Ainsworth: We bounced back

Gareth Ainsworth praised Wycombe's powers of recovery as they stormed back to the top of the table with a 4-1 win at Cheltenham.

The Chairboys suffered a 3-1 defeat at Burton on Monday, but they made an instant return to form at Whaddon Road with a thoroughly deserved win over the 10-man Robins, who had Lee Vaughan sent off in the 24th minute. "That's called bouncing back and the players have been superb," Ainsworth said. "We did some homework and my assistant Richard Dobson went to Stevenage last week to watch Cheltenham and I thought we set up perfectly against them. "I thought it was a sending off because it was a horrendous tackle, but I thought we were in control anyway." Steve Elliott put Cheltenham in front in the third minute, but Wycombe hit back less than 60 seconds later through Paris Cowan-Hall and they never looked back. "We conceded early on from a set play, but even with 11 v 11 I thought the lads took control of it," he said. "We dug deeper than the 10 and 10 men will always give you a good game, but we played some great football and it was great to see after Monday. We were deserving winners. "We only managed to name five substitutes and we have a good squad, but a thin one and injuries and suspensions will hurt us, but it's great that we can bounce back like this." Cheltenham manager Mark Yates admitted his team's defending was not up to scratch as they suffered their fourth straight League Two defeat. "We have not defended well from the second minute of the game, all the way through to the end and been punished for it," Yates said "Lee's sending off cost us the chance to have a right good go, but I expect better, even with 10 men, than that. "I expect us to be more determined to shut goals out and have more energy to get something from the game. "At 2-1 at half time we were still thinking we could get something, but whether we are not good enough, or we don't have the right desire or know-how, it just didn't happen for us and they ran out convincing winners. "I have just watched a team I care about and a team I put together perform not in a way I would have liked so of course I am down." Yates' Robins took the lead when Matt Richards' corner was nodded in by Elliott. Wycombe were back on level terms inside 60 seconds when fine play from Paul Hayes teed up Cowan-Hall, whose fierce shot flew in off the underside of the bar. Wanderers were awarded a penalty in the 19th minute after Elliott was adjudged to have shoved Peter Murphy, but Trevor Carson made an excellent save to keep out Hayes' spot kick. Cheltenham were reduced to 10 men when Vaughan was dismissed for a challenge on Murphy in the 24th minute. It went from bad to worse for the home side in the 37th minute when Joe Jacobson's ball was touched on by Cowan-Hall for Steven Craig to put Wycombe ahead. Jacobson made it 3-1 in the 70th minute with a superb strike from all of 30 yards and substitute Matt McClure added the fourth in the 90th minute as Cheltenham were opened up again. Breaking news, transfer gossip, line ups and goal alerts from your football club - delivered direct to your mobile. Sign up for Sky Sports Alerts