Wycombe Wanderers have finally got off the mark in League One, beating Leyton Orient 3-2 to claim their first three points of the season. Steve Cook, speaking to Three Counties Radio in the aftermath, was in no mood to understate what the result meant: "The three points are huge."

A long time coming

It had been an uncomfortable opening to the campaign at Adams Park. Wycombe had gone five games without a win under Mathew Duff before the club sacked him, with caretaker boss Jason Hounsell taking interim charge and openly describing himself as "immensely proud" to step in. A 2-1 home defeat to Sheffield Wednesday in that period underlined just how difficult those weeks had been.

Against Orient, though, something clicked. A 3-2 scoreline is tight enough to keep the nerves jangling, but it is a win, and in a division where confidence can drain as fast as a leaking stand roof, the timing matters as much as the scoreline itself.

Cook's perspective

Cook, a composed and experienced presence in the Wycombe dressing room, was the voice chosen to front the post-match reaction on local radio, which tells you something about how the club sees him. His words were straightforward rather than flowery, which is usually a sign that the relief is genuine rather than performed for the cameras.

"The three points are huge," he said, in comments aired on Three Counties Radio on 12 September. Whether that reflects a view shared across the squad seems a reasonable assumption, given the circumstances: a new interim manager, a winless start to the season, and the scrutiny that follows any managerial sacking at a club that prides itself on doing things properly.

Where this leaves Wycombe

Wycombe had also drawn 3-3 with MK Dons earlier in the campaign, so this was not a group of players entirely without fight. But a draw and four defeats is a difficult ledger to open a League One season with, and the pressure on Hounsell to stabilise things quickly was real. Three points against Orient does not transform the picture overnight, but it changes the conversation.

The club had also brought in Exeter City striker Wareham during the window, a signing that signals intent to strengthen the attacking end. Whether that addition will bear fruit under whoever takes the permanent managerial role remains to be seen.

For now, Wycombe sit with at least something to build on. In the third tier, where margins between play-off contention and a relegation scrap can be narrow and shift quickly, a first win before the autumn properly sets in is not nothing. Cook is right: the three points are huge. Whether they prove to be the turning point or merely a false dawn will depend on what comes next.

The visit to, or from, their next opponents will tell supporters considerably more than this one result alone. But Adams Park had been waiting for something to cheer, and on the evidence of Cook's reaction, so had the players.

Frequently asked

Have Wycombe Wanderers won a game this season?
Yes. Wycombe beat Leyton Orient 3-2 on 12 September to claim their first League One win of the season after a difficult five-game winless start.
Who is in charge of Wycombe Wanderers after Mathew Duff was sacked?
Jason Hounsell stepped in as interim manager following the sacking of Mathew Duff. He was in charge for the 3-2 win over Orient.
What did Steve Cook say after Wycombe beat Orient?
Speaking to Three Counties Radio, Steve Cook said the three points were 'huge', reflecting the significance of ending the club's winless run in League One.