Burton 1, Wanderers 0,

Wanderers were left aggrieved by a controversial decision from referee Darren Deadman after Adam McGurk struck a second half winner to inflict their second straight defeat.

With 26 minutes played the man in the middle failed to show Burton ‘keeper Jon McLaughlin a red card after he had handled the ball outside of his box, instead brandishing only a yellow card.

The hosts took full advantage of their reprieve as McGurk curled a shot past Matt Ingram 11 minutes after half-time.

Matty Palmer missed a golden chance to double their lead before McLaughlin denied Aaron Pierre a late equaliser with a superb save to add insult to injury for the Blues.

Defeat leaves Wycombe third in League Two, four points clear of Bury who fell to a surprise home defeat against Morecambe.

Gareth Ainsworth was only able to name five players on the bench after his small squad was depleted further by the loss of Sam Saunders, who picked up a knock in defeat to Oxford on Good Friday.

The midfielder’s absence opened the door for Aaron Holloway, who scored his second of the season against the U’s, with the 22-year-old preferred to Peter Murphy and Hogan Ephraim in the starting XI.

Holloway’s inclusion provided Wanderers with a more physical edge up front and after only 20 seconds he fashioned a chance for Fred Onyedinma as he forced an error from George Taft, laid the ball off for his fellow forward and watched as the on loan Millwall man skewed a half volley over the bar.

The hosts had slipped down to second after Shrewsbury’s win earlier in the day and they took their time to grow in the game before a chance for ex-Wanderer Stuart Beavon looked to be opening up.

Beavon looked to have fouled Nico Yennaris when challenging for an aerial ball but Deadman waved play on and the striker had space to line up a shot. He took far too long however and Joe Jacobson put in a thumping tackle which won the ball but left the defender in a crumpled heap.

After Danny Rowe was recalled by Rotherham last week Blues’ defensive options are thin on the ground but fortunately the left-back was able to continue.

Beavon was a livewire in the early stages and his persistence created a chance as he forced a mistake from Alfie Mawson, who had two attempts to clear before having the ball pinched off his toe by Burton’s No9.

The striker got to the edge of the box and pulled his left foot volley wide under pressure from Pierre but that didn’t stop Ainsworth from charging out of his technical area to berate the referee.

Ainsworth’s antics were nothing compared to his reaction after 24 minutes when a controversial decision infuriated Wanderers’ coaching staff and players.

McLaughlin raced from his goal to head clear a long ball forward but the ‘keeper misjudged the flight of the ball and as it was about to bounce over his head he stuck his hands up and caught the ball a yard outside of the penalty area.

The assistant referee flagged madly to indicate an infringement, Deadman ran over and with everybody in the ground expecting to see him flourish a red card he pulled only yellow from his pocket.

Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink’s reaction said it all as he turned to his bench and puffed out his cheeks in relief. His opposite number’s reaction was one of fury and disbelief as he remonstrated vociferously with the fourth official.

Both sides were right up for the fight and tackles were flying in as they searched for the crucial opening goal.

Beavon was the player who looked most likely to provide the game with a goal and after he found himself with space in the box he should have done better than call Matt Ingram into a routine save with a tame shot.

The game was tight and both sides were enjoying short, sharp spells of pressure before the other team would rouse themselves and go on the offensive once more.

The pattern of the game was illustrated perfectly in a four minute spell just before half-time as Wanderers had their best chance of the half before the Brewers fashioned a great opportunity of their own.

Onyedinma had hardly seen the ball before Sam Wood played a defence splitting pass into his path and gave him the chance to run at the centre halves. The striker sped past John Mousinho before shrugging off Shane Cansdell-Sheriff and forced McLaughlin into a low save at his near post.

Moments later Blues had to be on their guard at the other end as the tricky Nasser El Khayati jinked his way past Jacobson and sent a cross towards McGurk, who rose to meet the ball on the penalty spot and sent a header a yard wide of the post.

Whether Wanderers’ staff were able to speak to the referee during the interval about the main talking point of the first 45 minutes was unknown but the referee certainly favoured the Blues when he awarded a soft free-kick three minutes after the restart.

Jacobson sent a ball curling towards the back post where it was met by the imposing Pierre with the defender’s header flying narrowly wide of the goal.

Burton, holders of the second best home record in League Two, introduced Palmer at the break in place of Damien McCrory and the young winger linked up well with Beavon to create their first chance of the second half.

Palmer played a neat one-two with the striker as he cut in from the right and after a yard of space had opened up he dragged a left-foot shot comfortably wide of Ingram’s goal.

That was a warning which Blues didn’t heed and from the same side of the pitch the opening goal arrived after 56 minutes.

McGurk took up a position on the right and trapped a delightful cross field pass from El Khayati. The forward cut inside leaving Jacobson in his wake before he picked out the bottom corner with pinpoint accuracy.

For the first time in the match the visiting fans were being out-sung by their counterparts, who revelled in McGurk’s seventh goal of the season.

Holloway had faded after a bright start and his exertions had well and truly taken their toll on the forward as he went down twice with what looked like cramp.

The 22-year-old made way for Steven Craig after 72 minutes, moments after Mawson had powered a header narrowly over the crossbar from a Jacobson corner.

Two games in four days was always going to be a big ask for Wycombe’s fragile squad but they were doing their best to fashion an equaliser.

Paul Hayes had a penalty shout turned down as he tumbled in the act of chasing down substitute Hogan Ephraim’s cross, but McLaughlin was seldom called into action.

As the game ticked into the last ten minutes a contender for miss of the season left the home fans speechless and the away support mightily relieved.

El Khayati had given Nico Yennaris a torrid afternoon and after leaving the full-back for dead once again his shot from a tight angle beat Ingram and flicked the post before bouncing to the six yard line.

Palmer saw an empty net and needed only to make a decent contact on the ball to send it into the net, but instead he somehow contrived to send the ball over the bar.

The let-off nearly acted as the catalyst for a Wanderers comeback as with just three minutes of normal time remaining they came agonisingly close to scoring an equaliser.

McLaughlin, who was lucky to be on the pitch, was at full stretch to beat away Pierre’s powerful downward header as it looked destined to nestle into the bottom corner.

That was to be Wanderers’ last shot at levelling the scores as their toils for an equaliser proved to be in vain during the four minutes of added time.

Burton: McLaughlin, Edwards, Cansdell-Sherriff, Mousinho, Taft, McGurk, Stewart, Naylor, McCrory (Palmer), Beavon (Weir), El Khayati (Slade)
Substitutes not used: Shearer, Harness, Maynard, Johnstone
Goals: McGurk 56,

Wanderers: Ingram, Yennaris, Pierre, Mawson, Jacobson, Holloway (Craig), Wood, Bloomfield (Murphy), Bean (Ephraim), Hayes, Onyedinma
Substitutes not used: Lynch, Fletcher,

Referee: Darren Deadman
Assistant referees: P Hobday and S Lucas
Fourth official: S Oldham