Wycombe Wanderers travel to Notts County on Friday for their 40th league game of the season.
The Chairboys had to settle for a point when they were held to a goalless draw by a stubborn Port Vale side at Adams Park on Saturday.
It was a fourth consecutive home game without a win for Gareth Ainsworth’s side, but with 6 wins and a draw in their last 7 away games, Wanderers have maintained their promotion chase, and lie 3rd in the table, 4 points clear of 4th placed County.
With a tally of 70 points, the Blues have surpassed last season’s total of 69 and are currently 15 points better off than they were at the same stage of the last campaign.
Despite Saturday’s draw, the Chairboys gained ground on the two sides who were directly below them at the start of the weekend, with the Magpies losing at Chesterfield and Mansfield falling victim to Forest Green Rovers.
With just seven games to go, Wanderers are in the enviable position of having promotion in their own hands. A wary eye needs to be kept on Exeter and in-form Coventry, but the Chairboys have the opportunity to kill County off at Meadow Lane on Friday.
Friday also sees 6 of the top 8 play each other – Wycombe v County, Mansfield v Accrington and Lincoln v Exeter. Whatever happens, Wanderers will still be 3rd at the end of the day.
Ainsworth made two changes to his starting line-up against the Valiants, with Curtis Thompson handed his full league debut and Nick Freeman returning to the side after injury.
They replaced the injured Luke O’Nien, and Matt Bloomfield. who dropped to the bench.
Michael Harriman was named on the bench for the first time since breaking his leg back in September.
Ainsworth has a number of injury concerns ahead of the big game at Meadow Lane.
Luke O’Nien remains doubtful with a knee injury, while Nathan McGinley (virus) and Dan Scarr (ankle) will be assessed.
Curtis Thompson has a hamstring problem but is ineligible to face his parent club in any case.
It is hoped that Anthony Stewart (calf) and Sam Saunders (knee) will return before the end of the season.
Notts County were beaten 3-1 by relegation-threatened Chesterfield at the Proact Stadium on Sunday.
It was a miserable afternoon for the Magpies who can have no complaint at the result following a poor performance.
Kevin Nolan’s side have won 2, drawn 2 and lost 2 of their last 6 league matches, and lie 4th in the table with 66 points, 20 points more than they had at the same stage last season.
They now trail Wanderers by 4 points having been 7 points ahead of Gareth Ainsworth’s side at the turn of the year.
Nolan made just one enforced change to his starting line-up against the Spireites. Shaun Brisley was handed a recall to the side with loanee Ben Hall away on international duty.
Nolan has no new injury concerns ahead of the promotion clash with Wanderers, and is boosted by the return of Hall, who will come straight back into the side following his stint with the Northern Ireland under-21s.
Liam Walker is also available after returning from international duty with Gibraltar and will be hoping to make the bench.
Michael O’Connor played for the development squad last week having missed almost a year with an ACL knee injury, but is still building match fitness and isn’t yet ready to return to first-team football.
Here are some stats…
County Home Record………W 12 – D 5 – L 2 – Pts 41 – Ppg 2.16 (Rank-3)
Wycombe Away Record…..W 10 – D 5 – L 4 – Pts 35 – Ppg 1.84 (Rank-1)
League positions & comparison with last season
Notts County (20 points better off)
After 39 games this season the Magpies are 4th with 66 points
After 39 games last season they were 20th with 46 points
Wycombe (15 points better off)
After 39 games this season the Chairboys are 3rd with 70 points
After 39 games last season they were 11th with 55 points
Notts County’s last five games (All Competitions)
Lg2: Stevenage (H)…………….Won 2-0
Lg2: Cheltenham (A)…………Drew 1-1
Lg2: Forest Green (A)…………Won 2-1
Lg2: Mansfield (H)…………….Drew 1-1
Lg2: Chesterfield (A)…………..Lost 1-3
Wycombe’s last five games (All Competitions)
Lg2: Coventry (H)………………..Lost 0-1
Lg2: Cambridge (H)…………..Drew 1-1
Lg2: Barnet (A)…………………..Won 2-0
Lg2: Crawley (A)…………………Won 3-2
Lg2: Port Vale (H)………………Drew 0-0
Notts County Goal Scorers – (All Competitions)
Grant………………….18
Stead………………….13 (inc 6 pens)
Alessandra…………..6
Forte……………………6
Yates…………………..6
Ameobi……………….5 (inc 1 pen)
Brisley…………………3
