Wycombe Wanderers travel to Chesterfield on Saturday for their 45th league game of the season.
The Chairboys were thrashed 4-0 by Champions-elect Accrington Stanley at Adams Park on Saturday.
It was a first defeat in nine for Wanderers, who retained 3rd place thanks to Exeter City’s failure to beat Crawley Town at home.
Accrington and Luton are already up, and with two games to go, there are four teams competing for the final automatic promotion place. Here are their current standings and remaining games…
Wycombe 78 pts (+ 17 GD)
Chesterfield (A)
Stevenage (H)
Exeter 77 pts (+11 GD)
Stevenage (A)
Colchester (H)
Notts County 76 pts (+24 GD)
Grimsby (A)
Luton (H)
Lincoln City 74 pts (+17 GD)
Accrington (A)
Yeovil (H)
Wanderers could clinch promotion on Saturday if they win and both Exeter and Notts County fail to win.
Manager Gareth Ainsworth made three changes to his starting line-up against the Reds.
Dominic Gape returned to the side after illness, and there were recalls for Paris Cowan-Hall and Scott Kashket.
They were preferred to Sam Saunders and Craig Mackail-Smith who both dropped to the bench, while Adebayo Akinfenwa missed out through injury.
Ainsworth has no new injury concerns ahead of this weekend’s crucial trip to the Proact Stadium.
The Blues’ boss has confirmed that Luke O’Nien and Sido Jombati will “definitely be fit for Chesterfield.”
With regard to Akinfenwa, Ainsworth said: “We’re doing everything we can to get Bayo on the pitch and that’s looking likely.”
There is no news on Anthony Stewart and Dan Scarr.
Chesterfield were beaten 4-1 by Forest Green Rovers at the New Lawn on Saturday.
The result all but confirmed the Spirietes relegation from the Football League and Morecambe’s point at home to Cambridge on Tuesday finally sealed it.
It’s a second consecutive relegation for the club, and they reacted by parting company with manager Jack Lester.
Chesterfield captain Ian Evatt will take charge against Wycombe, assisted by academy coach Miguel Llera.
Lester won just 9 of his 37 matches since taking charge in September, and the Spireites are bottom of the table with 35 points, 2 points less than they had at the same stage of their relegation from Lg1.
With 6 defeats and a draw in their last 7 outings, the Derbyshire outfit are rock bottom of the current form guide, and boast the worst defence in the division having conceded 78 goals in 43 league games.
Lester made five changes to his final starting line-up against the Green Devils.
Drew Talbot, Andy Kellett, Ian Evatt, Jak McCourt and Joe Rowley were all handed recalls to the side.
They were preferred to George Smith, Sid Nelson, Chris O’Grady and Louis Dodds, who all dropped to the bench, while Alex Whitmore was left out of the squad altogether.
Gozie Ugwu could be involved against Wycombe after recovering from ankle surgery but Jordan Sinnott (ankle ligaments) remains sidelined.
Sam Hird (hip surgery), Dylan Mottley-Henry (hernia surgery) and Giles Coke (Achilles) won’t be fit until next season.
