HAPPY Wanderers boss Gareth Ainsworth said his new-look side gave one of the most complete performances he’s seen from a side he’s managed – but said Blues have set the standard they have to match for the rest of the season.

Clinical in front of goal in the first half and resilient in defence in the second, Wanderers put in a perfect awayday performance as they won 2-0 at Newport County to get the new League Two season off and running.

Peter Murphy and Paris Cowan-Hall were the scorers as Blues exorcised the demons of the horror show they put in on their last visit to Rodney Parade.

This time they were committed, incisive in the pass and never looked like being broken down by a Newport side who fielded three forwards for the first hour before burning themselves out.

A delighted Ainsworth said: “What a way to open the season – great first half performance, one of the most complete since I’ve been in charge. I’m really happy but it’s feet firmly on the floor.

“They’ll have to keep that standard. They have set the standard, they’ve set the bar really high now.

“We’ve got a team who will work really hard for each other. They are going to run around, close and have the team spirit.

“You’ve got to have blood, sweat and tears. Joe Jacobson’s had the blood today [he had his face cut by an opponent]. You get these results by hard work.

“We’ve grown in stature because we’ve seen it out.”

When asked what the most pleasing aspect of the performance was, the Blues boss said: “What we worked on in training, we did. It’s great to see when people do what we say on the training ground. Maybe last year we didn’t have that 100 per cent. We had 90 per cent definitely – sometimes it’s that ten per cent [that makes a difference].

“The work rate today was something special. To see that on the first day of the season excites me.”