Gareth Ainsworth felt his new look Wycombe Wanderers team were unfortunate not to come away with all three points after a heated 2-2 draw against Stevenage at Adams Park this afternoon – despite Matt Ingram saving a last-minute penalty.

The visitors’ physical approach riled fans, players and management alike during a breathless encounter which sent Blues fans home with mixed emotions having seen their side dominate for the majority of the match only to nearly come away with nothing when Alfie Mawson conceded a spot-kick in the dying seconds.

Graham Westley had his players snapping into tackles throughout the match and saw striker Chris Beardsley red carded for kicking out at Sido Jombati after being pulled up for a foul on the Portuguese full-back.

“I thought they were very physical and they’re known for that,” said Ainsworth.

“It’s not something that we’re surprised at, but I felt there were a lot of strong challenges – I don’t mind strong challenges but there was a lot of off the ball stuff and physicality but you deal with that sometimes.

“To be able to play some silky stuff amongst all that I felt was testament to Wycombe and exactly what I’ve encouraged this attacking, expansive football that we want to play with a few risks. Those risks didn’t pay off today but I’m sure they’ll be paying off in games to come.”

The attacking, expansive football which the Blues boss has been urging his players to play in recent weeks was evident during a 20-minute opening spell in which the hosts’ intensity and tempo was too much for Stevenage to live with.

Fred Onyedinma shone again, scoring twice to enhance his ever growing reputation, opening the scoring after ten minutes and equalising in the second half after Dean Parrett and Tom Pett had given the visitors a 2-1 half-time lead.

Matt Bloomfield and Onyedinma had chances to put Blues ahead as Stevenage were penned into their own half until the final minute of the match when Tom Kennedy was felled by Mawson, causing groans of despair from the home faithful.

He said: “I thought that if there was one more goal in that game it would have been Wycombe Wanderers’.

“Little did I know that we’d have to call on Mr Ingram to pull out a world class save at the end there. That’s what he’s paid for.

“He’s humble and he’ll just get on with the job next Tuesday when we go again.”

Despite not winning at Adams Park for a third match running Ainsworth was upbeat after witnessing new signings Sam Saunders and Nico Yennaris gel instantly into the side.

On the character shown by his players the Blues boss said: “It goes without saying, that’s a given now at Wycombe Wanderers which hasn’t always been the case.

“When you get the characters in like we have, you do your homework, you’re going to get 100 per cent.

“The lads are down in there but I’ve said ‘don’t be disappointed, don’t let those feelings hang around’ because the performances are my baby and that’s what I’m pleased with. If they keep performing like that week in, week out there will be no problems.”