Hawkridge…………..3
Hewitt…………………3
Duffy…………………..2
Husin…………………..2
Jones……………………2
Tootle………………….2
Bennett……………….1
Dickinson…………….1
Hollis…………………..1
Milsom………………..1
Noble………………….1
Smith…………………..1
Own Goals…………..1
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
Michael Harriman…………..1
Dan Scarr………………………..1
Dayle Southwell………………1
Anthony Stewart……………..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
Matt Bloomfield………………2
Eberechi Eze……………………2
Dan Scarr………………………..2
Scott Brown……………………1
Marcus Bean…………………..1
Sido Jombati……………………1
Nathan McGinley…………….1
Jack Williams……………………1
Notts County Goal Stats (48 games in all Competitions)
Goals Scored (Total)………..Lg: 61…Cups: 17…Total: 78
Goals Conceded (Total)……Lg: 42…Cups: 21…Total: 63
Goals Scored (Home)………Lg: 37…Cups: 11…Total: 48
Goals Conceded (Home)….Lg: 17…Cups: 8…..Total: 25
Clean Sheets……………………Lg: 11…Cups: 1…..Total: 12
Failed to Score…………………Lg: 7…..Cups: 0…..Total: 7
Wycombe Goal Stats (46 games in all Competitions)
Goals Scored (Total)………..Lg: 73…Cups: 9…..Total: 82
Goals Conceded (Total)……Lg: 54…Cups: 14…Total: 68
Goals Scored (Away)………..Lg: 33…Cups: 2…..Total: 35
Goals Conceded (Away)……Lg: 24…Cups: 1…..Total: 25
Clean Sheets……………………Lg:10…Cups: 2…..Total: 12
Failed to Score…………………Lg: 8…..Cups: 2…..Total: 10
Wycombe – miscellaneous stats
Shots on-target (for)………….Lg: 226…Cups: 40…Total: 266
Shots on-target (against)……Lg: 144…Cups: 34…Total: 178
Shots off-target (for)………….Lg: 299…Cups: 53…Total: 352
Shots off-target (against)……Lg: 229…Cups: 40…Total: 269
Corners (for)………………………Lg: 218…Cups: 45…Total: 263
Corners (against)………………..Lg: 180…Cups: 34…Total: 214
Ave possession (for)……………Lg: 51.03%…..Cups: 50.14%
Ave possession (against)……..Lg: 48.97%…..Cups: 49.86%
Shooting comparison (league only)
Notts County….shots on target – 148 (per game: 3.79) – (Rank-20)
Wycombe……….shots on target – 226 (per game: 5.79) – (Rank-1)
League Form Guide
All Season
County………..Pld: 39…W: 18 – D: 12 – L: 9 – Pts: 66 – Pts per game: 1.69
Wycombe……Pld: 39…W: 20 – D: 10 – L: 9 – Pts: 70 – Pts per game: 1.79
Last Five league Games
Notts County………WDWDL – 8 points (Rank-9)
Wycombe……………LDWWD – 8 points (Rank-7)
Last Five League Games (Home)
Notts County…….LWWWD – 10 points (Rank-6)
Last Five League Games (Away)
Wycombe………..WDWWW – 13 points (Rank-1)
First 45 mins v Second 45 mins – Performance Comparison
First 45 mins
Wycombe…….W: 17…D: 13…L: 9…..Gf: 35…Ga: 22…Pph: 1.64
Second 45 mins
Wycombe…….W: 14…D: 14…L: 11…Gf: 38…Ga: 32…Pph: 1.44
Discipline *
Notts County…..3 Red Cards…73 Yellow Cards
Wycombe……….1 Red Card…..74 Yellow Cards
Marcus Bean……………..10 yellow (inc 1 Checkatrade)
Joe Jacobson………………9 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
Adebayo Akinfenwa……4 yellow
Matt Bloomfield…………4 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
Nick freeman……………..1 yellow
Tafari Moore……………..1 yellow
From FA website *
Previous Meetings
In 35 previous meetings there have been 16 wins for Wycombe, 10 for Notts County and 9 draws.
At Meadow Lane the tally is 8 wins for the Chairboys, 5 for the Magpies and 4 draws.
1995/96 Lg1: Notts County 2 Wycombe 0
1996/97 Lg1: Notts County 1 Wycombe 2
1998/99 Lg1: Notts County 1 Wycombe 0
1999/00 Lg1: Notts County 2 Wycombe 1
2000/01 Lg1: Notts County 0 Wycombe 2
2001/02 Lg1: Notts County 0 Wycombe 1
2002/03 Lg1: Notts County 1 Wycombe 1
2003/04 Lg1: Notts County 1 Wycombe 1
2004/05 Lg2: Notts County 0 Wycombe 1
2005/06 Lg2: Notts County 1 Wycombe 2
2006/07 Lg2: Notts County 1 Wycombe 0
2006/07 Ccp: Notts County 0 Wycombe 1
2007/08 Lg2: Notts County 1 Wycombe 0
2008/09 Lg2: Notts County 0 Wycombe 2
2011/12 Lg2: Notts County 1 Wycombe 1
2015/16 Lg2: Notts County 0 Wycombe 0
2016/17 Lg2: Notts County 0 Wycombe 2
Boss v Boss
In their managerial careers, Gareth Ainsworth and Kevin Nolan have clashed three times.
The current tally is 3 wins for Nolan.
Notts County’s record last season
Home….W:7…..D:7…L:9…..GF:25 – GA:30 – Pts:28
Away…..W:9…..D:1…L:13…GF:29 – GA:46 – Pts:28
Total……W:16…D:8…L:22…GF:54 – GA:76 – Pts:56
Final position: 16th 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
Friday’s referee is Ben Toner from Lancashire who was promoted to the National List of Referees in 2015.
Earlier this season he refereed Wycombe’s 0-0 draw at Newport County.
During the current campaign he’s issued 4 red and 84 yellow cards in 30 appearances.
Prediction
Notts County 1 Wycombe 1
