Wycombe Wanderers manager Matt Bloomfield hopes the club’s ‘horrendous’ Boxing Day 12 months ago can be used as inspiration for when the Chairboys take on Stevenage this festive period.

The Adams Park side had travelled down to Exeter City last year and lost 1-0 to the Grecians who hadn’t won in the league for 13 consecutive games.

Luke Leahy also had an injury-time penalty saved by Viljami Sinisalo as Wanderers made it 11 straight League One games without a victory, as they sat just above the relegation zone.

A year later, Wycombe are flying high as they sit top of the division.

Speaking ahead of their visit to Hertfordshire on December 26, Bloomfield said: “Christmas Day last year was horrible.

“I left my girls at midday on Christmas Day, we went down to Exeter, [missed a last-minute penalty], got beat, went home and I didn’t see them.

“I have spoken about it before, but I genuinely believe that the toughest moments in your life are your biggest learning experiences.

“You never know how strong you are until you find out.”

Recounting the festive period of 2023, he said: “[Boxing Day and the winless run] was horrendous.

“It was genuinely horrendous, but the pain from those experiences are the ones that drive you on.

“My hunger and desire will remain high as I don’t want to go back to those moments.”

Their clash against the Boro will be Wycombe’s first of six fixtures to be played across a 15-day period.

Changes are to be expected during the next two weeks as the Chairboys will average a game nearly every two-and-a-bit days, and whilst Bloomfield admitted that the schedule is ‘relentless’, he will take each game as it comes.

He continued: “I take each game as it comes, and it can be quite daunting to look at the fact we have six games in 15 days, but the first one to consider is Stevenage.

“The boys have a couple of down days to spend with their families at home this weekend, as the Christmas period is not going to give them much time at home, and then we’ll be back in on Monday to attack the Christmas period.

“It is relentless and everyone around is getting results, so we need to continue with the emphasis on/ our performances and if we do that, we’ll be alright.”

Wycombe’s jammed-packed two weeks:

• December 26: Stevenage vs Wycombe Wanderers

• December 29: Charlton Athletic vs Wycombe Wanderers

• January 1: Wycombe Wanderers vs Exeter City

• January 4: Wycombe Wanderers vs Blackpool

• January 7: Wycombe Wanderers vs Huddersfield Town

• January 10: Wycombe Wanderers Portsmouth (FA Cup)

After this period, Wycombe will then face Mansfield Town on January 18, before finishing the month with home matches against Northampton Town and Barnsley respectively.