Wycombe Wanderers manager Gareth Ainsworth has reflected on his side’s 2-0 home defeat against Walsall in the first round of the FA Cup.
The Saddlers came to Adams Park without a win in their last nine away games in all competitions and had suffered a 12-game winless run between August and October.
However, the League Two team visited Buckinghamshire and played the Chairboys off the park with Jacob Maddox and Isaac Hutchinson getting the goals for the Midlands team.
FT: Wycombe 0-2 Walsall
— The Wycombe Way (@theWycombeWay) November 5, 2022
A strong eleven with anything but a strong performance on home soil. Wanderers out of the cup at the earliest chance. #Chairboys pic.twitter.com/mGndXkpLGz
READ MORE: Wycombe's Josh Scowen 'close' to returning to Wanderers' squad says Gareth Ainsworth
The result means that after enduring a long run without a victory, Walsall are now unbeaten in four which includes winning the last three.
Wanderers on the other hand have failed to win any of their last four home games, and with Maddox’s strike coming from a corner, Wycombe have now conceded five goals from set pieces in their last four fixtures.
Additionally, it was also the first time since March that Wycombe had failed to score at Adams Park (excluding the 0-0 draw against Spurs’ U21s in the Football League Trophy back in August).
FT: Wycombe 0-2 Walsall
— Sam Avery (@sam_avery1) November 5, 2022
Goals either side of half-time from Maddox and Hutchinson earn Walsall a place in the 2nd round draw, as Wycombe bow out.
Hanlan missed a pen at 1-0 down which could have turned the contest, but in truth Wycombe just weren’t really at the races today. https://t.co/RnciXumnLe
READ MORE: Wycombe Wanderers are knocked out of the FA Cup by League Two Walsall at Adams Park
Ainsworth said: “They are a Walsall side that we knew would be counterattacking as well as being a set-piece team.
“Walsall stepped on us at the start, they scored from a corner and the second goal went straight through us.
“It looked like nobody was ready to stop that but the second goal put us out of the game.
FT: Wycombe Wanderers 0-2 Walsall.
— James Richings (@James_BFP) November 5, 2022
The Chairboys are out of the FA Cup as League Two Walsall progress. Wycombe were very poor this afternoon but take nothing away from Walsall, they were brilliant. Will be speaking to Ainsworth shortly. What are your thoughts? #Chairboys
“That really killed us because when you’re a goal down you’ve always got a chance.
“But they’re big and strong, they came through the back of us, and we have got to make sure that we are better than what we were today [November 5].
READ MORE: Live FA Cup duty at Adams Park: Wycombe Wanderers 0-2 Walsall - Chairboys knocked out
“We know that we could do it, it’s just about finding that magic formula we had only a few weeks ago.
And we’ve made it to the 1st Round Proper (stage 7/14)! Wycombe Wanders vs Walsall FC. #RoundHoppers #FACup #RoadtoWembley pic.twitter.com/ppbbA1Xfuh
— My Road to Wembley (@MyRoadToWembley) November 5, 2022
“I made a lot of changes in the second half, early enough for them to make an impact but it just didn’t happen and we need to pick the bones out of it quickly and get ready for Forest Green Rovers next week in the league.”
On conceding from another set piece, Ainsworth added: “Ultimately, I take responsibility for it.
“I have got to make sure that when we defend set pieces, we’re better than what we have been in the last few games.”
Out of the 22 meetings between Wycombe and Walsall, the Midlands team have won 11 of those fixtures.
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