'They are a fantastic team' - Shrewsbury's Gareth Ainsworth on facing Wycombe

Shrewsbury Town manager Gareth Ainsworth has admitted that he feels ‘weird’ wanting Wycombe Wanderers to lose this weekend.

It will be the 51-year-old’s first encounter managing against the Chairboys in his career, and it will also be the first time he has faced the Adams Park side since departing the South Bucks team nearly two years ago.

Ainsworth had spent just over 13 years with Wycombe as a player, player-manager and then manager, in which he featured in over 600 games.

He departed the club in February 2023 for Queens Park Rangers alongside long-time assistant Richard Dobson but was sacked eight months later.

He took a year out of the game before being hired as Shrewsbury’s boss in November, a few weeks after Paul Hurst departed the Shropshire-based team for a second time.

The Chairboys, who are top of the League One table, face the Shrews who sit rock bottom of the division.

Speaking ahead of the match on December 14, he told the Shrewsbury Town YouTube page: “With my emotions [going into the game], I honestly don’t know.

“After the Birmingham game, I came into the office and was the most emotional person.

“I was back in football and we had just had that massive scalp, I could have broken down in tears.

“That’s the sort of person I am, but I think it’s a big strength as some people hide their emotions but I use and live off them.

“I honestly don’t know what it will be like but Wycombe will be special on Saturday.

“It’ll be the first time I would have managed against them, and I don’t know what emotion I have, and it’ll be the first time I want Wycombe Wanderers to lose as a manager, which is weird.

“But I know my boys can do that, and they know they can do that.

“It’s something Matt Bloomfield will know as he knows I won’t lie down.

“May the best team win, and I hope it’s mine.”

Ainsworth was also full of praise for his successor, Matt Bloomfield, who has guided the Chairboys to the top of the table.

The fixture comes one day after the 40-year-old won his second Manager of the Month award of the season, and his third in 2024.

Ainsworth added: “They are a fantastic team.

"They have got a brilliant manager who is just a phenomenal person.

“In terms of the emotion, I honestly don’t know what it will be.

“I’ll be smiling, I know that because I am proud of that club and loved my time there.

“But I am loving Shrewsbury.

“I have been out in the town and I do love the place.”