GARETH AINSWORTH admitted he had to “rattle a few cages” at half-time during the win at Newport County as he saw Sido Jombati score a late winner last night to make it two wins on the bounce away from Adams Park.

Jombati’s excellent 88th minute free kick gave the Chairboys maximum points from a tight encounter but Ainsworth admitted he wasn’t overjoyed with his side’s first half display.

He said: “I had to go in to the lads at the break and rattle a few cages but to be fair I certainly got a reaction in the second half.

“There were some brilliant individual performances. Matt Bloomfield, Sam Wood, Luke O’Nien all ran themselves into the ground and I am really pleased to have got out with a win as with 20 minutes to go I would have taken a point.”

The win on a difficult pitch at Rodney Parade followed a gruelling match against Cambridge on Saturday and Ainsworth praised his side’s energy levels and efforts just three days later.

“The energy levels were really high and credit to them on a sapping pitch,” explained Ainsworth.

“We were worried about one or two of them after the game on Saturday as we were penned back for long periods and when that happens you run more and do more work.

“However, it was really pleasing to see the lads’ fitness come through today on a really horrible pitch as well as rotating a couple of the lads who were missing and the strength in depth shone through.”

With Wycombe’s away form picking up after their long barren run without an away league win, attention turns to Adams Park on Saturday as the Chairboys entertain Hartlepool, and the manager was quietly confident they could continue their unbeaten run.

He added: “It is fantastic to be on this run but Hartlepool are a good side but we seem to do well against them at home. However, it will be a tough game and we will make sure we are ready for that.”