Wycombe Wanderers suffered a setback in their quest for an automatic promotion place when they were dispatched with ease by Accrington Stanley 4-0 at Adams Park.

Goals from Kayden Jackson, Scott Brown, Sean McConville and Offrande Zanzala ensured Stanley remained on course for the title with a display of authority.

The Blues started the game really well and went behind against the run of play when a mix up between Nathan McGinley and Wycombe keeper Scott Brown allowed Jackson to tap home on 15 minutes.

Brown doubled the visitors' advantage on 33 minutes with a spectacular work after good work by Billy Kee.

McConville made the game safe on 66 minutes when he coolly slotted home after a superb pass from Kee.

Sub Zanzala then made it four in second half injury-time when he converted a penalty after being fouled by McGinley.

Wanderers had a great opportunity to take the lead on three minutes when Joe Jacobson’s long ball found Nathan Tyson, who lobbed Stanley keeper Aaron Chapman from the edge of the box but the ball dropped agonisingly wide.

The Blues made a quick start to proceedings and Chapman pulled off a fantastic save to push Paris Cowan-Hall’s diving header onto the past after brilliant work by Tyson.

Accrington were taking their time to settle into the game but were gifted a goal out of nothing when Jackson pounced on a defensive error.

The goal knocked the stuffing out of the hosts slightly and Accrington started to look more comfortable.

Clark had a sniff on 29 minutes when he got onto the box on after good work by Billy Kee but Jacobson snuffed out the chance.

The visitors then doubled their advantage through Brown's magnificent strike.

John Coleman’s side were stamping their authority on the game now and Jackson almost added another on 36 minutes when his cross hit the bar.

The Blues were getting back into the contest and racked up a series of corners which Stanley were dealing with expertly.

Tyson had a chance on 44 minutes when he met Jacobson’s drilled cross but headed the ball across the face of the goal.

At the start, Wycombe were huffing and puffing but Accrington remained very composed and organised.

Clark nearly got on the end of an exquisite through ball from Kee on the hour but was denied by a superb tackle from Michael Harriman.

It got worse for the Blues when McConville coolly slotted home after a wonderful ball by Kee on 66 minutes.

Wycombe were shellshocked and although they kept working, Stanley continued to keep the Blues at bay.

With the game fizzling out, Wycombe substitute Nick Freeman tested Chapman from distance but the Stanley keeper held the ball comfortably.

Chapman was called into action again on 89 minutes but he easily held Marcus Bean's header.

Zanzala had the final say with a late spot-kick, sending Brown the wrong way.

With results going their way, Wanderers remain in third with Exeter a point behind in fourth with a crucial trip to Chesterfield next week.

WYCOMBE WANDERERS: Brown, Harriman, El-Abd, McGinley, Jacobson, Bean, Gape (sub: Williams, 39), Bloomfield, Tyson, Cowan-Hall (sub: Freeman, 77), Kashket (sub: Mackail-Smith, 46). Subs: Ma-Kalamabay, De Havilland, Thompson, Saunders.

ACCRINGTON STANLEY: Chapman, Johnson, Hughes, Dunne, Donacien, Clark, Conneely, Brown, McConville (sub: Williams, 88), Jackson (sub: Richards-Everton, 88), Kee (sub: Zanzala, 83). Subs: Maxted, Nolan, Sousa, Rodgers.

REFEREE: Darren Drysdale