Wycombe Wanderers entertain Accrington Stanley on Saturday in their 44th league game of the season.
The Chairboys claimed a share of the spoils with a goalless draw at Lincoln City on Tuesday.
Gareth Ainsworth’s side are now unbeaten in eight, and remain 3rd in the table with 78 points, 16 points more than they had at the same stage last season.
In the battle for third, 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…………..87 ~ (78)
Exeter………………..85 ~ (76)
Notts County……..82 ~ (73)
Lincoln……………….80 ~ (68)
Coventry…………….80 ~ (68)
Promotion remains in Wanderers’ hands, and as things stand, they need 3 points to make automatic promotion impossible for Coventry & Lincoln, 5 to thwart County, and 7 to pip Exeter (who have a vastly inferior goal difference).
Here are this weekend’s fixtures for the other teams in contention…
Coventry v Stevenage
Lincoln v Colchester
Notts County v Yeovil
Exeter v Crawley
For Wycombe it’s a tough game against newly promoted Stanley who are unbeaten in their last 14 outings.
it would be the ideal time for Ainsworth to record his first victory over a side managed by John Coleman. This will be his ninth attempt.
Ainsworth made four changes to his starting line-up against the Imps.
Sam Saunders made his first start in over three months while Matt Bloomfield, Craig Mackail-Smith and Nathan Tyson were also recalled to the side.
They replaced Nick Freeman and Scott Kashket, who dropped to the bench, while Dominic Gape and Luke O’Nien both missed out through illness.
Will de Havilland and Curtis Thompson were both handed recalls to the match-day squad.
Adebayo Akinfenwa is a major doubt for Saturday after being forced off with a calf injury at Lincoln.
Sam Saunders also took a knock, whilst Sido Jombati (groin) and Tafari Moore (hamstring) remain doubtful.
Dominic Gape and Luke O’Nien will be hoping to return from illness.
Anthony Stewart is unlikely to be risked having missed four months with a calf injury.
Dan Scarr is still out with an ankle ligament injury.
Accrington Stanley sealed promotion to the third tier of English football for the first time in their history with a 2-0 win over Yeovil Town at the Crown Ground on Tuesday.
Stanley are on a remarkable run of form and have lost just once in their last 19 league matches.
The last time John Coleman’s side failed to score was 22 games ago on the 16th December.
The Reds also boast the joint-best defence in the division, having conceded only 41 goals in their 42 league matches.
Coleman named an unchanged starting line-up against the Glovers in midweek.
Janoi Donacien kept his place in the side after recovering from the illness which forced him off against Exeter at the weekend.
Coleman also named the same seven players on the bench as he stuck with the same 18-man squad.
Coleman has no new injury concerns ahead of this weekend’s trip to Adams Park, he has a fully-fit squad to choose from and is likely to stick with the same 18 players.
The Reds could be confirmed as Champions if they win and Luton Town are beaten at Carlisle United.
Here are some stats…
Accrington Away Record…….W 11 – D 3 – L 6 – Pts 36 – Ppg 1.80 (Rank-2)
Wycombe Home Record……..W 11 – D 5 – L 5 – Pts 38 – Ppg 1.81 (Rank-8)
League positions & comparison with last season
Accrington (28 points better off)
After 42 games this season Stanley are 1st with 87 points
After 42 games last season they were 12th with 59 points
Wycombe (16 points better off)
After 43 games this season the Chairboys are 3rd with 78 points
After 43 games last season they were 13th with 62 points
Accrington’s last five games (All Competitions)
Lg2: Mansfield (A)……………….Won 1-0
Lg2: Notts County (H)………….Won 1-0
Lg2: Colchester (A)………………Won 1-0
Lg2: Exeter (H)……………………Drew 1-1
Lg2: Yeovil (H)…………………….Won 2-0
Wycombe’s last five games (All Competitions)
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
Lg2: Lincoln (A)………………….Drew 0-0
Accrington Goal Scorers – (All Competitions)
Kee…………………………….25 (inc 8 pens)
Jackson……………………….15
McConville………………….12
Clark…………………………..8
Wilks…………………………..5
Hughes……………………….4
