Wycombe Wanderers travel to Lincoln City on Tuesday for their 43rd league game of the season.
The Chairboys snatched a priceless late winner to beat Yeovil Town 1-0 at Huish Park on Saturday.
A twelve day break left Wanderers looking lethargic, but after the Glovers hit the woodwork twice and had a goal disallowed for offside, Randell Williams delighted 646 travelling fans with his first ever goal in the football league.
Results elsewhere were also helpful to Wycombe with Exeter dropping two points and Lincoln losing.
Gareth Ainsworth’s side are now guaranteed a place in the top seven.
With Accrington and Luton as good as up, only four teams are capable of overtaking Wanderers who currently occupy the final automatic promotion place.
The maximum number of points the five contenders can obtain is as follows (current total in brackets)
Wycombe…………..89 ~ (77)
Exeter………………..85 ~ (73)
Notts County……..82 ~ (73)
Lincoln……………….82 ~ (67)
Coventry…………….80 ~ (68)
As things stand, Wanderers need 4 points from 4 games to make it impossible for Coventry, 6 to thwart County & Lincoln, and 8 to stay ahead of Exeter (who have a vastly inferior goal difference).
With Tuesday’s clash effectively a “six pointer”, victory for Wycombe would end Lincoln’s hopes of a top three spot.
Ainsworth made two changes to the starting line-up against the Glovers.
Nathan McGinley and Nick Freeman were both handed recalls to the side in place of Williams, who dropped to the bench, and Sido Jombati, who missed out through injury.
Another injury crisis is brewing after McGinley was hurt at Huish Park to join Jombati, Anthony Stewart, Dan Scarr and Tafari Moore on the list of crocked defenders.
Ainsworth is even contemplating a recall for Will de Havilland, currently on-loan at Maidstone United.
Luke O’Nien limped off after only 32 minutes on Saturday and must be considered doubtful along with fellow midfielder Curtis Thompson.
Lincoln City were beaten 1-0 at Port Vale on Saturday.
It was a big blow for the Imps, who went into the game having lifted the EFL Trophy the previous weekend.
They beat League One Shrewsbury Town 1-0 in the final at Wembley to continue what has been a success story under manager Danny Cowley.
The defeat at Vale is Lincoln’s first in seven league matches and they slipped out of the play-off places on goal-difference, albeit with two games in hand on 7th placed Mansfield.
Cowley named a completely unchanged starting line-up on Saturday with Luke Waterfall keeping his place in the side. He was preferred to loanee Scott Wharton, who returned to the bench having been cup-tied for the Wembley final.
James Wilson, Jordan Williams and Tom Pett also returned to the bench having been ineligible for the final. They were preferred to Sean Long, Cameron Stewart and teenagers Declan O’Hare and Ellis Chapman, who were left out of the squad.
Danny Rowe will be assessed ahead of the clash with Wanderers after being forced off with an ankle injury at the weekend.
Cowley remains without Josh Vickers, who faces a battle to play again this season after rupturing a thigh muscle in February.
Here are some stats…
Lincoln Home Record………W 11 – D 6 – L 3 – Pts 39 – Ppg 1.95 (Rank-5)
Wycombe Away Record……W 11 – D 6 – L 4 – Pts 39 – Ppg 1.86 (Rank-1)
League positions & comparison with last season
Lincoln (21 points worse off – 1 division higher)
After 41 games this season the Imps are 8th in Lg2 with 67 points
After 41 games last season they were top of the Conference with 88 points
Wycombe (18 points better off)
After 42 games this season the Chairboys are 3rd with 77 points
After 42 games last season they were 13th with 59 points
Lincoln’s last five games (All Competitions)
Lg2: Morecambe (A)………….Drew 0-0
Lg2: Exeter (H)……………………Won 3-2
Lg2: Carlisle (A)…………………..Won 1-0
FLT Shrewsbury (N)…………….Won 1-0
Lg2: Port Vale (A)…………………Lost 0-1
Wycombe’s last five games (All Competitions)
Lg2: Crawley (A)…………………Won 3-2
Lg2: Port Vale (H)………………Drew 0-0
Lg2: Notts County (A)………..Drew 0-0
Lg2: Grimsby (H)………………..Won 2-1
Lg2: Yeovil (A)…………………….Won 1-0
Lincoln Goal Scorers – (All Competitions)
Green………………………16 (inc 1 pen)
Palmer……………………….9 (inc 1 pen)
Rhead………………………..8 (inc 1 pen)
Anderson…………………..7
