Bolton Wanderers suffered a narrow loss at the hands of Wycombe Wanderers in League One.
Wanderers performed much better than the dismal FA Cup exit against Stockport County on Wednesday in the clash at Adams Park.
Bolton were made to pay however for a lack of clinical finishing in Buckinghamshire as Sam Vokes' header proved the difference between the two sides though Joel Dixon saved a first half penalty from Anis Meheti.
READ MORE: 'Worrying looks' - Wycombe Wanderers boss Gareth Ainsworth pays Bolton big compliment after win
The result leaves Wanderers 13th in League One at present and they are next in action on Tuesday evening, back at the University of Bolton Stadium against Doncaster Rovers.
Here, we analyse the loss at Adams Park and go through the positives and negatives from the afternoon in Buckinghamshire.
Ups
Much improved performance from Stockport debacle
The bar was admittedly set very low when it came to seeking an improvement from the midweek FA Cup exit against Stockport, where Wanderers were second best in almost, if not all, departments across the pitch.
But the performance put in at Adams Park was much more like the Wanderers we have become accustomed to seeing under Ian Evatt.
Aided by the return of MJ Williams, there was more steel in the midfield and in the final third, Wanderers looked more slick in possession and threatening as they created chances against the Chairboys, who had goalkeeper David Stockdale to thank for keeping them in the game at times.
Though the result ultimately was not there, the performance was for the most part and is something which can be built on this week in the upcoming clashes against Doncaster and Cheltenham Town.
Gareth Ainsworth's classy gestures
Wycombe boss Gareth Ainsworth is a popular man in the game and he cannot be praised highly enough for the job he has done at helm at Adams Park.
He has taken the Chairboys from League Two to the Championship and was so close to keeping the club in the second tier of English football.
Ainsworth's team are currently in the play-off places and will be in the mix for promotion this season.
But one thing which stands out with Ainsworth are his people skills, which was on show at full-time as he consoled the Bolton players on their defeat.
Ainsworth chatted to the likes of Dapo Afolayan and Lloyd Isgrove as they came off the pitch at Adams Park and it was refreshing to see and speaks volumes of the Wycombe boss with the class touches.
Joel Dixon's performance
Though he ultimately did not keep a clean sheet, Dixon had one of his better games for Bolton since joining from Barrow over the summer.
He saved a penalty from Mehmeti in the first half and is creating a name for himself as something of a spot kick saving specialist at Bolton, having done the same last month against Shrewsbury Town and in the Carabao Cup win over Barnsley.
Dixon also made a string of saves throughout the encounter at Adams Park, only to be beaten by a header from Vokes where the striker showed why he has played in the Premier League in years gone by.
Downs
Lack of clinical edge costs Wanderers
Wanderers had chances at Adams Park, make no mistake about it, but they were left to rue not taking their opportunities.
Dapo Afolayan went one-on-one in the first half as David Stockdale did well to deny the former West Ham United loanee, while there were also opportunites in the game for George Thomason, Elias Kachunga and Lloyd Isgrove.
Ultimately, Wanderers came up against a stopper in fine form in Stockdale, but their lack of a cutting edge ended up costing them at least a point in Buckinghamshire, which would have been a fair result.
MJ Williams injury
The absence of holding midfielder Williams and what he offers Wanderers was brutally exposed on Wednesday evening at Edgeley Park.
So it was a relief to see Williams on the pitch as part of the travelling party before the game at Adams Park and his name back on the team sheet at 2pm.
Williams was having a good game in the middle of the park, before he had to go off early in the second half with what proved to be a dislocated shoulder.
Wanderers will hope that his time out is not too long, as the evidence suggests he is sorely missed when not available for selection and what he brings to the team.
Counting count of mounting absences
Losing a player of Williams' influence is something that any team would miss.
The trouble is, that is the tip of an iceberg right now for Wanderers.
Gethin Jones is out until January with a fractured fibula, while Eoin Doyle is out but close to coming back from a calf injury.
And after the loss against Wycombe, Ian Evatt confirmed that Amadou Bakayoko will be out for six weeks with a hamstring tear and the dreadful news that Josh Sheehan's season is over after he suffered a ruptured ACL and will be out for nine months.
There mentioned are five players who would walk into the team right now and be starters for most supporters, and Evatt will be hoping the likes of Williams and Doyle can return as soon as possible to provide some much needed reinforcements ahead of the January transfer window, with new players certainly needed to help augment and enhance a squad which needs replenishing following injuries and departures in recent weeks.
