League Two play-off final: Wycombe a worthy bet to scalp Shrimpers

Gareth Ainsworth may be in his first job as a manager, but he is playing a canny game ahead of Wycombe Wanderers’ appearance in the League Two play-off final against Southend United at Wembley. Coral make the Adams Park outfit 15/8 outsiders to win in 90 minutes, but evens for promotion.

Despite being unbeaten in four head-to-heads against the Shrimpers, Wanderers player-turned-coach Ainsworth insists the Chairboys are underdogs with opposite number Phil Brown having famously won promotion via this method while in charge of Hull City.

“It’s been great to have a lack of pressure,” Ainsworth said. “We’re going into it as an underdog, hopefully to cause an upset. It’s just brilliant to be here – the boys are riding the crest of a wave and seeing how far it’s going to take us.”

Brown and Southend do look a little short at 6/4 for victory without resorting to extra time, and odds-on at 4/5 to be in League One next season. Two of the last three head-to-heads have been drawn (11/5 and that means at least an additional half hour here), however.

Punters should be aware the last time a League Two play-off final finished level after 90 minutes was a decade ago, though, and the Shrimpers advanced anyway beating Lincoln City 2-0 after extra time.

Ainsworth has pledged Wycombe will not go into their shell when facing their fellow former winners at this level. “We’re going to approach this game like the previous two games – with a consistent level of attacking football,” he added.