Wycombe Wanderers caretaker manager Sam Grace praised Richard Kone's performance following his brace against Barnsley on Tuesday night.

The Ivorian striker scored a second-half penalty and a brilliant injury-time header as the Chairboys came back from 1-0 down to beat the Tykes 2-1 at Adams Park.

Jonathan Russell gave Barnsley the lead but the visitors struggled to find a second.

This, coupled with Marc Roberts’ straight red card after Kone equalised in the second period, gave Darrell Clarke’s team a mountain to climb, as they lost for the third league game in a row.

For Wycombe, they remain second on 58 points – seven points off their total from last season.

Speaking at full-time, Grace, who has now picked up seven points from his three games in charge, said: “Once we got used to their system in the first 10 minutes, I thought the boys deserved the win.

“We made it hard for them with the hard press but we also had that threat from behind.

“Whether that was Dan Udoh with the ball running in from behind or Richard Kone doing the same along with Fred Onyedinma.

“Even when we made changes, it didn’t change anything.

“We were disappointed with our final balls on the weekend [against Northampton] but we were a lot better tonight and with Richard, we see him doing that every day in training.

“At the time of the penalty and the sending off, we had real momentum as we kept on going.

“But I think we were quietly confident we were going to get that second goal.

"We made it hard for them.”

On Kone, who has now scored 19 goals in all competitions this season, he added: “He was fresh.

“We know that the performance against Northampton wasn’t what we wanted.

“But if Richard plays the full 90 on Saturday, he’s not getting the winner tonight.

“I said it last week and I’ll say it again, Richard wants to get promoted with Wycombe.

“I don’t think anyone can have any doubts about his commitment as he is all in.”

The Ivorian forward has been linked with a move to Luton Town, who are now managed by ex-Wanderers man, Matt Bloomfield.

Prior to the clash against Barnsley on January 28, he was the subject of a £6m bid from the Hatters, which was rejected by the Chairboys board.

It is the third offer the former Premier League side have made for the forward this month.

Speaking on his goals, Kone, said: "I have missed a few [penalties] recently, so I try and not think about it.

"I take any pen as they come and that is what I did."

On his injury-time winner: "G did brilliantly in the middle of the park, ran down the channel and he found me.

"I was happy to be happy in the box and head it in."

Finally, he added: "I feel welcomed at this place and I have never seen that before.

"The people are lovely here, I love them and I can't thank them enough."

Up next for the Chairboys is Cambridge United away on February 1.