Ainsworth: Win all that matters

Gareth Ainsworth was happy to win ugly as Wycombe continued their promotion charge with a hard-fought win at Dagenham & Redbridge.

The only goal of the game came when Aaron Pierre poked home from close range after a third successive corner for Wanderers. Daggers striker Jamie Cureton forced Matt Ingram to tip the ball over the crossbar and preserve his clean sheet following Ashley Hemmings' centre, while a Joe Jacobson free-kick struck the woodwork. "It was absolutely vital we win and I think we deserved it. The shot count and possession will say that," said Ainsworth, whose team remain third in the table. "Big Aaron and Alfie Mawson seem to have some competition going on for top goalscorer this year, which is great for your centre-backs. We are really pleased and it was a tough, tough game. "We didn't reach the standards we had been setting lately, but winning when you do that is crucial to a promotion push. "I don't think we would have deserved to have a killer blow at the end, but we have to defend for 95 minutes so I have given them a little bit in the dressing room. "There is still no pressure and the lads are playing free, but they were tired and that showed and that gives me a heads up for the Easter programme." Daggers assistant boss Warren Hackett was unhappy his side did not play to their potential. He said: "It is disappointing. It was a very scrappy game, not much football was played in very windy conditions. "Wycombe were very direct, but they have been consistent at doing that this season and that is why they are near the top of the league. Fair play to them they kept knocking on the door and it opened in the end. "I've just seen it on the DVD we had two opportunities to clear it. It drops down and it seemed to take an eternity before anyone gets on to it and fair play to their centre-half as he has got in there and scored. "We are disappointed because we have set our stall out over the last few weeks and our results have been very positive over the past few weeks. "But I didn't think we played our game today. We didn't get the ball down and play as much as we wanted to, and we didn't really hurt them."