Wanderers manager Gareth Ainsworth insists his team believe they can pull off another miracle against Northampton on Saturday and that they will be going all out to achieve automatic promotion.

The Chairboys approach the final League Two game of the season fifth in the table knowing that they must win at Sixfields and hope that Southend lose to Morcambe and Bury slip-up against Tranmere – a series of results which would see them promoted.

Rewind 12 months and Blues were in a similar position at the other end of the table – three points adrift of safety ahead of the last game – and after results went their way they preserved their Football League status with a 3-0 win against Torquay.

“Last year was real pressure, facing something unprecedented in Wycombe Wanderers’ history by dropping out of the league and we really did need a fairytale,” said Ainsworth.

“This is one of those situations where you could have an amazing, amazing day. I think there’s more belief that we can do it this year than there was last year, which is important.

“There’s also the excitement that we could be in the play-offs as well. The fans thinking that the play-offs is not failure is really, really good for me because they’re thinking the same as me.

“The play-off is fantastic, it’s brilliant but automatic promotion, wow, that could be something incredible.”

Blues have occupied a top three spot for the majority of the campaign but dropped out last weekend following a 1-0 defeat to Morecambe at Adams Park.

The Wycombe boss admitted the fact his team have been promotion contenders for so long makes a possible date with the play-offs “disappointing” but he has not yet resigned himself to getting to League One via Wembley.

Ainsworth said: “We were never tipped for promotion and we’ve made ourselves one of the candidates for promotion – I think that’s outstanding.

“The lads put enough pressure on themselves to go out and win games. Their DNA is winners and they want to go out and win every Saturday no matter what game it is. I’m not going to add any more to it by saying it’s a must win game – of course it is.

“People know that it is if we want to get promoted automatically. The calm, cool, calculated approach will be the same with some attacking, expansive football. Consistency is key and I won’t change anything now.”