Wycombe fans wouldn’t normally get too excited about winning a first round Carabao Cup tie against lower-division opposition, but the midweek victory at MK Dons was important for so many reasons.

After the disappointing result against Exeter City in their first game of the season in League One, it was vital Matt Bloomfield’s new-look team put on a good performance against their county rivals in midweek and they delivered in style.

The defeat against Exeter was a huge setback after the crop of new players signed in the transfer window had everyone looking forward to the season opener.

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There is truth in the old football cliché that the season is a marathon, not a sprint, but whatever the distance it helps to get off to a good start and the performance against Exeter was disjointed right from the start.

However, conceding two goals in the first four minutes would have knocked the stuffing out of an experienced team that had been playing together for years, let alone a side containing seven debutants.

The other cause for concern was the poor attendance at Adams Park.

The crowd of 5,369 – which included over 700 Exeter fans – was the lowest in League One and smaller than the crowds at half the games in League Two and even two National League matches.

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Yes, a lot of people were on holiday and yes, the lunchtime rain showers didn’t help, but that didn’t deter people from turning out in larger numbers at every other game in Wycombe’s division.

With a new manager and new players, Wanderers need new fans to complete the picture and hopefully more results like that at MK Dons will see the attendances rise.

Next up is the visit to Lincoln City on Saturday, August 12.

The Imps finished only two places behind Wanderers last season and they had a formidable home record, suffering just two defeats at Sincil Bank.

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They drew no fewer than 14 of their 23 home games including a goalless stalemate against the Blues last December.

Lincoln won the reverse fixture 2-0 at Adams Park in April, a defeat that ended Wycombe’s hopes of reaching the playoffs.