Roy of the Wanderers

Wycombe's heroes celebrate FA Cup glory

Roy Essandoh admitted he was still in dreamland after sending Wycombe Wanderers into the FA Cup semi-final and said: "This game's just crazy."

Belfast born Essandoh was an unknown until he headed home the injury-time winner that stunned Premiership Leicester City at Filbert Street and sent the Second Division underdogs into the last four.

Journeyman Essandoh, on as a late substitute, only arrived at Wycombe on Tuesday on a two-week contract.

And he said: "I don't even know all the players yet, but this is just like a dream. This game of football's just crazy.

"If people out there can't believe it, just imagine how I feel. It hasn't sunk in yet.

"When the ball came towards me I just wanted to make their goalkeeper work, and it was fantastic when it went in.

"I have played in Scotland and Finland, and I hope to stay on here. I can't even think about the semi-final because my contract doesn't run up to then."

I don't even know all the players yet, but this is just like a dream and this game of football's just crazy

  Wycombe goal hero Roy Essandoh

Wycombe boss Lawrie Sanchez saw his celebrations slightly soured after he was sent from the dug out by referee Steve Bennett after a penalty claim was rejected.

He said: ""Just before the goal we had a penalty turned down that should have been given.

"I've had a row with the referee and linesman over it and got sent off. But decisions like that can cost our club millions of pounds and we can't accept decisions like that being made wrong all the time.

"Too many important decisions are being made wrong. They passed on that one but we kept going and kept going and we got the goal at the end.

I've said to the players all along that it's a competition for heroes and if you stick your head in the right place suddenly everyone's talking about you

  Wycombe manager Lawrie Sanchez

"At the end we were down to ten men. The referee sent Steve Brown off for taking his shirt off after we scored the winning goal. That sums up the state of modern refereeing I'm afraid.

"The referee and linesman missed a definite penalty. If the referee and linesman aren't there to see those sort of things, what are they there for? To send players off for taking their shirts off?

"The trouble is that the people in charge know the rules but they don't know the game."

Wycombe went into the game with a heavily depleted strikeforce due to a catalogue of injuries.

Sanchez added: "We went into the game without any centre forwards. We've got six of them, as you saw at the end, hobbling across the pitch all injured.

Essandoh embraces Sanchez

"We were the better team over the 90 minutes. I don't think anyone can argue with that.

"Everyone was saying to me before we came here `enjoy your day. Have a nice day. You've done really well to get this far'.

"I said to the players before the game `don't accept just coming here to have a day out. Come here and make it day people will remember you for'.

"This is the same team that lost last week 1-0 at home to Port vale while Leicester were beating Liverpool 2-0.

" But every time there has been a big game my lads have stepped up to the mark and being counted and they've certainly done that again.

"We're going to enjoy the day and then worry about the semi-final another day.

"I've said to the players all along that it's a competition for heroes. If you stick your head in the right place suddenly everyone's talking about you."