Wycombe Wanderers boss Gareth Ainsworth has heaped praise onto Sheffield Wednesday manager, Darren Moore, ahead of this weekend’s fixture at Adams Park.
The two have faced each other five times in the dugout, with Moore having taken on Ainsworth’s Chairboys side not only with the Owls, but with Doncaster Rovers respectively.
Overall, both bosses have won two games each whilst also sharing the points on a solitary occasion, and Ainsworth is looking forward to taking on the former West Bromwich Albion centre back once more.
WWWDDWWD*WWWDDDWWW.
— bet365 (@bet365) January 2, 2023
Darren Moore's Sheffield Wednesday are in sensational form.#swfc pic.twitter.com/RncVoLx4PB
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He said: “We played against each other a fair bit when I was at Preston and he was at Torquay during the 1990s.
“We have both been privileged to play at the highest level in the Premier League and we’ve had similar paths.
“I can honestly say he is one of the nicest guys in football as he is a real gentleman, he really is.
“I think he’s a very humble guy too and I have got nothing but good things to say about him.
“He was a tenacious character to face during our playing days, but he has gone about his management style in a respectable and honourable way.
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“People like Darren Moore are great to have in football, as he is a top guy.”
This happens after pretty much every game in one way or another - be it Newcastle United or Accrington Stanley. It’s nothing you haven’t heard before but the respect Darren Moore has within the game is remarkable. Bloke seems to know everyone.#SWFC🦉 pic.twitter.com/6Hh0pAtfem
— Alex Miller (@AlexMiller91) January 11, 2023
The fixture on Saturday is expected to be Wycombe’s highest-attended home game of the season, with around 8,900 people planning to visit Adams Park.
Coincidentally, the club’s largest crowd last season happened to be against this weekend’s opposition, with 9,005 spectators cramming themselves into the Hillbottom Road venue.
And with Moore’s side buoyed after eliminating Premier League high-flyers Newcastle United just a few days ago in the FA Cup, Ainsworth believes it will be a tough test against one of the favourites for promotion back to the Championship.
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He added: “Hearing about the number of people who will be here on Saturday is brilliant, and I wish it was like that every week.
“It probably shows what the Championship season would have been like with fans at Adams Park.
“But we can only dream and it’s up to me to make those dreams a reality.
"It’ll be great to see so many people arrive on Saturday and even though I love Darren [Moore], I hope he isn’t as happy as me after the game.
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September: Praising Wednesday's Moore (4,160 reads).
— James Richings (@James_BFP) December 31, 2022
After Wycombe's 3-1 defeat against Wednesday, Gareth Ainsworth complimented Darren Moore's tactics and team. #Chairboys #SWFC https://t.co/bm6WwpOHHD
“Darren has got a lot of pressure at Sheffield Wednesday and I know he’ll have a lot on behind the scenes too, but, he gets on with his job and he doesn’t mind if he gets knocked.
“He’s done a brilliant job so far at Wednesday, considering what they have been through, and I look forward to having a drink with him after the game.
“I can’t wait for him to come to town.”
The fixture will begin at 3pm.
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