Wycombe Wanderers travel to Crawley Town on Wednesday for their 38th league game of the season.
The Chairboys claimed all three points with a 2-0 win over Barnet at the Hive on Saturday.
A penalty from Joe Jacobson and an own goal from Ricardo Santos were enough to give Wanderers a deserved victory and bring to an end a three-game winless streak.
It was a big win for Wycombe, made even sweeter by promotion rivals Luton Town, Notts County, Mansfield Town and Exeter City all dropping points.
Gareth Ainsworth’s side are currently 4th in the table with 66 points, 14 points more than they had at the same stage last season.
To put that in some sort of context, Portsmouth were 3rd with 65 points at this stage last season and went on to become League Two Champions.
It’s a great position to be in. Automatic promotion must be the target, and Wanderers can move back into the top three on Wednesday if they pick up at least a point in their game in hand over 3rd placed County.
Ainsworth made three changes to the starting line-up against the Bees.
Sido Jombati made his first appearance of 2018 after recovering from injury, while Nick Freeman and Craig Mackail-Smith were both handed recalls to the side.
They were preferred to Paris Cowan-Hall and Nathan Tyson who both dropped to the bench, while Dan Scarr missed out through injury.
Freeman will be assessed ahead of the trip to Crawley after limping off at Barnet.
Dan Scarr remains a major doubt with an ankle injury.
Michael Harriman is back in training after breaking his leg in September and is now working on his fitness.
It is hoped that Anthony Stewart (calf) and Sam Saunders (knee) will return before the end of the season.
Crawley Town claimed a share of the spoils after coming from two goals down to draw 2-2 at Carlisle United on Saturday.
Both goals were scored by Karlan Ahearne-Grant who has scored six in seven appearances since joining on-loan from Charlton on January 30th.
The Red Devils have won just one of their last five league matches having won the previous four on the bounce.
But with five wins and a draw in their last six home games, Harry Kewell’s side have made the Broadfield Stadium a fortress in recent months.
Kewell made two changes to his starting line-up against the Cumbrians.
Cedric Evina and Joe McNerney were both handed recalls, replacing Josh Yorwerth, who missed out through suspension and Josh Doherty who was away on international duty.
Dean Cox was handed a rare place on the bench.
Kewell has no new injury concerns ahead of Wednesday clash with the promotion-chasing Chairboys.
Yorwerth serves the second of a two-match ban whilst Josh Doherty is still away on international duty with the Northern Ireland U21 squad.
Jordan Roberts has missed the last two games with a hamstring injury and will be assessed.
Billy Clifford remains sidelined with an ankle injury, while Thomas Verheydt faces another fortnight out with a knee injury.
Here are some stats…
Crawley Home Record………W 8 – D 3 – L 7 – Pts 27 – Ppg 1.50 (Rank-13)
Wycombe Away Record…….W 9 – D 5 – L 4 – Pts 32 – Ppg 1.78 (Rank-2)
League positions & comparison with last season
Crawley (9 points better off)
After 37 games this season the Reds are 12th with 53 points
After 37 games last season they were 18th with 44 points
Wycombe (14 points better off)
After 37 games this season the Chairboys are 4th with 66 points
After 37 games last season they were 11th with 52 points
Crawley’s last five games (All Competitions)
Lg2: Luton (A)……………………Lost 1-4
Lg2: Lincoln (H)…………………Won 3-1
Lg2: Forest Green (A)…………Lost 0-2
Lg2: Morecambe (H)………..Drew 1-1
Lg2: Carlisle (A)………………..Drew 2-2
Wycombe’s last five games (All Competitions)
Lg2: Cheltenham (A)…………Won 2-0
Lg2: Morecambe (H)………….Lost 2-4
Lg2: Coventry (H)……………….Lost 0-1
Lg2: Cambridge (H)………….Drew 1-1
Lg2: Barnet (A)………………….Won 2-0
Crawley Goal Scorers – (All Competitions)
Boldewijn……………….9
Smith……………………..8 (inc 1pen)
Roberts…………………..7
Ahearne-Grant………..6
Meite………………………3
Payne……………………..3 (inc 3 pens)
Connolly…………………2
Verheydt…………………2
Camara…………………..1
McNerney………………1
Randall…………………..1
Sanoh…………………….1
Young…………………….1
Own Goals……………..3
Wycombe Goal Scorers – (All Competitions)
Adebayo Akinfenwa………..17
Craig Mackail-Smith………..10
Paris Cowan-Hall…………….8
Luke O’Nien……………………8
Joe Jacobson…………………..6 (inc 4 pens)
Nathan Tyson…………………6
