After watching Wanderers fight their way past Dagenham Gareth Ainsworth said the team spirit and character within the current Wanderers team is something which he has only seen a few times in over 20 years in football.

Wanderers looked to be feeling the effects of a hard fought 3-2 victory against Luton Town on Tuesday night as they laboured through the first 45 minutes at Victoria Road on Saturday.

But Blues were a different side after the break and their hunger, effort and greater desire to win led to Aaron Pierre notching the game’s only goal just after the hour mark.

Ainsworth said: “I know that character has been something we keep mentioning week in, week out. If you’re in that dressing room and you hear the boys when they’re together afterwards or at half-time you’d understand what I mean.

“You don’t get this very often and we’ve got it at Wycombe and we’re going to try and keep hold of it.

“I’ve had it a couple of times. The season we were promoted with QPR, in my Lincoln City days and the crazy gang at Wimbledon.

“It’s never knowing when you’re beat, the togetherness, relying on each other, that is really special in football.”

The Wycombe manager also addressed the media relieved that Daggers striker Jamie Cureton had missed a guilt edged chance with two minutes remaining.

Alfie Mawson misjudged a long ball from ‘keeper Mark Cousins and the veteran striker took a touch, bore down on Matt Ingram’s goal and put his shot wide just as it seemed he would snatch a point for the hosts.

“We didn’t get troubled too much by Dagenham, it was a glorious chance for Jamie Cureton right at the end there and he’s put those in throughout his career but his legs must be going like mine did,” said the Blues boss.

“I’m glad because I don’t think we deserved to have that killer blow at the end. You’ve got to defend for 95 minutes so I gave them a little bit in the dressing room after the game but I’ve also said fantastic effort Tuesday and we were going to be a bit leggy today but to come away with the three points is fantastic.”

Ainsworth chose to replace Fred Onyedinma with Matt McClure in his starting line-up in east London, but the latter struggled to make an impact on the game before being replaced by the on loan Millwall man just after half-time.

Having recently returned from injury the Blues boss felt Onyedinma had been jaded by his recent exertions but Ainsworth was pleased with the forward’s cameo appearance on Saturday.

He said: “I just thought Fred has missed a couple weeks with his calf and you do take games to settle back in and get your fitness back and he’s 18 remember.

“To come in with people expecting him to be on fire again is a lot to put on a young man’s shoulders so I just took him out of the firing line. I have this theory that sometimes when you’re sitting on the bench, you’re hungry, you want to get out there and it does you good.

“The players don’t always think that when I tell them they’re on the bench but I thought Fred came on and did really well today. Everybody played their part, and a clean sheet as well so the back five will be happy.”