Michael Duff hails ‘dominant’ performance as Wycombe beat Barnsley

Wycombe manager Michael Duff described his side’s 1-0 victory against Barnsley as a “complete performance”.

Aaron Morley’s second goal since joining from Bolton moved Wycombe into the play-off places while the hosts fell to their first defeat at home in 2026 without registering a shot on target.

It was only Wycombe’s third away win of the season and Duff said: “I think psychologically it’s a big thing.

“I thought we were totally dominant. I thought we looked like a good football team.

“I thought we looked good without the ball, I thought we moved the ball really well. The only disappointment was that it wasn’t more comfortable.”

Nathan Lowe looked to have given Wycombe an early lead as he bundled the ball past Owen Goodman but the referee blew for a foul in the box to deny the young striker his sixth league goal of the season.

Just before the end of a poor first half from both sides, Fred Onyedinma came close but was denied by Goodman from inside the area.

The Chairboys were by far the better side and Morley gave them a deserved lead in the 59th minute as he curled in a perfect effort from outside the area.

Duff added: “It was really good play. We thought we could hurt them down the sides, which is why we went with two authentic wingers today.

“(Morley and Ewan Henderson) have sort of been sharing the minutes because they’re both trying to get fit on the job at the same time. But, no, we’ve been happy with him.”

Barnsley head coach Conor Hourihane was left frustrated by his side’s performance.

He said: “It’s probably the worst we’ve played all season to my memory really.

“It was really unlike us to be honest, I’m not sure what it was. Was it a game too many for some with our busy schedule?

“Did they come here and do a little bit of a job on us as well? Because obviously they’re looking for the top six, I think it’s probably a little bit of everything.”

Barnsley would have moved to within three points of Wycombe with a win but, as they have done for much of the season, they failed to capitalise on a win the game before.

Hourihane said: “My biggest gripe probably is that I want to kick on and I want to win more games.

“But every time we have that little bit of hope of maybe kicking on a little bit and getting up to a position where we can create a bit of a buzz and a bit of an excitement or whatever, we don’t quite make that step.”