Wycombe defender Jason McCarthy was delighted that his free kick was enough to seal the deal and move the Blues further away from relegation trouble after battling to a win over Walsall.

McCarthy curled a beautiful 25-yard free kick into the top corner on 53 minutes and sent the Wycombe fans into raptures.

He said: "It feels great to be the matchwinner.

"I was thinking to myself at 75 minutes that I hope this isn't another day where it is late heartbreak but luckily the boys saw the game out so well and we really managed the game really well and it is such a big three points when you look at the grand scheme of things."

McCarthy did admit that the goal was slightly bitter-sweet as he moved his old club closer to the trapdoor with his winner.

He added: "It is mixed emotions. I have really fond memories of Walsall and my time there. It is a good club but it is in a really tough place at the moment.

"I wish them all the best and I really hope that if they do go down, that they bounce straight back up as they have some really talented players there.

"At the end of the day I am a Wycombe Wanderers and I love this club. I have fallen in love with this club so much so scoring today I couldn't hold it in and it felt really good and that is the brutality of football.

"It was a real team performance and everyone was brilliant today. Huge credit to the team, and obviously the clean sheet is brilliant.

McCarthy also heaped praise on talismanic striker Adebayo Akinfenwa for winning the free kick that led to the goal, as well as causing the Saddlers backline problems all afternoon.

He said: "He is so inspiring.

"To share a dressing room with him and to know him and to work with him, day in and day out is an absolute privilege.

"I can't speak highly enough of Bayo and all the team-mates. It is such a good dressing room and a pleasure to be a part of."