BLUES boss Gareth Ainsworth refused to be downcast despite the Boxing Day beating by Cheltenham Town – but admitted his players had been brought back down to earth.

Injuries and suspensions meant Ainsworth was missing maybe five of his first choice XI and he was forced to fill the bench with teenagers – some of whom had never featured in the squad before.

He said the 4-0 loss that followed was warranted, but vowed the side would bounce back and get back to the superb run of form that preceded it as Wanderers took 13 points from a possible 15.

Ainsworth said: “It’s put us right back on our feet and down to earth.

“It was a fair result. We’ll take it on the chin. I gave the fans the chin up sign as we went off. We have to take it together and hopefully we’ll take a win that’s just round the corner together as well."

But he added: “I’m still buzzing about the way we are and the way we do things. There’s passion in that dressing room. We believe we can win every game, instead of three months ago where we were accepting we’ve lost another one.

“People are passionate and are throwing their boots down. It’s really good to see – it means they all really want to win.”

Ainsworth added: “Cheltenham will be right up there at the end. They’re a good side, he [manager Mark Yates] has got them playing good football and they finished well when they got the chances.”