11:15am Monday 6th December 2004
By Dave Peters
CARETAKER boss Keith Ryan made it two wins out of two to ensure whoever replaces him as Wanderers boss this week has the perfect platform to launch a promotion push.
Saturday's victory secured with a 54th minute Nathan Tyson penalty after Christian Edwards' trip on the former Reading striker - lifted Blues up to 12th position, just one point shy of a play-off position and four points off an automatic slot.
And with Pete Cawley having presided over the 1-0 FA Cup win over Coalville Town before his sacking, Wanderers boast a 100 per cent record since Tony Adams walked out.
It was almost just like the good old days at Adams Park with Steve Guppy back on the wing for the first time in ten years.
The 35 year-old made a hero's return in what could be only a one-off appearance. He turned out in the quartered shirt as a favour for pal Ryan and his right hand man Gary Smith.
Guppy left Adams Park to go on a high profile adventure with England, Leicester, Newcastle, Celtic, Leeds United and Stoke and he showed plenty of his old tricks before retiring with cramp to be replaced by Matt Bloomfield with 15 minutes left.
Guppy said: "I loved it. It was great to be back and the reaction from the crowd was fantastic. I was just pleased to be able to help Keith and Gary out and to be part of a winning Wycombe team again was even better."
Guppy produced a few moments of magic and one second half run and cross for Ian Stonebridge proved exactly why he has been Wanderers' best ever export.
He bamboozled poor Robbie Ryan before sending in an inch-perfect cross, which only Ian Stonebridge will know how he failed to convert.
But that piece of skill was only an appetiser.
Guppy then switched wings to whip in a dream cross from the right, which Roger Johnson powered towards goal.
It looked certain the defender would register his third consecutive goal but former Premiership keeper Kevin Mille flung himself to his left and outstretched his left arm to deflect the ball over the bar.
Rovers only really came into the game once Guppy was off the field.
Substitute Lewis Haldane, who was surprisingly introduced to replace Rovers' dangerman Junior Agogo, was just a whisker away from an equaliser with a hooked volley from Robbie Ryan's cross.
But with every player giving their all, Wanderers just about held firm to maintain Keith Ryan's 100 per cent record as caretaker thanks to a splendidly timed last-minute tackle from Mike Williamson on Haldane again.
Afterwards Rovers boss Ian Atkins was left to complain about Wanderers' spot-kick winner.
He claimed Tyson conned the ref as he cut inside Edwards but Tyson maintained afterwards that there was definite contact.
But Atkins conceded Wycombe might have had a penalty earlier when Danny Senda was baulked making his way into the box.
And Wycombe were good value for the win. They played some enterprising football when they could before digging in when they had to.
And it is a tribute to Ryan's management. He has shuffled his pack to great effect.
The back four of Johnson, Williamson, Tony Craig and Gary Silk looked solid while Gus Uhlenbeek looks much more effective as a wide midfielder than he did as an out-an-out defender.
Nathan Tyson has also rediscovered his form since being reunited with Ian Stonebridge in attack and the pair almost combined to give Wycombe the lead after just 30 seconds.
Stonebridge robbed Ryan as the defender was trying to let the ball run out and pulled back to Tyson, who slashed badly wide.
Tyson then nearly profited from a Craig cross from the other side, his hooked volley going just wide.
Afterwards Blues' caretaker boss Ryan said: "I'm really pleased. We played well in the first half and had to grind it out at times in the second. It was a real professional performance."
And he was delighted with the way he's been able to turn things round.
He said: "I've got my teeth into it and picked on a few little things that I felt needed to be improved. It has gone really well.
"Myself and Gary have been able to press a few buttons and fire a few people up and it seems to have worked."
Wycombe: Talia, Uhlenbeek, Ryan (Martin 87), Johnson, Williamson, Senda, Tyson, Stonebridge, Silk, Craig, Guppy (Bloomfield 74). Not used Faulconbridge, Williams, Nethercott.
Scorer: Tyson pen 54.
Booked: Williamson 78 Rovers: Miller, Hinton, Savage, Edwards, Ryan, Hunt, Campbell (Williams 78), Elliot, Thorpe, Agogo (Haldane 70), Trollope (Forrester 63). Not used Lescott, Walker.
Booked: Edwards 44, Ryan 60.
Referee: Andy Penn.
Attendance: 4,999 (Bristol 739.
Wanderers 1, Bristol Rovers 0
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