Dodds happy with Wycombe defensive resilience

Gideon Kodua celebrates after scoring Wycombe's third goal

Wycombe boss Mike Dodds praised his defence for standing up to a Rotherham "bombardment" after they regained second spot in the League One promotion race.

The Chairboys scored twice in added time to take a 3-1 lead and although Rotherham still had time to pull one back, they held on for the three points.

Dodds opted to use a back five instead of four against the Millers, with Joe Low and Caleb Taylor joined by Sonny Bradley.

The 3-2 victory put Wycombe above third-placed Wrexham on goal difference with nine games to play.

"Rotherham are probably one of the most direct teams I've ever come up against and they're really effective with it. That's not a criticism," he told BBC Three Counties Radio.

"I felt if we went with a back four they would flood our back line so I felt putting an extra body in to try and nullify something they are very strong at would help us.

"I was really happy with the three centre-halves, they took an absolute bombardment, aerial duels, and for most of the game, they stood up to it."

Wycombe had lost 1-0 at home to Wrexham on Saturday, a result Dodds felt his side did not deserve, and were below their best in a goalless first half against the Millers.

"Half-time was really easy for me," he added. "I came in and the lads said everything I wanted to say before I'd even had a chance to open my mouth. We were really erratic with the ball and one thing Rotherham do, they counter press the ball really well.

"We knew if we didn't get those first couple of passes off it was going to be a difficult evening for us.

"We didn't do that in the first half, we did it better in the second, we looked more accomplished and a lot more of a threat. The second half was a little better but it wasn't a game for the purists, that's for sure."

Dodds said he did not regard the win as primarily important in terms of their league position.

"I know people will look at it from that perspective, but for me it's an important three points because we didn't deserve to lose on Saturday and it was important for us to bury Saturday."

Because of the international break, Wycombe do not play again until 29 March, when they will be at home to Lincoln City.

The match against Rotherham was their eighth since Dodd's appointment on 2 February and he said he was glad to finally have a chance to work with the players on the training ground for an extended period.

"It gives me over a week to iron out the things that we could be a little bit cleaner with," the former Sunderland assistant boss added.

"I haven't had that luxury since I've been here at the football club, it's just been game after game. It will be nice to have a period now to work with the group day to day."