Middlesbrough must show same spirit as Wycombe, says Neil Warnock

Play-off chasing Boro climbed to within a point of the top six thanks to goals from recalled trio Marcus Browne, Marcus Tavernier and Chuba Akpom, having trailed to Uche Ikpeazu’s opener after just three minutes.

Despite consigning them to defeat, Warnock lauded the Chairboys’ attitude and wants his charges to show similar commitment to their Premier League bid.

“Once our first goal went in I thought we played some good stuff and could have had a few more,” said Warnock.

“But we know what it’s like at Adams Park. I’ve just said I would be proud to manage both teams today because they gave absolutely everything.

“Gareth (Ainsworth, Wycombe’s manager) knows what I think about how they got promotion. He’s a miracle-worker. When you’ve got lads giving everything like that, I want my lads to do the same and then their ability might show through.

“The thing about coming here is that if you get on the bus with all three points you’ve got the job done, because not many teams will like coming here.

“We’ve dominated certain games and ended up losing. I thought the changes made a difference.”

The struggling hosts made the perfect start with Ikpeazu breaking the deadlock, curling in a left-footed shot on only his second start for the club since his summer move from Hearts.

Boro lacked composure early on but quickly found their feet with two goals in six minutes through Browne and Tavernier.

Brown headed in Paddy McNair’s corner on the half-hour to draw level and Tavernier finished off a driving run by shifting the ball onto his left and firing home a low drive.

McNair was the provider for the third as his dangerous delivery struck the angle of post and bar before being prodded in by Akpom three minutes from time.

Wycombe chief Ainsworth felt his side were outclassed for once in a season where they have lost 14 of 23 games.

“We started really well with some really big positives. Uche scored a great goal but after that we were second best in a lot of areas.”

Wycombe: Allsop, Grimmer, Knight, Tafazolli, Jacobson, Wheeler; Thompson (Adeniran 69), Mehmeti (Kashket 58); Horgan (Onyedinma 77), Ikpeazu (Akinfenwa 77), McCleary. Unused susbtitutes: Pattison, Bloomfield, Samuel, McCarthy, Stockdale.

Middlesbrough: Bettinelli, Dijksteel, Fry, McNair, Bola, Morsy; Saville, Browne (Spence 71), Tavernier, Johnson; Akpom (Assombalonga 89). Unused susbtitutes: Wing, Wood-Gordon, Watmore, Roberts, Brynn, Coulson.

Referee: J Gillett (Australia).