After missing out on an appearance at Wembley in last season’s play-off final, Tuesday’s FA Cup trip to Villa Park had added significance for Matt Ingram.

The Wycombe keeper has made a habit of missing the club’s bigger fixtures after injury ruled him out of the play-offs and suspension wrecked his hopes of playing against Villa at Adams Park.

It would be third time lucky though as he took to the field in front over 4,000 expectant Chairboys fans. A moment he claimed he will remember fondly.

“It was unbelievable, I have not necessarily played in the bigger games so to have a crowd like that behind me was brilliant,” he explained.

“The fans turn out every week, but to have 4,000 fans right behind my goal singing my name was special for me.

“Even when we went 1-0 down they were singing even louder. They were great throughout the match so I have to say thank you to them.”

Ingram was largely untroubled throughout the match and could do nothing about the two goals that saw a spirited Wycombe effort fail in the closing stages.

The limited work that he had to get through was almost a mirror image of the first meeting between the two sides earlier this month, when Alex Lynch barely had a save to make in a 1-1 draw.

Ingram’s relatively quiet night owed much to the work of the defensive unit in front of him, and the 22-year-old was quick to praise the Wycombe back four.

He explained: “Credit has to go to the boys in front of me. We almost looked like the Premier League side in the first half.

“I think maybe fitness just started to tell in the second half, and they moved the ball around a bit more.

“It was only really two moments of quality that decided the result in the end and we defended very well all night.”

The ease with which Wanderers took to their task was admirable and the League Two outfit showed no sign of fearing their surroundings.

While he further acknowledged the pleasure he took in playing at a Premier League ground, Ingram’s post-match thoughts were also occupied by what could have been.

“We had two or three chances and we thought we could have got a goal or two, but that is what Premier League quality will do to you,” said Ingram.

“It was a great experience, but I view it as just another game. Of course it’s nice to play at Villa Park against this level of opposition but we are disappointed to lose.”

Having felt the warmth of such a strong travelling support, Ingram is now hoping that the Blues’ efforts can have a lasting impact on attendances at run-of-the-mill League Two matches.

He said: “Our support has been brilliant all season, but hopefully a few of the fans who are not regulars have seen what we are about tonight and will come down to Adams Park more often.”