Portsmouth 1 Wycombe 2

IT is a measure of the man and the respect that he is held in that when Adebayo Akinfenwa was substituted towards the end of Wycombe's memorable FA Cup win at Portsmouth, he received a standing ovation from the Fratton faithful.

And almost an hour later, such is the admiration for the 34-year-old cult hero that he was signing autographs for Pompey fans while his team-mates boarded the coach.

But then it's the same every week with rival fans - last week Doncaster, two weeks ago Mansfield and before that by the players' tunnel at Yeovil.

"Bayo is an amazing guy," explained midfielder Dominic Gape. "He puts in so much work off the ball which people don't see. Everyone believes he always wants the ball in the air, but if you actually analyse his game, Bayo wants to play football and wants the ball at his feet.

"His strength and size is something he can use to good effect."

It was the Saints player, on loan at Adams Park until January, who set up Akinfenwa's winner in this first round tie, seven minutes from time.

Gape's free-kick found his team-mate in the area, and his looping header knocked out the 2008 winners of the cup.

Paris Cowan-Hall gave Wycombe a deserved first-half lead, but a failure to convert their other chances threatened to haunt them when Gareth Evans levelled for Pompey on 47 minutes.

Wycombe were good value for their half-time lead and fired a couple of warning shots across Pompey's bows before Cowan-Hall gave them the lead.

On 16 minutes, Matt Bloomfield cleverly allowed the ball to run across his body and created space to crack a left-footed shot against the post from 20 yards and four minutes later Cowan-Hall broke clear on the left and his angled shot was kept out by keeper David Forde's legs.

But Forde was found wanting on 26 minutes when he miscued his punch as a free-kick was fired into a crowded goalmouth and the ball broke to Cowan-Hall, who nodded into the unguarded net against the club where he began his career.

Pompey failed to get a shot on target in a lukewarm first-half performance and Chairboys keeper Jamal Blackman was only called into action to dive at Noel Hunt's feet as he chased a through ball from Milan Lalkovic.

Within two minutes of the restart Pompey were level when Enda Stevens broke down the left and his inviting cross was met with a crisp first-time finish by Gareth Evans.

Pompey pressed to settle the tie at the first time of asking and substitute Carl Baker's powerful effort produced a stunning save from Blackman, while at the other end Forde arched up to tip Wycombe sub Myles Weston's chip over the bar.

Akinfenwa was delighted with the response he received from Pompey fans at the end, a reception which his manager, Gareth Ainsworth described as "class".

"I know on my day I am good enough to trouble any defence," said Akenfenwa. "I’ve got strengths and I’ve got weaknesses. If I play to my strengths I am one of the best with what I do."

And Cowan-Hall, whose professional career began at Fratton Park in 2007, also paid tribute to his team-mate.

He said: "Bayo is a very good pro who I look up to. His goal was fantastic. He has big arms so he is able to create space. He is a big guy who is good at finishing and works hard every day. And he gets his rewards."

The reward for Wycombe's players is that they get a day off on Monday. That was the promise made by boss Gareth Ainsworth.

"I gave a challenge to the boys," he revealed.

"I said you can have Monday off as long as you are sitting at home at seven 'o clock watching the FA Cup draw on TV and Wycombe Wanderers are in it.

"They have deserved that and earned that. And we look forward to see who we get on Monday."