WYCOMBE Wanderers boss Gareth Ainsworth hailed the ‘awesome’ Adebayo Akinfenwa after his side’s crucial 2-0 win at Southend United.

The striker scored twice in the space of four second half minutes to secure the Chairboys all three points against their fellow strugglers at Roots Hall.

And Ainsworth, whose team have now moved up to 17th in the standings, felt the victory was well deserved.

“We were the better side and we got what we deserved,” said Ainsworth.

“It was all about togetherness and work ethic and that’s what has won us the game in the end.

“We had Southend under pressure.

The goals were coming and when you have someone like the big man, well he was awesome.

“We haven’t won since the end of January and it’s been a tough few months.

“But we’ve kept on going and this is an important win.

“However, we have to make sure we build on this now because it’s still very close and there are four games to go.

Wycombe are now three points above the drop zone and host two more of the bottom four, Rochdale and Walsall in their next two outings.

“We have important games coming up and the first of those is against Rochdale,” said Ainsworth.

“It’s good to be going into it on the back of a good result.”