Wycombe Wanderers lost their first league game since October as they were comfortably beaten 4-2 by fellow high-flyers Exeter City.

Gareth Ainsworth made seven changes from the team that suffered a heartbreaking loss at Spurs in the FA Cup on Saturday and the Grecians took full advantage.

David Wheeler opened the scoring on 18 minutes after Jack Stacey broke clear down the right and provided a pinpoint cross which Wheeler steered home from close range.

The Chairboys responded well to that setback and they equalised on 37 minutes through Garry Thompson as he volleyed home Sam Saunders’ fantastic corner from close range.

However, the introduction of star man Ollie Watkins proved the catalyst for Exeter as he assisted two goals within a minute and scored one himself in injury time.

Firstly, Troy Brown poked home from close range after a mazy run and dangerous cross from Watkins on 66 minutes as his cross evaded everyone.

Sixty seconds later, Joel Grant scored an almost identical goal as he slotted home at the back post after more superb play from the inspired playmaker.

However, debutant Alex Jakubiak, on loan from Watford, scored with a clinical finish on 90 minutes as he evaded his man to smash home past Christy Pym.

Watkins inevitably had the final say when he rounded Jamal Blackman and crashed it into the roof of the net.

Exeter were the more positive in the early stages at a dreary St James’ Park and they had the first chance when Jordan Moore-Taylor saw his header well saved by  Blackman from Craig Woodman’s inviting cross.

However, it wasn’t long before the home side took a deserved lead when Wheeler tucked home from six yards out.

Sam Saunders had the first real shot in anger for the visitors on 36 minutes but his 20-yard strike flashed just over.

However, a minute later, Saunders produced a corner of the highest quality for Thompson to score.

The Chairboys then had the first opportunity of the second half after 47 minutes when Michael Harriman’s deep cross found Myles Weston who headed over Pym’s crossbar.

Exeter fought back with a brilliant chance of their own when Blackman missed a cross only for Troy Brown to head against the crossbar straight into the grateful arms of the Wycombe stopper.

Thompson was denied by an excellent stop from Pym on 58 minutes as the tempo of the game was ratcheted up a notch.

The Reds were beginning to get on top with a sustained spell of pressure after the hour mark, being awarded a succession of corners, as Wycombe were hanging on grimly, lunging into blocks and tackles.

Exeter’s pressure eventually paid off when Brown rammed the ball home before Grant added another, producing a hammer blow for Ainsworth’s side.

Blackman produced a brave save on 74 minutes when he stopped Jake Taylor’s lungbursting run.

Neither side really threatened until Jakubiak's and Watkins' late shows as Wycombe suffered an FA Cup hangover.

WYCOMBE WANDERERS: Blackman, Harriman, Muller, De Havilland, Jombati, Bean, Gape, Saunders, Weston (sub: Pierre, 74), Thompson (sub: Freeman 84), Kashket (sub: Jakubiak, 55). Subs: Richardson, Stewart, Wood, O’Nien.

EXETER CITY: Pym, Woodman, James, Simpson (sub: Watkins, 57), Wheeler, Grant (sub: Tillson, 71), Moore-Taylor, Taylor, Stacey, Reid (sub: McAlinden, 67), Brown. Subs: Olejnik, Oakley, Croll, Sweeney.

ATTENDANCE: 3,656 (Wycombe 148)

REFEREE: John Brooks