Wycombe manager Gareth Ainsworth disappointed with referee in Luton loss

Queens Park Rangers v Wycombe Wanderers – Sky Bet Championship – Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium
(Image credit: Adam Davy)

Gareth Ainsworth took aim at referee Oliver Langford’s decision making as 10-man Wycombe’s Championship survival hopes were severely dented with a 3-1 defeat to Luton.

Wanderers’ bid for three-successive wins looked in good shape when Anis Mehmeti’s penalty put them ahead at half-time.

But the game flipped on its head when Josh Knight was sent off for a second-half lunge.

George Moncur, Kazenga LuaLua and Elijah Adebayo made the Chairboys pay, with three goals in the last 10 minutes leaving Ainsworth’s side nine points from safety with five games remaining.

“We’re fighting for our lives. With 11, we played so well,” said the manager. “I’m sure we’ll get it overturned on appeal because there’s no way it’s a red card.

“Josh Knight has slipped. If the referee takes that into consideration he gives a yellow; he made the decision so quickly.

“The red card was out almost before Josh was off the floor. For me, I don’t think he’s thought about it.

“He’s seen it and thought, ‘that’s a red’. We seem to have a lot of decisions go against us that have cost us at major times.

“Luton didn’t seem a threat until we went down to 10 men.

“It’s difficult with 10 men in League One and Two let alone the Championship. I’m proud of the boys, they’ve worked their socks off.

“We’ve got to win five from five now and we’re well capable of doing that.”

Wycombe took the lead after 37 minutes when Mehmeti converted from the spot after Admiral Muskwe was felled by Kal Naismith, making the most of a strong first-half performance.

But the hosts were under pressure on the hour when Leicester loanee Knight lunged in on Jordan Clark and was given a straight red card.

A rampant Luton had to bide their time but eventually levelled in the 80th minute, Moncur superbly curling home a 25-yard free-kick just three minutes after coming on following a foul on Clark.

A sumptuous finish from fellow substitute LuaLua put the Hatters ahead moments later before Adebayo wrapped up the game when heading in a cross from Harry Cornick, who came on at half-time alongside the impressive Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall.

Victory takes Luton beyond their points tally from last season, with a welcome period of mid-table obscurity now awaiting them for the rest of the campaign.

Nathan Jones had overseen back-to-back defeats following the international break so avoiding an unwanted hat-trick was a relief following an underwhelming first half.

“It took half-time to find the spark. I thought we were really poor first half and I’m loathed to say we were bad, because that’s a lot to do with how Wycombe played,” said the manager.

“They negated us, and it’s difficult to play against them. And that’s what we worked on in training this week.

“At half-time I think that was the turning point. I thought the substitutes made the difference and Dewsbury-Hall was one of our outstanding players.

“We showed quality and the patience for the substitutes to say you’re going to have to work hard and get the opportunities, it’s hard for them. It’s nice to have these (selection) decisions now.

“We’ve not won three games in a row this season and we haven’t lost three games in a row, so this was important.

“It puts us in a really nice position, with six games to go, we’re two points better off than last season.”

