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'I’m disappointed we weren’t further ahead' - Bloomfield on Wycombe's latest away win

Nigel Lonwijk (pictured against Derby County) scored the winner for Wycombe as the Chairboys defeated Port Vale 2-1 on April 16 (PA)
Nigel Lonwijk (pictured against Derby County) scored the winner for Wycombe as the Chairboys defeated Port Vale 2-1 on April 16 (PA)

Wycombe Wanderers made it two wins from two following a 2-1 away victory at Port Vale.

Ethan Chislett cancelled out David Wheeler’s opener for the visitors before Nigel Lonwijk scored a late winner, meaning Matt Bloomfield’s team move up to 12th whilst the Valiants are three points from safety with two games of the season left.

Dale Taylor could have opened the scoring for Wycombe after just 40 seconds when he pounced on a defensive error and slid the ball wide from the edge of the area.

Wanderers were ahead just three minutes later, however, when Wheeler was in the right place to blast the ball home after Connor Ripley denied Sam Vokes.

The home side responded well after the early setback and would have been level in the ninth minute had Franco Ravizzoli not made a great save to push Chislett’s effort over the bar.

It was Vale who started brightest after the break and were level just two minutes into the second half when Chislett found himself in space before slotting the ball past Ravizzoli.

The closing stages saw Vale going all out for the win with Jensen Weir coming close on a couple of occasions before Lonwijk sealed victory for Wanderers with only four minutes remaining.

Speaking on the contest, Bloomfield said: “I’m disappointed we weren’t further ahead if I’m honest.

"We could have been three-up after 10 minutes and could and should have been out of sight.

“We knew it was going to be a tough game as Port Vale are fighting for their lives and have got some really good players, so to find an early goal and a late winner, I’m delighted.

“We needed to start the game on the front foot and the game plan was coming off and it wasn’t until the second half that they managed to break us down, but to find the character to go and get the winner was really pleasing.

“I stood on the touchline thinking this was a war of attrition and it was tough to get out at times, but we had fresh legs on the bench so I’m really pleased with the performance of the whole squad.”

Vale boss Moore added: “I really felt like we were in the ascendancy and if we kept our concentration we could get a chance to win the game, but we fell to a really late goal that absolutely knocked the stuffing out of the boys.

“We gave ourselves a mountain to climb after conceding that early goal and got back into the game early in the second half through Chislett to really give ourselves momentum and hope.

“I still felt that a chance was going to drop our way but what I didn’t envisage was our lapse of concentration at the back that has led to their goal.”

Wycombe's remaining fixtures for the 2023/24 season will see them travel to Carlisle United on April 20, before having their final away day at Cambridge United three days later.

The campaign will conclude at home to Charlton Athletic on April 27.