GARETH AINSWORTH explained that he wasn’t sure if Paris Cowan-Hall’s winner was deliberate as his Wycombe side came from behind to down League Two strugglers Newport County 2-1 and keep their long unbeaten run going.

Cowan-Hall’s effort came 12 minutes from time when he picked up the ball 40 yards out and chipped Newport keeper Joe Day, crowning off a sensational piece of audacity to keep Wanderers firmly in the playoffs.

Ainsworth joked: “Don’t asked me if he meant it. I have claimed a few in my career that I have not meant!

“However, we know Paris has that ability and it was brilliant to see it go in as we totally dominated the game.”

It had looked a bit bleak for Wycombe when County took the lead totally against the run of the play on the hour mark when Mark Randall slotted past Scott Brown after an error by Aaron Pierre.

Going behind forced Ainsworth’s hand and he brought on the in-form front trio of Scott Kashket, Adebayo Akinfenwa and Cowan-Hall with 20 minutes to go.

As soon as they stepped on the pitch, Sam Wood scored with a brilliant scissor kick as Akinfenwa caused havoc in the Newport area.

The Wycombe manager added: “I am really pleased with the character we showed to come back from behind.

“The last game of the Christmas period is always a tough one and the plan was to always rotate and keep it fresh.

“The front three of Paul Hayes, Garry Thompson and Myles Weston came in and I thought they did a really good job of running Newport into the ground. I also thought Sam Wood played really well in the Matt Bloomfield role.

“However, after going behind, which was such a blow, I felt the three for three change would lift the ground and the mental side of the game is as strong as anything.”

With an excellent seven points picked up in three games over Christmas, one of the games included Ainsworth’s 200th league game in charge at Adams Park and he said he was overwhelmed to receive a picture commemorating that achievement.

“Before the game in the dressing room, the boys presented to me a framed picture saying ‘Well done gaffer on your 200th league game’ all signed by them.

“I felt that was such a special moment as you don’t get that often at clubs and for them to do that for me and it shows we have a real good thing going here and I am glad we capped the day with a win.”