Gareth Ainsworth was pleased and frustrated in equal measure after seeing his Wycombe side lose very unluckily to Mansfield Town yesterday at Adams Park.

Krystian Pearce scored the only goal of the game on 13 minutes, nodding into an empty net after he reacted quickest to the rebound.

Wanderers had numerous chances to level but were denied by Stags keeper Jake Kean's heroics, after he produced several magnificent saves to keep the Chairboys at bay.

Ainsworth felt his side gave absolutely everything for the cause and was perplexed at how his side couldn't force at least a draw.

He said: "It was incredible. When their goalkeeper gets man of the match you know you have had a good game.

"I thought we passed it well and we probed and kept working hard and there was only one team in the game for 70 minutes.

"I am pleased with all my boys. What a great reaction to the disappointment of not winning last week and we have done everything but score.

"Once we get one I think we would have gone onto win the game."

However, Ainsworth bemoaned another slow start from his side. After letting in two in the first 15 minutes against Cheltenham last week, they let in another inside the opening quarter of an hour, much to the gaffer's disappointment.

He added: "We made a point of saying we havr to start quicker than we did last week.

"It was a sloppy goal and we have started to concede from set plays which is disappointing."

Ainsworth was quick to heap praise on the performance of Sido Jombati, who excelled at the heart of the defence.

He commented: "Sido is fantastic. He can see how Michael Harriman has been playing well. 

"My philosophy is if you are playing well then you keep your shirt and Sido has done plenty to keep his shirt.

"He was outstanding at the centre of defence. It is a position he is not totally foreign to and I think he is clever and he showed a lot of experience."

Next up for the Blues is a trip to Barnet on Monday. Ainsworth explained anything other than a win and their challenge is over.

"We will see how we got on on Monday. We have to win. If we don't we are out of it," said the 44-year-old.

"By some crazy chance we are still in it, just four points behind which is brilliant.

"We have won seven on the spin earlier on in the season. There is no reason why we can't do four on the spin so let's give it a go."