Wycombe Wanderers 1-0 Stevenage: Caleb Taylor closes gap on top two

By James Richings

WYCOMBE W 1

Taylor 90+1

STEVENAGE 0

Wycombe Wanderers head coach Mike Dodds believes there will be “more twists and turns” in the push for promotion following their late home victory over Stevenage.

Caleb Taylor’s injury-time strike against the Boro keeps the Chairboys third place.

But following Wrexham’s away draw against Wigan Athletic, the gap between the two sides is one with four left to play.

Wycombe boss Dodds offered his thoughts on the matter after the match with Stevenage.

Patient

He said: “We spoke in the week about how that we knew it was going to be that kind of game and we needed to be patient.

“I thought the results against Shrewsbury and Reading were harsh as we had decisions go against us, so we deserved that today for those two games.

“From my point of view, after Reading, everyone thought that was it as Wycombe were wobbling, but we’ve shown in the last two games we are capable of big performances and we’re still in it.

“We created chances and at this stage of the season, the first goal is vital and the longer it was 0-0, they made it hard for us.

“It wasn’t ever going to be a high-scoring game as they have kept lots of clean sheets this season and for us, we have been good defensively, too.”

LATE SHOW: Wycombe Wanderers are jubilant after Caleb Taylor’s match-winning goal
PICTURES: Alamy

Match action

Richard Kone had the best chance early on, but the Ivorian inexplicably headed wide from close range.

Luke Leahy then saw his shot blocked by Luther James-Wildin, before Fred Onyedinma’s cross skimmed the top of the net.

Josh Scowen tried his luck, but his bending effort was deflected wide just before the half ended, and Dan Udoh also went close soon after.

Xavier Simons fired over twice in the opening five minutes of the second half, while Cameron Humphreys also came close.

For Stevenage, Jamie Reid tried to lob Will Norris from the halfway line, before the latter was on hand to brilliantly deny a Carl Piergianni header.

It looked like it was going to be another frustrating home outcome for Wycombe and a fifth goalless draw in the league this season.

But Taylor popped up at the death to score a vital winner, poking a loose ball over the line to send the home fans wild and add some pressure onto Wrexham going into the final few matches.

The goal was Taylor’s first Adams Park strike, and it secured Wycombe’s first home league victory over Stevenage since 2018.

LAST GASP: Wycombe’s Caleb Taylor, second left, fires in to win it

Pressure

As for Boro, the Hertfordshire-based team remain mid-table in 14th.

They are not in danger of going down and cannot reach the play-offs, but mathematically can still end the season in seventh.

Their manager, former Wycombe player Alex Revell, has said his team need to improve and hopes what they are doing in training can be replicated on match days.

He said: “We need to see what we’re doing in training on a Saturday.

“I think it’s the moments because you’re not under pressure in training.

“Whether it’s a pass or a slide [tackle], you can’t replicate that because when you’re in that pressure moment, that’s when you have to produce.

“This is where we need to improve because you can work on possession and defending, but you need to do it when it matters.”

Ratings and more

Wycombe Wanderers: Norris 7, Grimmer 6 (Reach 71, 6), Bradley 7, Taylor 9, Leahy 6, Scowen 7, Simons 6 (Lowry 78, 6), Onyedinma 6 (McCleary 63, 6), Humphreys 6, Udoh 6, Kone 6. Subs not used: Ravizzoli, Bakinson, Kodua, Low.

Stevenage: Ashby-Hammond 6, James-Wildin 6, Goode 7, Piergianni 7, Butler 6, Thompson 6 (Forster-Caskey 88, 6), White 6, Phillips 7, Kemp 6 (Roberts 80, 6), Appere 6 (Young 63, 5), Reid 6 (List 79, 6). Subs not used: Mitchell, Freestone, Sweeney.