Eberechi Eze…………………..5
Nick Freeman…………………4
Marcus Bean…………………..2
Matt Bloomfield………………2
Sam Saunders…………………2
Josh Umerah…………………..2
Will De Havilland…………….1
Michael Harriman…………..1
Sido Jombati……………………1
Dan Scarr………………………..1
Dayle Southwell………………1
Anthony Stewart……………..1
Own goals………………………1
Wycombe Assists – (All Competitions)
Adebayo Akinfenwa………..14
Craig Mackail-Smith………..8
Paris Cowan-Hall…………….4
Joe Jacobson…………………..4
Nathan Tyson…………………4
Nick Freeman………………….3
Dominic Gape…………………3
Michael Harriman…………..3
Luke O’Nien…………………….3
Sam Saunders…………………3
Matt Bloomfield………………2
Eberechi Eze……………………2
Dan Scarr………………………..2
Scott Brown……………………1
Marcus Bean…………………..1
Sido Jombati……………………1
Nathan McGinley…………….1
Jack Williams……………………1
Crawley Goal Stats (42 games in all Competitions)
Goals Scored (Total)………..Lg: 44…Cups: 4…..Total: 48
Goals Conceded (Total)……Lg: 46…Cups: 15…Total: 61
Goals Scored (Home)………Lg: 22…Cups: 1…..Total: 23
Goals Conceded (Home)….Lg: 17…Cups: 5…..Total: 22
Clean Sheets……………………Lg: 10…Cups: 0…..Total: 10
Failed to Score…………………Lg: 12…Cups: 1…..Total: 13
Wycombe Goal Stats (44 games in all Competitions)
Goals Scored (Total)………..Lg: 70…Cups: 9…..Total: 79
Goals Conceded (Total)……Lg: 52…Cups: 14…Total: 66
Goals Scored (Away)………..Lg: 30…Cups: 2…..Total: 32
Goals Conceded (Away)……Lg: 22…Cups: 1…..Total: 23
Clean Sheets……………………Lg: 9…..Cups: 2…..Total: 11
Failed to Score…………………Lg: 7…..Cups: 2…..Total: 9
Wycombe – miscellaneous stats
Shots on-target (for)………….Lg: 212…Cups: 40…Total: 252
Shots on-target (against)……Lg: 140…Cups: 34…Total: 174
Shots off-target (for)………….Lg: 291…Cups: 53…Total: 344
Shots off-target (against)……Lg: 223…Cups: 40…Total: 263
Corners (for)………………………Lg: 206…Cups: 45…Total: 251
Corners (against)………………..Lg: 173…Cups: 34…Total: 207
Ave possession (for)……………Lg: 51.35%…..Cups: 50.14%
Ave possession (against)……..Lg: 48.65%…..Cups: 49.86%
Shooting comparison (league only)
Wycombe………shots on target – 212 (per game: 5.73) – (Rank-1)
Crawley…………shots on target – 152 (per game: 4.11) – (Rank-15)
League Form Guide
All Season
Crawley………Pld: 37…W: 15…D: 8…L: 14…Pts: 53…Pts per game: 1.43
Wycombe……Pld: 37…W: 19…D: 9…L: 9…..Pts: 66…Pts per game: 1.78
Last Five league Games
Crawley…………….LWLDD – 5 points (Rank-18)
Wycombe…………WLLDW – 7 points (Rank-9)
Last Five League Games (Home)
Crawley………..WWWWD – 13 points (Rank-2)
Last Five League Games (Away)
Wycombe……..WWDWW – 13 points (Rank-1)
First 45 mins v Second 45 mins – Performance Comparison
First 45 mins
Wycombe…….W: 16…D: 12…L: 9…..Gf: 33…Ga: 21…Pph: 1.62
Second 45 mins
Wycombe…….W: 14…D: 12…L: 11…Gf: 37…Ga: 31…Pph: 1.46
Discipline *
Crawley……….4 Red Cards…84 Yellow Cards
Wycombe…….1 Red Card…..69 Yellow Cards
Marcus Bean………………9 yellow (inc 1 Checkatrade)
Joe Jacobson………………8 yellow
Luke O’Nien……………….6 yellow – 1 red
Scott Brown……………….5 yellow
Paris Cowan-Hall………..5 yellow (inc 1 Checkatrade)
Adam El Abd………………5 yellow
Sam Saunders……………5 yellow
Matt Bloomfield…………4 yellow
Adebayo Akinfenwa……3 yellow
Dominic Gape…………….3 yellow
Craig Mackail-Smith……3 yellow
Dan Scarr…………………..3 yellow (inc 1 Checkatrade)
Anthony Stewart………..3 yellow
Sido Jombati………………2 yellows
Dayle Southwell…………2 yellow
Nathan Tyson…………….2 yellow
Will de Havilland……….1 yellow
From FA website *
Previous Meetings
In 6 previous meetings there have been 3 wins for Wycombe, 2 for Crawley and 1 draw.
In Crawley, the tally is 1 win for the Chairboys, 1 for the Reds and 1 draw.
1985/86 FAT: Crawley 0 Wycombe 2
2015/16 LG2: Crawley 0 Wycombe 0
2015/16 LG2: Wycombe 2 Crawley 0
2016/17 LG2: Crawley 1 Wycombe 0
2016/17 LG2: Wycombe 1 Crawley 2
2017/18 LG2: Wycombe 4 Crawley 0
Boss v Boss
In their managerial careers, Gareth Ainsworth and Harry Kewell have clashed just once.
The current tally is 1 win for Ainsworth.
Crawley’s record last season
Home….W:8…..D:7…..L:8…..GF:29 – GA:30 – Pts:31
Away…..W:5…..D:5…..L:13…GF:24 – GA:41 – Pts:20
Total……W:13…D:12…L:21…GF:53 – GA:71 – Pts:51
Final position: 19th in League Two
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
Wednesday’s referee is Graham Horwood from Luton who was promoted to the National List of Referees in 2013.
Earlier this season he refereed Wycombe’s 2-2 draw at home to Lincoln City.
During the current campaign he’s issued 1 red and 65 yellow cards in 20 appearances.
Prediction
Crawley 1 Wycombe 2
