WYCOMBE were left stunned by a blistering four-goal second half Coventry comeback to lose their final group game in the Checkatrade Trophy.

After taking a two-goal lead either side of half-time through Stephen McGinn and Scott Kashket, Wycombe looked to be cruising.

But thanks to two substitutions, including the introduction of livewire, Jodi Jones, the Sky Blues stormed back after the break with three goals inside nine minutes - and closed out the tie with a fourth five minutes from time.

Both teams had already qualified for next month's knockout stages, but it will be the manner of Wycombe's second half performance, albeit it with many starting players lacking game time, which will have bitterly disappointed manager Gareth Ainsworth.

He rang the changes for tonight's group D Southern Section game, even naming himself among the substitutes.

Just three players who started in the FA Cup win over Portsmouth on Saturday began the match - with Aaron Pierre and Anthony Stewart teaming up in central defence and Michael Harriman getting a run out.

This was an ideal opportunity for players on the fringe of the first 11, and those returning from injury such as Myles Weston and Marcus Bean, to get some game time.

It also meant an evening off with their feet up for the likes of Adebayo Akenfenwa, Jamal Blackman and skipper Paul Hayes ahead of Saturday's league clash against Morecambe.

The Checkatrade Trophy rules state that clubs must field a minimum of five first-team players in the starting 11 - and fines of up to £5,000 for those teams which field under-strength squads.

That's five ‘first-team’ players who played in the team’s last league match, five who will play in the next league game or the club’s five highest appearance-makers this season. 

Coventry City boss Mark Venus also chose to shuffle his pack with six changes from the side who featured in their FA Cup draw at Morecambe.

But as an incentive, a win for the Chairboys tonight meant £10,000 straight away and both teams are already guaranteed a place in the next round where the prize money doubles.

  • Group stage: £10,000 per win, £5,000 per draw (£960,000 in total)
  • Last 32: £20,000 per win (£320,000 in total)
  • Last 16: £40,000 per win (£320,000 in total)
  • Quarter-finals: £50,000 per win (£200,000 in total)
  • Runners-Up: £50,000
  • Winners: £100,000
  • Total prize fund: £1.95 million

The opening exchanges featured a game of cat and mouse with both teams playing at a high tempo, probing the defences, but with neither goalkeeper tested early on.

Scott Kashket, who has missed the last month through illness, looked lively leading the front line. Kashket made his debut at Carlisle and scored against Crewe and West Ham, but has since been sidelined as Paris Cowan Hall. 

However, he came closest to breaking the deadlock when he latched onto an audacious backheel from Aaron Pierre, after 20 minutes and with very little backlift, curled his shot against the edge of the Coventry post.

Moments earlier, Stephen McGinn and Myles Weston combined well down the left wing, and McGinn was just inches away from stabbing home Weston's flat cross.

Garry Thompson then had a clear sight of goal six yards out as he met Weston's finely floated left-wing cross, but Coventry keeper Reece Charles-Cook tipped the ball over the bar from a header directed straight at him.

In fairness, Coventry were enjoying a good chunk of possession, but Wycombe's defensive cover was outstanding, snuffing out City's fast running marauders.

When the visitors did slip through the defensive net, after Wycombe were caught in possession, Ruben Lameiras slipped the ball wide when one-on-one with goalkeeper Scott Brown after 29 minutes.

Wycombe finally took the lead after 31 minutes. Coventry cleared the ball from defence, and the ball fell to McGinn, whose right-footed shot from the edge of the penalty area, took a deflection and crept over the goalline.

It was the Scottish midfielder's first goal of the season in his ninth appearance.

Coventry's best chance of the season came on 37 minutes when George Thomas carved open the Wycombe defence by playing a neat one-two, but goalkeeper Scott Brown was smartly off his line to block the angled shot.

Then a minute from time, Nick Freeman came mightily close to scoring Wycombe's second. Kashket swivelled neatly in the area, the ball broke to Nick Freeman whose low shot clipped the inside of one post, agonisingly crept across the goalline to kiss the right hand post and rolled to safety.

Coventry made a double substitution at the start of the second half, and one of these, Jodi Jones, made an immediate impact with a couple of darting runs inside the Wycombe area putting the hosts on the backfoot.

At the other end, Myles Weston found space and let fly with a 49th minute effort which curled the wrong side of the Coventry post.

But just as Coventry were looking dangerous and trying to get a toe-hold in the game, Wycombe grabbed a second goal in the 52nd minute. Kashket latched onto a poor back pass, rounded the goalkeeper and slid the ball into an empty net for his fourth goal of the season.

Coventry pulled a goal back two minutes later, when substitute Ryan Haynes ran at Sido Jombati, cut inside and neatly placed a right foot shot into the corner of the net.

Moments later, Thomas could have equalised for the Sky Blues, neatly controlling Haynes' high cross, swivelling and firing his shot straight at Brown.

But an equaliser arrived on 58 minutes - and it was the two substitutes who were involved. Jones foraged down the right hand side, slid the ball across the face of the six yard box where, from an angle, Haynes fired into a crowd of players as the ball managed to nestle in the back of the net. 

No sooner had the Coventry celebrations died down, than the visitors dramatically stole the lead to the delight of the noisy Sky Blues' fans behind the goal. 

And it was that man Jones who set up goal number three for after 62 minutes. The lively striker jinked is way into the box from the left wing, crossed low and Thomas tapped home for 3-2 to Coventry.

Three goals squandered in nine second half minutes, a two goal lead conceded and some pitiful Wycombe defending - all of which won't have pleased manager Gareth Ainsworth.

The Coventry comeback seemed to knock the stuffing out of Wycombe who lacked fluency with their passes, and found themselves closed down quickly by the rejuvenated League One side. 

Paris Cowan-Hall was drafted in as a Wycombe substitute on 68 minutes, replacing Michael Harriman. Instead it was Jones who was orchestrating Coventry's attack and everytime he had the ball, the Wycombe defence seemed to back off.

One 74th minute Jones effort skimmed wide, as Coventry seemed to be finding acres of space down Wycombe's left-hand side. Then, after Bean was booked for foul on Dion Kelly-Evans inside the D of Wycombe's penalty area, Jones floated the free-kick over the nine-man wall and the bar.

Five minutes from time, Coventry sealed the tie with a classic counterattack move, when Haynes slid the ball into the path of Gael Bigirimana to blast home.

It was game over and a disappointing night for Wycombe.

Wycombe Wanderers: Brown, Harriman (sub: Cowan-Hall, 68), Jombati, Stewart, Pierre, Thompson, Bean, McGinn, Weston, Freeman (sub: O'Nien, 81), Kashket. Subs: Richardson, Bloomfield, Ainsworth.

Coventry City: Charles-Cook, Turnbull, Rose (sub: Bigirimana 46), Lameiras, McBean, Sterry (sub: Haynes, 46), Finch, Thomas, Harries, Kelly-Evans, Maycock. Subs: Addai, Agyei, Jones, Page, Spence.

Referee: Charles Breakspear (Surrey).

Attendance: 912 (including 257 visiting supporters)