Player Analysis and Interview with Adebayo Akinfenwa

Akinfenwa had a mixed day in the East Midlands when he scored and was sent off in Wycombe’s 2-0 win over Notts County.

Akinfenwa was the focal point of the Wycombe front line and was key throughout to the attacks Wycombe had. He was excellent in winning aerial duels against the County defence even though he wasn’t close to them in terms of his height but his stature was what made him win those duels. When asked how he gained the ability to be so dominant in duels with defenders he said: “I’m in the team to do that and it’s something I’ve always had in my game and I use to help the team”. He was a thorn in the defence’s side and it culminated in him opening the scoring just before half-time with a brilliant header into the bottom corner which gave the County keeper no chance.

There was some negatives in his game today. He did have a tendency to hold onto the defenders at corners and free-kicks and was given a booking after several of these little challenges. He was given his marching orders around about 75^th minute for a second booking when he clashed with a County defender but thankfully it didn’t come back to bite as County failed to create any meaningful chances. Wycombe will have to find alternatives to Akinfenwa in their next fixture against relegation threatened Leyton Orient.

After the game, Akinfenwa was able to give greater insight into both the victory and in more general areas on Wycombe and his take on the FA Cup draw. On the team’s unbeaten run he said: “we’re 8 games unbeaten, we take every game as it comes, we have Orient next and we have to keep going”. The team worked well and was efficient both going forward and at the back and barely looked troubled by County all afternoon. When asked on the influence Gareth Ainsworth has on the side and whether him being more animated than quiet is a benefit to the side, he said: “the gaffer is a top guy, both on and off the field, he heads, shoots and tackles along with the side”. This approach is obviously working as Wycombe now find themselves pushing up the table now sitting in 5^th place in the league.  In the draw for the 3^rd round of the FA Cup, Wycombe were given a home tie against either Akinfenwa’s former club Northampton or non-league Stourbridge. Akinfenwa’s reaction do it was: “I don’t mind whether we get Northampton or Stourbridge in the cup, the aim is to go as far as possible”. Akinfenwa and Wycombe will be hoping to one carry on this excellent league form and secondly, to get past whatever opponent they get to maybe get a big side in the 4^th round of the cup.