Patience proved to be Wycombe’s best asset as Luke O’Nien’s second half goal earned them a 1-0 win over Stevenage at Adams Park.

The midfielder’s fifth goal of the season came with 20 minutes remaining in a match which saw the Chairboys dominate from start to finish.

Boro owed the small losing margin to a fine display from Jamie Jones as he made a number of fine saves to keep the scores level for so long.

The win sees the Blues keep pace in the race for a play-off place and they will hope to build on the solid display when they travel to Accrington Stanley on Wednesday.

Gareth Ainsworth opted to persevere with the 4-3-3 formation which had brought the Chairboys greater joy in the second half of their 1-0 defeat against Newport County last time out.

The approach worked well as Wanderers created a number of good chances and produced a more fluid display going forward.

Greg Luer made an appearance on the bench after Stevenage announced his arrival from Hull on a one-month loan shortly before kick-off.

A well-worked corner routine drew the first chance of the match after five minutes as O’Nien arrived unmarked at the back post to connect with Joe Jacobson’s deep cross.

The midfielder’s left-footed volley had plenty of power but lacked the direction required to worry Jones who saved with ease.

Wycombe had started brightly and again went close from a corner moments later. Jacobson’s more conventional delivery from the left was well met by Antony Stewart, but his downward header bounced just wide from six yards.

Stevenage’s slow start was, perhaps, unsurprising considering their record of just two wins in 10 matches and the Blues were unfortunate not to be ahead as they hit the woodwork twice inside the opening ten minutes.

First Rowan Liburd, who was making his home debut, did well to shake off Dean Wells and send a header towards goal from close-range. Jones, however, stood tall and turned onto his crossbar.

From the resulting corner the home side again went close as Paul Hayes bundled an effort towards goal only to see his attempt bounce to safety off the Boro upright.

The frenetic opening concluded with Garry Thompson sending a curling strike towards the bottom left corner from 20 yards. Once again Jones was equal to the strike though as he pulled of a fine one handed save to maintain parity.

As has been the norm for many of the Chairboys’ performances this season, their quick start was followed by a turgid spell in which both sides failed to command proceedings.

The Blues rediscovered their attacking flair in stoppage time at the end of the half as a fine passing move involving O’Nien, Hayes and Michael Harriman released Jason McCarthy on the edge of the box.

The Southampton loanee hit a first time effort which flew over the Stevenage bar.

With the second half barely five minutes old Liburd had Wycombe’s clearest chance to break the deadlock.

First the burly forward laid off an intelligent pass to Harriman who ran at the heart of the Boro defence before presenting Liburd with a one on one opportunity with a neat through ball.

The 23-year-old opted to lift the ball over Jones, but couldn’t find the required elevation as the Stevenage number one held his gorund to again deny the Blues the opener.

Stevenage had failed to muster a meaningful effort on goal for the entirety of the match, but offered Wycombe a timely reminder of the need to remain assured in defence shortly after the hour as Luke Wilkinson headed inches wide from a corner.

Liburd was proving to be the Blues best option going forward as he continued his promising start to life at Adams Park.

Despite the strong display, his finishing was left a little to be decided and he should have scored in the 64th minute when a deep cross form the right by Hayes gave him a free header.

The front man could only plant his header straight at Jones to leave the Boro number one with an easy save.

He was left helpless just six minutes later though as O’Nien smashed the Blues into a thoroughly deserved lead.

It was a fine finish as he collected a loose ball on the edge of the box, sent two defenders sprawling with a dummy and slammed a left foot drive into the bottom left corner.

The strike underlined a far better attacking performance from Wycombe in a match in which they could have been out of sight.

As it was, a toothless Stevenage side did little to worry their hosts in the closing stages of what was a comfortable afternoon for the Chairboys.

The visitors did produce one moment of class, which required Ryan Allsop to be at his best as he sprung high to his left to tip over Dean Parrett’s powerful drive and secure the win.

Wycombe Wanderers: Allsop; McCarthy, Stewart, Pierre, Jacobson, Harriman, O’Nien, Bloomfield (85 Bean), Thompson, Hayes (c), Liburd (77 Ugwu)

Subs not used: Richardson; Jombati, McGinn, Wood, Sellers

Stevenage: Jones; Henry (45 Wilkinson), Wells, Okimo, Franks, Tonge, Cox (81 Luer), Conlon, Parrett, Pett (55 Harrison), Kennedy

Subs not used: Day; Hedges, Marriott, Gorman

Bookings: Kennedy (67 simulation), Tonge (90 foul on O’Nien)

Referee: Andy Woolmer

Attendance: 3,715 (Away 251)