Burnell had proved his fitness to manager John Gorman in both of Wycombe’s friendly fixtures against Premiership reserve XI’s. He was replaced by Clint Easton ten minutes before the end. Easton, returning himself from a long lay-off had only featured in the second of the two friendlies, but could be in contention to fill the left back role when Tony Craig’s three month loan deal ends later this month.
Stuart Nethercott kept his place from the start alongside Roger Johnson and Steve Williamson at the back, but ten minutes prior to Johnson’s headed goal that set up the afternoon’s exciting finale, the former Millwall defender was relieved by right wing back Gus Uhleenbeek.
"I kept telling my players to believe in themselves and, when we changed to a 4-4-2 system and took off a centre-half, it worked for us," said manager John Gorman.