Sousa………………………….3
Conneely…………………….2
Richards-Everton…………2
Beckles……………………….1
Brown…………………………1
Dallison-Lisbon……………1
Edwards………………………1
Johnson……………………….1
Leacock-McLeod………….1
Nolan…………………………..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
Accrington Goal Stats (50 games in all Competitions)
Goals Scored (Total)………..Lg: 70…Cups: 15…Total: 85
Goals Conceded (Total)……Lg: 41…Cups: 13…Total: 54
Goals Scored (Away)………..Lg: 29…Cups: 6…..Total: 35
Goals Conceded (Away)……Lg: 22…Cups: 3…..Total: 25
Clean Sheets……………………Lg: 17…Cups: 2…..Total: 19
Failed to Score…………………Lg: 4…..Cups: 1…..Total: 5
Wycombe Goal Stats (50 games in all Competitions)
Goals Scored (Total)………..Lg: 76…Cups: 9…..Total: 85
Goals Conceded (Total)……Lg: 55…Cups: 14…Total: 69
Goals Scored (Home)………Lg: 42…Cups: 7…..Total: 49
Goals Conceded (Home)….Lg: 31…Cups: 13…Total: 44
Clean Sheets……………………Lg:13…Cups: 2…..Total: 15
Failed to Score…………………Lg: 10…Cups: 2…..Total: 12
Wycombe – miscellaneous stats
Shots on-target (for)………….Lg: 245…Cups: 40…Total: 285
Shots on-target (against)……Lg: 151…Cups: 34…Total: 185
Shots off-target (for)………….Lg: 323…Cups: 53…Total: 376
Shots off-target (against)……Lg: 244…Cups: 40…Total: 284
Corners (for)………………………Lg: 242…Cups: 45…Total: 287
Corners (against)………………..Lg: 199…Cups: 34…Total: 233
Ave possession (for)……………Lg: 51.23%…..Cups: 50.14%
Ave possession (against)……..Lg: 48.77%…..Cups: 49.86%
Shooting comparison (league only)
Accrington…….shots on target – 213 (per game: 5.07) – (Rank-3)
Wycombe………shots on target – 245 (per game: 5.70) – (Rank-1)
League Form Guide
All Season
Accrington……Pld: 42 – W: 27 – D: 6…..L: 9 – Pts: 87 – Pts per game: 2.07
Wycombe…….Pld: 43 – W: 22 – D: 12 – L: 9 – Pts: 78 – Pts per game: 1.81
Last Five league Games
Accrington……..WWWDW – 13 points (Rank-1)
Wycombe………….DDWWD – 9 points (Rank-4)
Last Five League Games (Away)
Accrington…….WDWWW – 13 points (Rank-1)
Last Five League Games (Home)
Wycombe…………..LLDDW – 5 points (Rank-20)
First 45 mins v Second 45 mins – Performance Comparison
First 45 mins
Wycombe…….W: 17…D: 16…L: 10…Gf: 35…Ga: 23…Pph: 1.56
Second 45 mins
Wycombe…….W: 16…D: 16…L: 11…Gf: 41…Ga: 32…Pph: 1.49
Discipline *
Accrington…….2 Red Cards…80 Yellow Cards
Wycombe………1 Red Card…..87 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………..5 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 yellows
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
In 19 previous meetings there have been 6 wins for Accrington, 4 for Wycombe, and 9 draws.
At Adams Park the tally is 4 wins for Stanley, 1 for the Chairboys and 4 draws.
2006/07 LG2: Accrington 2 Wycombe 1
2006/07 LG2: Wycombe 1 Accrington 1
2007/08 LG2: Wycombe 0 Accrington 1
2007/08 LG2: Accrington 0 Wycombe 2
2008/09 LG2: Accrington 0 Wycombe 1
2008/09 LG2: Wycombe 2 Accrington 1
2010/11 LG2: Accrington 1 Wycombe 1
2010/11 LG2: Wycombe 1 Accrington 2
2012/13 LG2: Accrington 0 Wycombe 2
2012/13 LG2: Wycombe 0 Accrington 1
2013/14 LG2: Accrington 1 Wycombe 1
2013/14 LG2: Wycombe 0 Accrington 0
2014/15 LG2: Accrington 1 Wycombe 1
2014/15 LG2: Wycombe 2 Accrington 2
2015/16 LG2: Accrington 1 Wycombe 1
2015/16 LG2: Wycombe 0 Accrington 1
2016/17 LG2: Wycombe 1 Accrington 1
2016/17 LG2: Accrington 2 Wycombe 2
2017/18 LG2: Accrington 1 Wycombe 0
Boss v Boss
In their managerial careers, Gareth Ainsworth and John Coleman have clashed eight times.
The current tally is 3 wins for Coleman, none for Ainsworth and 5 draws.
Accrington’s record last season
Home….W:10…D:7…..L:6…..GF:36 – GA:29 – Pts:37
Away…..W:7…..D:7…..L:9…..GF:23 – GA:27 – Pts:28
Total……W:17…D:14…L:15…GF:59 – GA:56 – Pts:65
Final position: 13th 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
Saturday’s referee is Darren Drysdale from Lincolnshire who was promoted to the National List of Referees in 2004.
Last season he took charge of Wycombe’s 2-1 defeat at home to Carlisle and their 1-1 draw at Morecambe.
During the current campaign he’s issued 6 red and 133 yellow cards in 42 appearances.
Prediction
Wycombe 1 Accrington 1
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