Play-off spot gives Wycombe psychological boost

Wycombe Wanderers boss Michael Duff says "the carrot is there now for his team" after moving into the League One play-off places with victory at Barnsley.

Aaron Morley secured a 1-0 win at Oakwell to move the Chairboys up to sixth, but staying there is unlikely to be straightforward.

Six of their 11 remaining games are away from home - and five are against teams in the top seven, including the top two, Cardiff City and Lincoln City.

"We've had some really good away performances, but conceded in the 95th minute against Plymouth, conceded in the 93rd minute against Exeter - this was a complete performance," Duff Told BBC Three Counties Radio.

"Psychologically, it's a big thing, you get into the top six but with some of the away games we've got to come, we're going to have to deliver that type of performance, and be a bit more clinical.

"I'm not sure we're going to go to some of the teams we've got to go to and be that dominant, and create that many chances."

Wycombe have twice reached the League One play-offs since their sole season in the Championship under Gareth Ainsworth in 2020-21.

They were beaten in the 2022 final by Sunderland and last season lost 1-0 on aggregate to Charlton in the semi-finals after finishing fifth with Michael Dodds in charge.

Duff was happy with his side's game management against Barnsley, one of his former clubs, after missing out on wins by letting in late goals in previous games.

"There's always that anxiety. For 85 minutes I thought we were totally dominant but they've got nothing to lose at that point," he said.

"[Reyes] Cleary was the biggest threat so we went to a back five, which allowed Jack Grimmer to just look after him, 'don't worry about anything else, you just go and mark him' and we saw the game out properly.

"We've been in five months now, I think we were 22nd, and pretty much the last four have been 'can we get away from the bottom four?'

"The carrot is there now - whether we do it or not is another thing, but I thought we looked like a good football team, the only disappointment was it wasn't more comfortable."

Duff has been boosted by players returning from injury for the run-in, although defender Andrew Hagelskjaer's season may be over.

The 29-year-old went off injured in the 3-0 home win over Burton Albion at the end of February, and Duff added: "That looks like a bad one and that may be him done for the season.

"He's had a scan and is seeing a specialist, so that one doesn't look great."