League One: Stevenage 1-0 Wycombe Wanderers

Captain Carl Piergianni was Boro's hero with a first half goal that handed Stevenage a much-needed victory over a Wycombe side that had their keeper sent off shortly after half time.

Max Stryjek received a straight red card for clattering an onrushing Jordan Roberts on 48 minutes leaving the home side to pick up their first win in five matches in front of 4,660 at the Lamex on Saturday afternoon.

Roberts' attacking partner, Boro's 17-goal top scorer Jamie Reid was absent from Steve Evans starting XI after picking up a knock during the hard-fought 1-0 defeat at Derby County. Also missing following an injury sustained at Pride Park last time out was talented defender Luther James Wildin.

Wycombe arrived in 15th place, albeit anticipating a trip to Wembley in the spring for the final of the EFL Trophy under Matt Bloomfield's canny stewardship. while Evans side started the match winless in four matches, after a disappointing run of results that included two underwhelming home defeats at the hands of Bristol Rovers and Reading.

Wycombe, who contested the League One final two seasons ago, only to lose 2-0 to a resurgent Sunderland at the national stadium in front of more than 70,000 fans, started brightly at Broadhall Way, dominating the early stages against a lacklustre Stevenage side.

To add to Evans frustration, referee Darren Drysdale made a point of embarking on an odyssey to admonish the Boro boss, presumably for something the tough Scot had said. Thankfully for Stevenage hopes, Drysdale did not issue a caution to Evans, not least because the Glasgow-born boss would have faced a three match touchline ban for his previous misdemenours.

All was forgotten on 26 minutes, when Stevenage's reliable centre-back Carl Piergianni found himself in space in the Wycombe box, as the 31-year-old teak-tough showed the finish of a striker to direct the ball low past Chairboys keeper Stryjek's left to make it 1-0.

Undettered, Bloomfield's side continued attacking, with Boro's newly-restored No1 keeper Taye Ashby-Hammond, doing well to block Gideon Kodua effort following Matt Butcher's errant mishit on 34 minutes.

Six minutes before the interval Jake Forster-Caskey forced an excellent save from Stryjek, who dived full-length to turn the ball past the post as the game opened up.

Unfortunately for Stryjek, the keeper was embroiled in drama four minutes after the break when referee Drysdale was given no option but to send off the Wycombe shotstopper.

The incident occurred after the 27-year-old Walsall-born netminder came racing out of his box in a bid to beat Jordan Roberts to the ball. Unfortunately for the former Sunderland academy man, he clattered Roberts first, which required the Boro attacker to have treatment, while leaving the official no choice but to issue a straight red card.

Enter the Chairboys' former River Plate second team keeper Franco Ravizzoli, who stepped into the fray after Stryjek's expulsion.

Despite making five appearances during Wycombe's stirring run to Wembley, the 26-year-old looked unsure early on - with Ravizzoli somehow keeping out Kane Hemmings effort on 64 minutes. Shortly afterwards Terrence Vancooten headed over when well-placed as Boro strove for the second goal which would have sealed victory.

As the clocked ticked down Butcher nearly levelled for Wycombe but his injury-time curler flew narrowly over the bar, leaving Boro only a point off the final play-off spot, occupied by Oxford, but with two games in hand.

Stevenage host Cambridge on Tuesday evening in their rearranged match with the U's.