gareth has done a brilliant job in putting a core of players together and putting a team around that core and there are where they are for a reason,” he explained.

“They could fall way, but it wouldn’t be a disgrace on Gareth because he doesn’t have the resources to build up a squad that, at the back end of the season when there are a lot of games and vital points on offer, [can still compete].

“They could fall away but doesn’t take away anything that he’s done.”