Blues return to the scene of the crime

Wycombe Wanderers travel to Huddersfield Town on Saturday for their 5th league game of the season.

The league table currently shows Wycombe in 15th place with 5 points and Hudderfield in 11th spot with 6 points.

Just over a week ago, the Blues returned to the scene of their relegation in 2010 and banished the memories with a fine 3-1 win over Leyton Orient. Now they return to the scene of that season’s most horrific performance, a televised 6-0 drubbing at the Galpharm Stadium in what was manager Gary Waddock’s fifth game in charge.

Simply turning up should guarantee an improved performance on Saturday, but laying the ghost to rest with a positive result will be as difficult now as it was then.

Currently second-favourites to win the title, the Terriers finished 3rd with 87 points last season, and 6th with 80 points the season before.

Millwall beat them in the semi-final of the play-offs in 2010, and Peterborough United killed their dreams of promotion in the final at Old Trafford last May.

During the summer Huddersfield lost Lee Peltier to Leicester City and Anthony Pilkington to Norwich City in deals which could eventually net them around £5 million.

New arrivals at the Galpharm include midfielders Anton Robinson from Bournemouth, Tommy Miller from Sheffield Wednesday and Oscar Gobern from Southampton. Defender Calum Woods from Dunfermline Athletic has also joined, as have forwards Donal McDermott from Manchester City and Danny Ward from Bolton. Hull City defender Liam Cooper and Plymouth Argyle midfielder Damien Johnson have also arrived on-loan.

Following a solid but unspectacular start to the current campaign, the Terriers lost for the first time on Tuesday, bowing out of the Carling Cup at Cardiff City, despite coming from two goals behind to lead 3-2 after 88 minutes.

Sadly for them, a stoppage time equaliser and two further strikes during extra-time were enough to see the Bluebirds safely through to the third-round

In their home game against Colchester United last Saturday, the Terriers’ line-up included four of the players that started the 6-0 romp against the Blues two years ago.

Wycombe also made a solid start to the season but have now suffered two defeats in a row, losing 2-0 at home to Bury in the league and 4-1 at home to Nottingham Forest in the Carling Cup.

If the Blues are to bounce back quickly, they’ll have to upset the odds on Saturday, as their match against Preston the following weekend has already been postponed due to the Lilywhites having several players on international duty.

Having watched his side struggle to contain Forest during the first-half on Tuesday, it would be no surprise if manager Gary Waddock opted for the three-man central-midfield which restored some balance after the break.

The return to action of Stuart Lewis may have come just in the nick of time, while Marvin McCoy’s performance against Forest should ensure his pace is included in the starting line-up to help combat a daunting Terriers’ attack.

Anything from this game would be an unexpected bonus.


Huddersfield’s season so far (All Competitions)

LG1: Bury (H)……………….Drew 1-1

Ccp: Port Vale (A)…………..Won 4-2

LG1: Rochdale (A)………….Drew 2-2

LG1: Hartlepool (A)………..Drew 0-0

LG1: Colchester (H)………..Won 3-2

Ccp: Cardiff City (A)……….Lost 3-5 (aet)



Wycombe’s season so far (All Competitions)

LG1: Scunthorpe (H)………….Drew 1-1

Ccp: Colchester (H)……………Won 3-3 (5-4 on pens)

LG1: Colchestert (A)………….Drew 1-1

LG1: Orient (A)………………….Won 3-1

LG1: Bury (H)……………………Lost 0-2

Ccp: Nottingham Forest (H)…..Lost 1-4



Huddersfield Goal Stats (6 games in all Competitions)

Goals Scored (Total)……….Lg: 6…Cups: 7…Total: 13

Goals Conceded (Total)……Lg: 5…Cups: 7…Total: 12

Goals Scored (Home)………Lg: 4…Cups: 0…Total: 4

Goals Conceded (Home)…..Lg: 3…Cups: 0…Total: 3

Clean Sheets…………………Lg: 1…Cups: 0…Total: 1



Wycombe Goal Stats (6 games in all Competitions)

Goals Scored (Total)……….Lg: 5…Cups: 4…Total: 9

Goals Conceded (Total)……Lg: 5…Cups: 7…Total: 12

Goals Scored (Away)………Lg: 4…Cups: 0…Total: 4

Goals Conceded (Away)…..Lg: 2…Cups: 0…Total: 2

Clean Sheets…………………Lg: 0…Cups: 0…Total: 0



Huddersfield’s Goal Scorers – (All Competitions)

Lee Novak……………4

Jordan Rhodes………4

Gary Roberts………..2

Daniel Ward…………2

Jack Hunt…………….1



Wycombe’s Goal Scorers – (All Competitions)

Joel Grant…………….2

Scott Donnelly……….2 (inc 1 pen)

Stuart Beavon……….1

Ben Strevens………..1

James Tunnicliffe……1

Elliot Benyon…………1 (inc 1 pen)

Scott Rendell…………1 (inc 1 pen)



Huddersfield Shooting (Top-3) – All Competitions

Daniel Ward……….7 on-target…7 off-target…0 against woodwork

Jordan Rhodes…….7 on-target…3 off-target…0 against woodwork

Gary Roberts………6 on-target…1 off-target…1 against woodwork



Wycombe Shooting (Top-3) – All Competitions

Joel Grant……………6 on-target…3 off-target…0 against woodwork

Scott Donnelly………2 on-target…6 off-target…0 against woodwork

Andy Sandell………..2 on-target…4 off-target…0 against woodwork



Shooting (Club) – League Games Only

Huddersfield….22 on target…15 off target…1 against w’work (Rank-15)

Wycombe……..12 on target…15 off target…1 against w’work (Rank-24)



Previous Meetings

In 8 previous meetings there have been 4 wins for Huddersfield, 2 for Wycombe, and 2 draws.

In Yorkshire there have been 2 wins for Huddersfield, 1 for Wycombe and 1 draw.

1994/95 Lg1: Huddersfield 0 Wycombe 1

1994/95 Lg1: Wycombe 2 Huddersfield 1

2001/02 Lg1: Huddersfield 2 Wycombe 1

2001/02 Lg1: Wycombe 2 Huddersfield 4

2002/03 Lg1: Huddersfield 0 Wycombe 0

2002/03 Lg1: Wycombe 0 Huddersfield 0

2009/10 Lg1: Huddersfield 6 Wycombe 0

2009/10 Lg1: Wycombe 1 Huddersfield 2



The Man In The Middle

Saturday’s referee is Nigel Miller from County Durham who was promoted to the National List of Referees in 2003. His most recent Wycombe game was a 2-1 home win over Bradford City in May 2008. So far this season he’s issued 1 red and 22 yellow cards in 5 games.



Prediction

Huddersfield 3 Wycombe 0