Read more
Bodger, mascot of Wycombe Wanderers
Only 4,095 people watched a crunch EFL fixture this week – is lower league football slowly losing the battle against the cost of living?
Jhon Duran was shown a straight red card for his challenge on Fabian Schar on Boxing Day
New VAR audio emerges from Jhon Duran's Boxing Day red card against Newcastle
 Vitor Pereira, Manager of Wolverhampton Wanderers, celebrates following the team's victory during the Premier League match between Wolverhampton Wanderers FC and Aston Villa FC at Molineux on February 01, 2025 in Wolverhampton, England
Vitor Pereira believes he’s found a key commodity inside Wolverhampton Wanderers that can keep them in the Premier League
SHEFFIELD, ENGLAND - MAY 18: Liam Palmer of Sheffield Wednesday celebrates after scoring the team's fourth goal during the Sky Bet League One Play-Off Semi-Final Second Leg match between Sheffield Wednesday and Peterborough United at Hillsborough on May 18, 2023 in Sheffield, England. (Photo by Matt McNulty/Getty Images)
'All week leading up to the second leg, I had the lads practise penalties in case of a shootout. They thought I was mad. When we won 5-1 and it went to penalties, I just smiled' How Sheffield Wednesday overturned 4-0 play-off defeat under Darren Moore
Arne Slot has a word with Michael Oliver during the post-match handshakes
Liverpool points deduction incoming? Ex Referees chief gives verdict following foul-mouthed outburst from Arne Slot
LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 30: Ange Postecoglou, Manager of Tottenham Hotspur, reacts during the Carabao Cup Fourth Round match between Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on October 30, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
Ange Postecoglou explains why Lucas Bergvall CORRECTLY avoided a red card to score vital Carabao Cup goal
Latest in
Fulham manager Marco Silva looks on from the dugout ahead of the FA Cup fourth round tie against Wigan Athletic at the Brick Community Stadium in Wigan, England on 8 February, 2025
'I think Marco Silva is the best manager in London - he managed to really maintain the desire to play attractive football, which was really hard over the years': Former Fulham talisman showers praise on 'impressive' Marco Silva
Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim looks on following his side's defeat against AFC Bournemouth
Report reveals 10 Manchester United players leaving this summer
James Maddison of Tottenham Hotspur scores their 2nd goal during the Premier League match between Manchester City FC and Tottenham Hotspur FC at Etihad Stadium on November 23, 2024 in Manchester, England.
Tottenham and Manchester City could smash transfer record for British wonderkid: report
Tottenham Hotspur back row (L-R) Dele Alli, Mousa Dembele, Eric Dier, Davinson Sanchez, Hugo Lloris, Jan Vertonghen; front row (L-R) Son Heung-min, Christian Eriksen, Harry Kane, Kieran Trippier, Ben Davies during the Champions League match against Juventus at the Wembley Stadium on March 7, 2018 in London United Kingdom
Tottenham cult hero calls retirement - to avoid 'painkiller dependency'
Thomas Tuchel will take charge of England for the very first time this evening
'He pushed us. It was tough love, but that's Thomas' Former player reveals that the new England manager will be HARD on his players
Arsenal squad for 2024/25 LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 11: William Saliba of Arsenal celebrates scoring his teams first goal with teammates during the Pre-Season Friendly match between Arsenal FC and Olympique Lyonnais at Emirates Stadium on August 11, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Arsenal warned, as Real Madrid are coming for their star next: report
Latest in News
Fulham manager Marco Silva looks on from the dugout ahead of the FA Cup fourth round tie against Wigan Athletic at the Brick Community Stadium in Wigan, England on 8 February, 2025
'I think Marco Silva is the best manager in London - he managed to really maintain the desire to play attractive football, which was really hard over the years': Former Fulham talisman showers praise on 'impressive' Marco Silva
Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim looks on following his side's defeat against AFC Bournemouth
Report reveals 10 Manchester United players leaving this summer
James Maddison of Tottenham Hotspur scores their 2nd goal during the Premier League match between Manchester City FC and Tottenham Hotspur FC at Etihad Stadium on November 23, 2024 in Manchester, England.
Tottenham and Manchester City could smash transfer record for British wonderkid: report
Tottenham Hotspur back row (L-R) Dele Alli, Mousa Dembele, Eric Dier, Davinson Sanchez, Hugo Lloris, Jan Vertonghen; front row (L-R) Son Heung-min, Christian Eriksen, Harry Kane, Kieran Trippier, Ben Davies during the Champions League match against Juventus at the Wembley Stadium on March 7, 2018 in London United Kingdom
Tottenham cult hero calls retirement - to avoid 'painkiller dependency'
Thomas Tuchel will take charge of England for the very first time this evening
'He pushed us. It was tough love, but that's Thomas' Former player reveals that the new England manager will be HARD on his players
Arsenal squad for 2024/25 LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 11: William Saliba of Arsenal celebrates scoring his teams first goal with teammates during the Pre-Season Friendly match between Arsenal FC and Olympique Lyonnais at Emirates Stadium on August 11, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Arsenal warned, as Real Madrid are coming for their star next: report