Gareth takes us Beck to our past. Did we really pay to watch that?

As a player John Beck was a cultured midfielder playing at the top level. When he turned to management it was a different matter. His teams had to stick rigidly to the plan, no more than three touches then the ball must be belted into the channels where an unsuspecting full back would expect it to run out of play except it didn’t as Beck had ordered the groundsman to leave the grass longer in the corners. The ball would hold up sufficiently for a speedy player to reach it and cross. If you didn’t do that an early bath ensued, usually a cold one.

I always thought Gareth Ainsworth was Becks little indulgence. Yes I’m long ball but I’ve got Gareth who will weave about making idiots of defenders. We loved him of course and still do, maybe a bit less after last night but we loved him and he loved us.

So to the tutored eye, whilst a surprise, it was easy to see where Wycombe’s game plan came from, straight out of the manual. What we didn’t expect was the Chairboys playing for a draw straight from the kick off. In fact after a couple of minutes I really thought they were heading for the corners. They didn’t but I wouldn’t have been surprised.

As the home team it was up to City to rise above the delaying tactics but Wycombe were more than a bunch of spoilers. The referee came in for some stick although it’s difficult to see what he could do apart from adding the time on at the end. Rheady got the ball in the net, in fact it was in twice although the first time the flag was clearly up and whistle gone before the shot. The second was disallowed for pushing which is frustrating but an experienced player like Rhead must know his every move will be scrutinised.

In the end I thought it might be a decent point, Wycombe are not mugs and will probably get automatic. City, for me had too many flair players having an off night, Anderson, Frecklington. Even Neal Eardley wasn’t his usual sure footed self. On the other hand Wharton was terrific as was Allsop, Bozzie off the scale and Rhead was, well Matt Rhead. Oh, and City are back in the top seven. It’s not all bad, not by any means.