IT’S NOT often the bookies are wrong.

But the pre-season tip for newly-promoted Wycombe to crash straight back down is looking way off beam.

“I think we have enough to give it a go to survive in League One,” said manager Gareth Ainsworth ahead of the transfer window.

His side’s form suggests the Chairboys are sitting pretty comfortable in the third tier after a run of 10 points in four games has lifted them into ninth spot – and only seven points off the play-offs.

Wycombe arrived at Valley Parade at the end of August still looking for their first League One win.

They duly managed that, hammering another nail into the doomed tenure of Michael Collins, and have been going along pretty nicely since.

Last weekend’s 2-2 draw with Blackpool, when Wycombe were twice pegged back, denied them a fourth victory on the bounce.

Adebayo Akinfenwa scored the opener and is still going strong, six years on from that play-off final against City with Northampton.

Ainsworth has built his side around experience but two of the older heads left Adams Park this week.

Sam Saunders, a familiar foe for City in his Dagenham and Brentford days, cancelled his contract by mutual consent while veteran striker Craig Mackail-Smith joined Notts County on loan.

Wycombe could give a debut to young midfielder Charlie Owens, who arrived on loan on deadline day.

The Northern Ireland under-21 international is the latest arrival from QPR in the strong link established by manager Ainsworth. He has made one senior appearance in the Carabao Cup earlier this season.

“Charlie’s had an excellent upbringing at Tottenham and QPR and we like the look of him from what we’ve seen so far,” said Ainsworth.

“He’s another exciting young talent at QPR and brings another option to our midfield, with a good range of passing and a bit of extra height that could be useful to us.

“He’s one that will benefit from developing his game in a first-team environment with us.”