An injury plagued Wycombe Wanderers crashed out of the EFL Cup as Tammy Abraham’s measured finish gave Bristol City a 1-0 win at Adams Park.

The striker’s finish provided a rare moment of class in a quiet first half for both sides before City survived a Wycombe onslaught early in the second period.

Wycombe would surely have found a route back into the game but for the brilliance of Richard O’Donnell who made a string of superb saves.

Adebayo Akinfenwa had the ball in the net with eight minutes to play but saw his strike ruled out for offside.

Wanderers will now turn their attention to their League Two meeting with newly promoted Grimsby Town at home on Saturday.

Wanderers’ ever growing injury concerns saw Scott Brown pick up a thigh problem in Saturday’s 1-0 defeat to Crawley Town.

The Blues brought in Cameron Dawson on a seven-day loan to cover for Brown and the 21-year-old started between the sticks.

Gareth Ainsworth had resisted the urge to put himself on the bench on the opening day defeat but was among the six substitutes at Adams Park.

He is still without Paris Cowan-Hall, Paul Hayes, Max Muller, Nick Freeman and Luke O’Nien and could name only six players, including himself, on the bench.

Will de Havilland was handed his senior debut at centre-back, while Akinfenwa also made his first competitive start for the club.

In a first 20 minutes bereft of attacking quality, Akinfenwa came closest to forcing a breakthrough as his header cannoned of Aden Flint’s shoulder and looped just wide.

Both of these teams have poor records in the competition in recent years, with City being knocked out by lower league opponents in the past 11 seasons.

Wycombe meanwhile have not won a home tie in the competition since 2003, and had not won a game in the EFL Cup under Ainsworth coming into the match.

A Bristol side featuring seven changes from the side which started their Championship campaign with a 2-1 win over Wigan were on top, and had the lead after 27 minutes.

The finish was superb in his execution as Abraham controlled Scott Golbourne’s driven cross from the left and turned de Havilland in one action.

His strike from the edge of the box lacked power, but was placed perfectly and nestled just inside the right-hand upright past the despairing Dawson.

Wanderers should have been level seven minutes later as they created their clearest chance of the half.

The opportunity sprung from Southwell’s work in the box as his shot saw the ball break loose to Sam Wood on the left corner of the box.

Wood, who was celebrating his 30th birthday, lifted a delicate cross to the back post where an unmarked Michael Harriman headed over from six yards.

Ainsworth’s men were lucky not to be two down at the break as first Aden Flint’s point-blank header was cleared off the line and then Abraham fired over.

Wycombe started the second half with renewed impetus and but for the superb reactions of O’Donnell would have been level.

The City keeper made three excellent saves in the space of two minutes to keep his side ahead just after the 50 minute mark.

First he denied Southwell’s volley after Matt Bloomfield’s cross had picked out the former Boston United man unmarked in the six yard box.

His next save was more routine as he got down low to push Bloomfield’s drive from 18-yards around the post.

O’Donnell completed his cameo by showing strong wrists to block Anthony Stewart’s fierce drive and add to the host’s frustration.

Injuries seem to be the order of the day at Adams Park at the moment, and even referee Lee Collins is not immune as he had to be replaced by Marvyn Amphlett in the 58th minute.

The stoppage seemed to take the wind out of Wycombe’s sails and the game settled into a calmer pace after the restart.

Southwell’s departure on 66 minutes also deprived them of one of their brightest attacking threats and the 22-year-old had once again showed an ability to link up play.

Bristol barely threatened throughout the second period and Wanderers thought they had the equaliser their endeavour deserved with eight minutes to play.

Garry Thompson drew another fine save from O’Donnell and Akinfenwa reacted quickest to turn into an empty net.

The burly striker was denied a first Chairboys goal by the linesman’s flag and with that Wanderers’ hopes of forcing extra time faded.

Wycombe Wanderers: Dawson; Jombati, Stewart, de Havilland (Pierre 68), Jacobson, Harriman, Bloomfield, Wood, Southwell (Thompson 66), Akinfenwa

Subs not used: Richardson, Bean, Rowe, Ainsworth

Bristol City: O’Donnell, Matthews (Bryan 65), Flint, Pack, Williams, Reid, Tomlin, Freeman, Golbourne, Abraham (Gartia 66), Wilbraham (Little 66)

Subs not used: O’Leary, Kodjia, Magnusson, De Girolamo

Referee: Lee Collins (replaced by Marvyn Amphlett 58)

Bookings: Williams 29 (foul on Bloomfield)

Attendance: 1,842 (away 466)