GARETH AINSWORTH was thrilled to see his Wycombe Wanderers side extend their fabulous winning run to seven games with a 2-0 win over Notts County at Meadow Lane.

Goals from Adebayo Akinfenwa and the in-form Scott Kashket gave Wycombe a deserved victory to cement their place in the League Two playoff zone.

However, the victory was tinged with a sour note as Akinfenwa received his marching orders with 13 minutes to go for a second booking.

In the first half, County were reduced to ten men themselves when Michael O’Connor was sent off for a lunge on Paris Cowan-Hall by referee Eddie Ilderton.

Reflecting on his side’s win, Ainsworth said: “I am very, very happy with the way things are going.

“I told the lads that I watched John Sheridan’s (Notts County manager) interview yesterday and he said they would start the game very strongly.

“They had a go early on and had a few shots and Jon Stead was a real threat to us but Aaron Pierre really grew into the game against him and won that battle in the end.

“Bayo again was unplayable at times. It is awesome to see. He is playing so well at the moment and the way the lads are playing in this formation is fantastic to see.”

With regard to Akinfenwa’s red, Ainsworth thought the second booking could be construed as harsh.

He added: “I want to look at it again on TV but it looked like a clash of heads which I think was an undeserved booking.

“I do understand the referee has a tough job but I now miss Bayo next week which is a big thing for us.”

After receiving the Sky Bet League Two Manager of the Month award on Friday, Ainsworth’s start to December means he has hopefully avoided the dreaded curse but revealed the reason behind that.

“The amount of people who have said to me you have that curse now, well that was our third win in December so there is no curse for me,” commented the Wycombe manager.

“In all seriousness, it is everyone who wins the award, not just me. They have to curse all of us and that is a hard thing with the spirit we have got.”