Here are some stats…
Chesterfield Home Record…..W 7 – D 3 – L 11 – Pts 24 – Ppg 1.14 (Rank-23)
Wycombe Away Record………W 11 – D 7 – L 4 – Pts 40 – Ppg 1.82 (Rank-2)
League positions & comparison with last season
Chesterfield (2 points worse off – 1 division lower)
After 43 games this season the Spireites are 24th in Lg2 with 35 points
After 43 games last season they were 23rd in Lg1 with 37 points
Wycombe (13 points better off)
After 44 games this season the Chairboys are 3rd with 78 points
After 44 games last season they were 9th with 65 points
Chesterfield’s last five games (All Competitions)
Lg2: Grimsby (A)……………….Lost 0-1
Lg2: Morecambe (A)…………..Drew2-2
Lg2: Mansfield (H)……………..Lost 0-1
Lg2: Exeter (A)…………………Lost 1-2
Lg2: Forest Green (A)………….Lost 1-4
Wycombe’s last five games (All Competitions)
Lg2: Notts County (A)………..Drew 0-0
Lg2: Grimsby (H)………………Won 2-1
Lg2: Yeovil (A)…………………Won 1-0
Lg2: Lincoln (A)………………Drew 0-0
Lg2: Accrington (H)……………Lost 0-4
Chesterfield Goal Scorers – (All Competitions)
Dennis…………………………20 (inc 5 pens)
McCourt………………………..6 (inc 1 pen)
Kellett………………………….4
Reed……………………………4
Rowley………………………….4
O`Grady………………………..3
Sinnott………………………….2
Weir……………………………..2
De Girolamo…………………….1
Flores……………………………1
Hines……………………………1
Nelson………………………….1
Whitmore……………………….1
Own Goals………………………2
Wycombe Goal Scorers – (All Competitions)
Adebayo Akinfenwa………..18
Craig Mackail-Smith………..10
Paris Cowan-Hall……………8
Luke O’Nien…………………8
Nathan Tyson……………….7
Joe Jacobson………………..6 (inc 4 pens)
Eberechi Eze…………………5
Nick Freeman……………….4
Marcus Bean…………………2
Matt Bloomfield……………..2
Sido Jombati…………………2
Sam Saunders……………….2
Josh Umerah…………………2
Will De Havilland…………….1
Adam El-Abd…………………1
Michael Harriman……………1
Scott Kashket………………..1
Dan Scarr…………………….1
Dayle Southwell……………..1
Anthony Stewart…………….1
Randell Williams…………….1
Own Goals……………………1
Wycombe Assists – (All Competitions)
Adebayo Akinfenwa……….15
Craig Mackail-Smith………..8
Nathan Tyson………………5
Paris Cowan-Hall…………..4
Joe Jacobson………………4
Luke O’Nien………………..4
Nick Freeman………………3
Dominic Gape………………3
Michael Harriman…………..3
Sam Saunders………………3
Marcus Bean………………..2
Matt Bloomfield…………….2
Eberechi Eze………………..2
Dan Scarr……………………2
Scott Brown…………………1
Adam El-Abd………………..1
Sido Jombati……………….1
Nathan McGinley……………1
Jack Williams……………….1
Chesterfield Goal Stats (49 games in all Competitions)
Goals Scored (Total)………..Lg: 45…Cups: 7…..Total: 52
Goals Conceded (Total)……Lg: 78…Cups: 15…Total: 93
Goals Scored (Home)………Lg: 25…Cups: 4…..Total: 29
Goals Conceded (Home)…..Lg: 31…Cups: 6…..Total: 37
Clean Sheets………………..Lg: 6…..Cups: 0…..Total: 6
Failed to Score……………..Lg: 14…Cups: 2…..Total: 16
Wycombe Goal Stats (51 games in all Competitions)
Goals Scored (Total)………..Lg: 76…Cups: 9…..Total: 85
Goals Conceded (Total)……Lg: 59…Cups: 14…Total: 73
Goals Scored (Away)……….Lg: 34…Cups: 2…..Total: 36
Goals Conceded (Away)……Lg: 24…Cups: 1…..Total: 25
Clean Sheets………………..Lg:13…Cups: 2…..Total: 15
Failed to Score……………..Lg: 11…Cups: 2…..Total: 13
Wycombe – miscellaneous stats
Shots on-target (for)………….Lg: 248…Cups: 40…Total: 288
Shots on-target (against)…….Lg: 155…Cups: 34…Total: 189
Shots off-target (for)………….Lg: 328…Cups: 53…Total: 381
Shots off-target (against)…….Lg: 249…Cups: 40…Total: 289
Corners (for)………………….Lg: 249…Cups: 45…Total: 294
Corners (against)……………..Lg: 200…Cups: 34…Total: 234