Bostwick……………………6
Frecklington………………3 (inc 1 pen)
Ginnelly…………………….3
Raggett……………………..3
Whitehouse……………….3
Knott…………………………2
Maguire-Drew……………2
Rowe…………………………2
Waterfall……………………2
Wharton……………………2
Woodyard…………………2
Eardley……………………..1
Wilson………………………1
Own Goals………………..3
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
Lincoln Goal Stats (51 games in all Competitions)
Goals Scored (Total)………..Lg: 57…Cups: 18…Total: 75
Goals Conceded (Total)……Lg: 43…Cups: 11…Total: 54
Goals Scored (Home)………Lg: 35…Cups: 12…Total: 47
Goals Conceded (Home)….Lg: 21…Cups: 7…..Total: 28
Clean Sheets……………………Lg: 14…Cups: 2…..Total: 16
Failed to Score…………………Lg: 12…Cups: 1…..Total: 13
Wycombe Goal Stats (49 games in all Competitions)
Goals Scored (Total)………..Lg: 76…Cups: 9…..Total: 85
Goals Conceded (Total)……Lg: 55…Cups: 14…Total: 69
Goals Scored (Away)………..Lg: 34…Cups: 2…..Total: 36
Goals Conceded (Away)……Lg: 24…Cups: 1…..Total: 25
Clean Sheets……………………Lg:12…Cups: 2…..Total: 14
Failed to Score…………………Lg: 9…..Cups: 2…..Total: 11
Wycombe – miscellaneous stats
Shots on-target (for)………….Lg: 240…Cups: 40…Total: 280
Shots on-target (against)……Lg: 149…Cups: 34…Total: 183
Shots off-target (for)………….Lg: 319…Cups: 53…Total: 372
Shots off-target (against)……Lg: 239…Cups: 40…Total: 279
Corners (for)………………………Lg: 236…Cups: 45…Total: 281
Corners (against)………………..Lg: 194…Cups: 34…Total: 228
Ave possession (for)……………Lg: 51.24%…..Cups: 50.14%
Ave possession (against)……..Lg: 48.76%…..Cups: 49.86%
Shooting comparison (league only)
Lincoln…………..shots on target – 180 (per game: 4.39) – (Rank-8)
Wycombe………shots on target – 240 (per game: 5.71) – (Rank-1)
League Form Guide
All Season
Lincoln……….Pld: 41…W: 18 – D: 13 – L: 10…Pts: 67 – Pts per game: 1.63
Wycombe……Pld: 42…W: 22 – D: 11 – L: 9…..Pts: 77 – Pts per game: 1.83
Last Five league Games
Lincoln…………..WDWWL – 10 points (Rank-5)
Wycombe………WDDWW – 11 points (Rank-3)
Last Five League Games (Home)
Lincoln…………..DWLWW – 10 points (Rank-4)
Last Five League Games (Away)
Wycombe……..WWWDW – 13 points (Rank-1)
First 45 mins v Second 45 mins – Performance Comparison
First 45 mins
Wycombe…….W: 17…D: 15…L: 10…Gf: 35…Ga: 23…Pph: 1.57
Second 45 mins
Wycombe…….W: 16…D: 15…L: 11…Gf: 41…Ga: 32…Pph: 1.50
Discipline *
Lincoln…………..4 Red Cards…84 Yellow Cards
Wycombe………1 Red Card…..83 Yellow Cards
Marcus Bean……………..11 yellow (inc 1 Checkatrade)
Joe Jacobson………………10 yellow
Adam El Abd………………7 yellow
Luke O’Nien……………….7 yellow – 1 red
Scott Brown……………….6 yellow
Paris Cowan-Hall………..5 yellow (inc 1 Checkatrade)
Sam Saunders……………5 yellow
Adebayo Akinfenwa……4 yellow
Matt Bloomfield…………4 yellow
Dominic Gape…………….3 yellow
Sido Jombati………………3 yellows
Craig Mackail-Smith……3 yellow
Dan Scarr…………………..3 yellow (inc 1 Checkatrade)
Anthony Stewart………..3 yellow
Nathan Tyson…………….3 yellow
Dayle Southwell…………2 yellow
Will de Havilland……….1 yellow
Nick Freeman…………….1 yellow
Tafari Moore……………..1 yellow
Randell Williams……….1 yellow
From FA website *
Previous Meetings
In 17 previous meetings there have been 9 wins for Wycombe, 6 for Lincoln and 2 draws.
At Sincil Bank the tally is 5 wins for the Blues, 3 for the Imps and 0 draws.
1993/94: Lg2 Lincoln 1 Wycombe 3
1998/99: Lg1 Lincoln 0 Wycombe 1
2004/05: Lg2 Lincoln 2 Wycombe 3
2005/06: Lg2 Lincoln 1 Wycombe 2
2006/07: Lg2 Lincoln 1 Wycombe 0
2007/08: Lg2 Lincoln 1 Wycombe 0
2008/09: Lg2 Lincoln 1 Wycombe 0
2010/11: Lg2 Lincoln 1 Wycombe 2
Boss v Boss
In their managerial careers, Gareth Ainsworth and Danny Cowley have clashed only once.
The current tally is 1 draw.
Lincoln’s record last season
Home….W:17…D:4…L:2 – GF:48 – GA:17 – Pts:55
Away…..W:13…D:5…L:5 – GF:35 – GA:23 – Pts:44
Total……W:30…D:9…L:7 – GF:83 – GA:40 – Pts:99
Final position: National League Champions
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
Tuesday’s referee is John Brooks who is enjoying his second season on the National List of Referees.
Last season he took charge of Wycombe’s 2-0 defeat at home to Colchester and their 4-2 loss at Exeter City.
Earlier this season he oversaw Wycombe’s 1-0 league defeat at Swindon Town.
A real lucky charm.
During the current campaign he’s issued 6 red and 137 yellow cards in 45 appearances.
Prediction
Lincoln 2 Wycombe 1
