Matt Bloomfield: Wycombe boss denies abandonment call following Luke Leahy injury
- Published
Wycombe's Luke Leahy was injured during added time at the end of the game against Stevenage
Wycombe boss Matt Bloomfield has dismissed claims that they tried to get Saturday's game with Stevenage called off after injuries to two of his team.
Brandon Hanlan and Luke Leahy were both taken to hospital and 26 minutes of added time had to be played.
Stevenage won the match 1-0 to move up to fifth place in League One.
"I've been told I've been accused of trying to get the game called off, but I can categorically deny that, 100%" he told BBC Three Counties Radio.
Hanlon was hurt when he landed awkwardly following a 40th-minute aerial challenge with Stevenage skipper Carl Piergianni, which meant 14 minutes had to be added to the first half.
Then former Shrewsbury midfielder Leahy went down after a clash of heads with team-mate Josh Scowen with the game already in stoppage time, forcing another lengthy delay while he received treatment before being stretchered off.
"Branners has gone for an x-ray on his knee. I think the pleasing thing to report with Luke is he was responsive by the time he left Adams Park. That's good to know because there was a pretty scary moment in terms of his health," said Bloomfield.
"He went down, he was unresponsive for a while. Our doctor was extremely concerned."
Both players were later discharged from hospital, with Wycombe saying the pair were "resting at home".
A goal by Jamie Reid in the added time at the end of the first half following Hanlan's injury was enough to secure the points for Stevenage - their fifth away win of the season.
After the match, manager Steve Evans told BBC Three Counties Radio: "It was the right conclusion, otherwise we'd have games abandoned every Saturday when players go down with a head knock. However, having said that, I'll message Matty later to make sure Luke is OK."
Asked about the period while Leahy was receiving treatment, Evans added: "My players were telling our bench that Wycombe Wanderers wanted the game abandoned. With eight minutes to go, they wanted the game stopped.
"I instructed my staff and the players to stay away. I said 'if the match official determines this game is going to be stopped, then we'll be respectful to the official because it's a tough call' - although it's an easy call for me, it's not within the guidelines to stop games."
Bloomfield said he was spoken to by the referee after the incident but did not initially know the severity of the situation.
"I then went on to see Luke and then realised how severe it was. I was asked how was I, how were my players. At no point did I try to put any pressure on the referee to get the game called off," he added.
"I feel it's important that I defend myself and my football club from the accusations I've been told about. My players had to witness it and were trying to protect him from chants behind the goal."