Gareth Ainsworth is expecting a tough test this weekend as he prepares his Wycombe side to face Crawley Town at Adams Park.

Despite their lowly league position, Crawley have not been beaten away from home in two months and boast an impressive defensive record for a team in the lower echelons of League Two.

Although they are the lowest scorers in the league, Crawley seem to be a well-drilled outfit under Harry Kewell and Ainsworth is under no illusion as to how difficult this game could be.

He said: “It will be a tough test and I think Harry will be different to many managers.

“He is finding his feet in League Two. He has a great pedigree as a player and there is absolutely no easy games in any football league.

“This won’t be an easy game and anyone would be naive to think teams in this division are way apart. They  are obviously your big teams such as Luton and Notts County but you look at the results that have happened recently.

“Crawley have picked up points as have Forest Green and Port Vale and Morecambe against us so there is a big respect thing that needs to happen in professional football and we won’t be taking any game lightly.

With the Morecambe defeat still fresh in his memory, there were a few positives to pick up from the game, most notably the excellent cameo appearance from Luke O’Nien.

O’Nien has been sidelined lately through injury having proved an integral part of the team in the early part of the campaign and Ainsworth commented that the midfielder is very much in his thoughts ahead of the Crawley test, as is winger Paris Cowan-Hall.

He added: “Luke is a good player. He is a winner. He wants to win everything whether it be on the pitch or at the training ground.

“Paris has been a bit wobbly of late with his form but I thought he came on at Morecambe and did really well. He put the cross in for the goal and he is a dangerous player.

“Again he will be a big part of what we do. Both are definitely in contention for this weekend but  there are some really good players who have done it for me in previous weeks so all to play for and selection headaches is what I want as a manager.”

The following fixture is a long away trip to Accrington on Tuesday evening. However, after that, the Blues’ next longest trip in 2017 is a short hop up the M40 to Coventry.

Although this could be deemed an advantage approaching the festive period, Ainsworth added that at some point every side has to do those long trips to the likes of Carlisle and Morecambe.

He said: “The travelling does take a lot but everyone has to do them.
“We got a point at Carlisle which is a great result but lost at Morecambe so I think being on the road is good for us but these long trips on a Tuesday take preparing for.

“December looks a local fixture pack and that should be ok on the legs and getting the necessary rest. Christmas is always mental but I am really looking forward to a few Saturday-Saturday games instead of Tuesday games being thrown in for us.”