THE Chairboys are still focused on getting into the play offs despite a frustrating afternoon against Cheltenham.

After going 2-0 down within the first 15 minutes, Wycombe managed to get themselves 3-2 up thanks to two goals from Garry Thompson and a penalty from Joe Jacobson.

But, the relegation-threatened Robins, who also had Jordan Cranston sent off after receiving two yellow cards in the first half hour, managed to gain a deserved point after Billy Waters forced home his own penalty, which had been initially well saved by Jamal Blackman.

Other results went for the Chairboys on a sun-drenched spring afternoon, and means they are now just three points off the play-offs, with five games to go.

However, Wycombe boss Gareth Ainsworth was determined to remain positive after the frustrating afternoon at Adams Park.

He said: “It’s two points dropped.

“We want to be winning these type of games, but fair play to Cheltenham, they are fighting for their lives and they dug in really well, but we expected to get the three points.

“Our defending wasn’t good enough for the first two goals, we were caught playing in the wrong areas and they punished us for it. The third goal is just a long hopeful ball up front, and the lad’s won a penalty.

“We are gutted because the results have gone for us. We are a point closer to the play offs. We have to win four out of five now until the end of the season, I think we need at least 12 points to make the play offs.

“But, I’m always positive.

“We are disappointed with the way we defended and the way we started the game, but we must stay positive and look forward to the next game on Friday."

The squad now face a tricky Easter double-header against Mansfield on Good Friday at Adams Park, and then travel to London to face Barnet on Monday.

Ainsworth said he felt the character shown by the side to get from 2-0 down to 3-2 up will stand them in good stead.

He said: “It was brilliant character from the lads. At any level to come from 2-0 down to 3-2 up shows great character from the boys.

“I think we need 71 points to go into the play-offs, and it’s going to be tough. It wasn’t good enough today, but we must remember we are punching well above our weight, but we have got a big enough and good enough squad to do it.

“Friday is going to be a good game. We want to bounce back, it’s one of the games I want to get something out of, it’s all to play for.”

Fan favourite Akinfenwa made a big impact off the bench for the Chairboys when he was brought on at half time, but Ainsworth said he didn’t regret not starting the imposing centre forward.

He said: “I never have regrets as a manager.

“I thought we had enough firepower on the pitch at the end of the game to win it, and some sloppy defending cost us.

“The balls up to him could have been better, and we could have given him better service.

“They defended really well, but we could have used the wings better and got round the back better, we didn’t do it enough times.”

Ainsworth was also full of praise for Jamal Blackman.

He said: “What a keeper we have got.

“For the first goal, he’s made a hell of a save from the free kick, and we need to follow that in better. He’s made a good save from the penalty as well, but we couldn’t really follow that in better.

“He is going to play at the top level I’m sure, it’s just when.”