Ave possession (for)………….Lg: 51.27%…..Cups: 50.14%
Ave possession (against)……..Lg: 48.73%…..Cups: 49.86%
Shooting comparison (league only)
Chesterfield……shots on target – 181 (per game: 4.21) – (Rank-13)
Wycombe………shots on target – 248 (per game: 5.64) – (Rank-1)
League Form Guide
All Season
Chesterfield….Pld: 43 – W: 9 – D: 8 – L: 26……Pts: 35 – Pts per game: 0.81
Wycombe…….Pld: 44 – W: 22 – D: 12 – L: 10…Pts: 78 – Pts per game: 1.77
Last Five league Games
Chesterfield………..LDLLL – 1 point (Rank-24)
Wycombe………..DWWDL – 8 points (Rank-10)
Last Five League Games (Home)
Chesterfield………LWLWL – 6 points (Rank-15)
Last Five League Games (Away)
Wycombe………WWDWD – 11 points (Rank-2)
First 45 mins v Second 45 mins – Performance Comparison
First 45 mins
Wycombe…….W: 17…D: 16…L: 11…Gf: 35…Ga: 25…Pph: 1.52
Second 45 mins
Wycombe…….W: 16…D: 16…L: 12…Gf: 41…Ga: 34…Pph: 1.45
Discipline *
Chesterfield……7 Red Cards…96 Yellow Cards
Wycombe………1 Red Card…..88 Yellow Cards
Marcus Bean……………12 yellow (inc 1 Checkatrade)
Joe Jacobson…………..10 yellow
Adam El Abd…………….8 yellow
Luke O’Nien……………..7 yellow – 1 red
Scott Brown……………..6 yellow
Paris Cowan-Hall………..6 yellow (inc 1 Checkatrade)
Sam Saunders………….5 yellow
Adebayo Akinfenwa……4 yellow
Matt Bloomfield………..4 yellow
Nathan Tyson…………..4 yellow
Dominic Gape…………..3 yellow
Sido Jombati……………3 yellow
Craig Mackail-Smith……3 yellow
Dan Scarr……………….3 yellow (inc 1 Checkatrade)
Anthony Stewart………..3 yellow
Dayle Southwell………..2 yellow
Will de Havilland………..1 yellow
Nick Freeman…………..1 yellow
Nathan McGinley……….1 yellow
Tafari Moore…………….1 yellow
Randell Williams………..1 yellow
From FA website *
Previous Meetings
33 previous meetings there have been 16 wins for Wycombe, 12 for Chesterfield and 5 draws.
In Chesterfield the tally is 10 wins for the Spireites, 5 for the Chairboys, and 1 draw.
At the Spireites’ new stadium, it’s 4 wins for them, 1 for Wycombe and 0 draws.
1993/94 Lg2: Chesterfield 2 Wycombe 3
1995/96 Lg1: Chesterfield 3 Wycombe 1
1996/97 Lg1: Chesterfield 4 Wycombe 2
1997/98 Lg1: Chesterfield 1 Wycombe 0
1998/99 Lg1: Chesterfield 2 Wycombe 0
1999/00 Lg1: Chesterfield 1 Wycombe 2
2001/02 Lg1: Chesterfield 0 Wycombe 1
2002/03 Lg1: Chesterfield 4 Wycombe 0
2003/04 Lg1: Chesterfield 2 Wycombe 2
2007/08 Lg2: Chesterfield 2 Wycombe 0
2008/09 Lg2: Chesterfield 0 Wycombe 1
2010/11 Lg2: Chesterfield 4 Wycombe 1
2011/12 Lg1: Chesterfield 4 Wycombe 0
2012/13 Lg2: Chesterfield 3 Wycombe 1
2013/14 Lg2: Chesterfield 2 Wycombe 0
2016/17 FAC Chesterfield 0 Wycombe 5
Boss v Boss
In their managerial careers, Gareth Ainsworth and Ian Evatt have never clashed before.
Chesterfield’s record last season
Home….W:7…D:5…..L:11…GF:26 – GA:39 – Pts:26
Away…..W:2…D:5…..L:16…GF:17 – GA:39 – Pts:11
Total……W:9…D:10…L:27…GF:43 – GA:78 – Pts:37
Final position: 24th in League One
Wycombe’s record last season
Home…W:11…D:6….L:6…..GF:29 – GA:21 – Pts:39
Away….W:8…..D:6….L:9…..GF:29 – GA:32 – Pts:30
Total….W:19…D:12…L:15 – GF:58 – GA:53 – Pts:69
Final position: 9th in League Two
The Man In The Middle
Saturday’s referee is Anthony Backhouse from Cumbria who is enjoying his first season on the National List of Referees.
This will be his first Wycombe game.
During the current campaign he’s issued 7 red and 100 yellow cards in 32 appearances.
Prediction
Chesterfield 1 Wycombe 2
