Rebels boss Underwood inspired by Wycombe's Wembley heroics

‘Amazing and inspirational’. This is how Jon Underwood viewed Wycombe Wanderer’s promotion to the Championship following the play-off final on Monday night, and he’d dearly love for his Rebels side to follow suit.

It’ll be tough for the Rebels to win promotion through the play-offs and take up their place in the National League, but Gareth Ainsworth’s Chairboys weren’t favourites to win the League 1 play-offs either.

On Monday night Wycombe edged out Oxford United 2-1 at Wembley to seal promotion.

Underwood said the Chairboys' rise to the second tier of English football for the first time in their history, 'felt very close' for himself and Neil Baker.

Last season they were invited to spend a day at Wycombe, watching how the side trains. Richard Dobson, Wycombe’s assistant, played with the pair when they were at Farnborough together.

“It’s one that’s quite close to us,” said Underwood. “We went and spent a day with Wycombe, watching them train about a year ago, so we feel quite close to them.

“We got a real feel for what they are about and it’s inspiring to see what they’ve done.

“Northampton were promoted in League 2 after finishing seventh and Wycombe won the League 1 play-offs when they weren’t expected to. I think it’s just reinforced the thought that it doesn’t matter if you’ve come second or seventh. Togetherness and spirit takes you a long way and I think we’ve got that in abundance. It gives us every opportunity but the rest of the clubs will be thinking the same thing.

“We can only focus on Dartford. I can say hand on heart that’s been the case. We might be doing all this work for 90 minutes and then it ends and you have to take that on the chin and prepare for another season at this level.

“We’re well aware of what could happen on Sunday, but we’re also focused on trying to get through that game. Then if you do that’s the first part of the job done and then you refocus on the next one.

“We’ve not given Havant any thought because there’s no point.

“We’re fully focused on trying to get the win on Sunday.”