Wycombe Wanderers entertain Carlisle United on Saturday in their 30th league game of the season.
The Chairboys claimed all three points with a thrilling 3-2 win at league-leaders Luton Town on Tuesday.
An early goal from Paris Cowan-Hall and a brace from Nathan Tyson were enough to outscore the Hatters on their own patch, much to the delight of a sold-out away contingent of 791 travelling fans.
Special mention should also go to keeper Scott Brown for some crucial saves and midfielder Dominic Gape whose tenacious performance and defence splitting passes really caught the eye.
The victory was enough to take the Chairboys up to 2nd in the table with 52 points, 6 points more than they had at the same stage last season.
It also made it four wins out of four in the league in January, a superb haul that keeps the automatic promotion hopes alive in a tight division where only 4 points separate the Blues from 9th placed Lincoln.
Having hit the heights and defied expectations at Kenilworth Road, Wanderers will be keen to consolidate their position at home to the 13th placed Cumbrians.
Manager Gareth Ainsworth made two changes to his starting line-up against the Hatters.
Adam El-Abd returned to the side after a calf injury while Tyson was also handed a recall. They replaced Nathan McGinley who dropped to the bench and Matt Bloomfield who missed out through illness.
Curtis Thompson made his debut as a second-half substitute after signing on loan from Notts County until the end of the season.
Tafari Moore went off with a facial injury on Tuesday but should be fit for Saturday while Bloomfield will be assessed and Sido Jombati nears a return.
There is no news on a likely return date for either Anthony Stewart or Sam Saunders.
Michael Harriman continues his rehabilitation after breaking a leg in September.
Carlisle United claimed all three points with a 1-0 win at home to Forest Green Rovers on Saturday.
The Cumbrians boast the 5th best away record in the division and lie 13th in the table with 41 points, 11 points less than they had at the same stage last season.
Yesterday’s transfer deadline day saw Manager Keith Curle sign goalkeeper Louis Gray and striker Ashley Nadesan on loan from Everton and Fleetwood Town respectively for the rest of the season.
Winger Jamal Campbell-Ryce also signed for an undisclosed fee from fellow League Two club Barnet.
Curle made two changes to his starting line-up against the Green Devils.
New signings Kris Twardek and Cole Stockton were both handed their full league debuts in place of Richie Bennett and Sam Cosgrove, who both dropped to the bench.
Kelvin Etuhu made a welcome return as a second-half substitute after recovering from an ankle ligament injury.
Curle has no new injury concerns ahead of this weekend’s trip to Adams Park.
Tom Miller returned from an unspecified injury for the reserves in midweek but was forced off with a foot injury and will be assessed.
Nicky Adams is recovering from knee surgery and will miss the rest of the season, while Jason Kennedy isn’t expected to play again until 2019 following hip / pelvis surgery.
Sam Cosgrove has signed for Aberdeen on a permanent deal for an undisclosed fee while teenager Cameron Salkeld has joined Annan Athletic on loan for the rest of the season.
Here are some stats…
Carlisle Away Record…………W 6 – D 3 – L 5 – Pts 21 – Ppg 1.50 (Rank-5)
Wycombe Home Record……W 8 – D 3 – L 3 – Pts 27 – Ppg 1.93 (Rank-8)
League positions & comparison with last season
Carlisle (11 points worse off)
After 29 games this season the Cumbrians are 13th with 41 points
After 29 games last season they were 3rd with 52 points
Wycombe (6 points better off)
After 29 games this season the Chairboys are 2nd with 52 points
After 29 games last season they were 8th with 46 points
Carlisle’s last five games (All Competitions)
FAC Sheff Wed (H)………….Drew 0-0
Lg2: Crewe (H)…………………Won 1-0
FAC: Sheff Wed (A)……………Lost 0-2
Lg2: Stevenage (A)…………..Drew 0-0
Lg2: Forest Green (H)……….Won 1-0
Wycombe’s last five games (All Competitions)
Lg2: Forest Green (A)……….Won 2-1
FAC Preston (H)………………..Lost 1-5
Lg2: Colchester (H)…………..Won 3-1
Lg2: Crewe (A)………………….Won 3-2
Lg2: Luton (A)…………………..Won 3-2
Carlisle Goal Scorers – (All Competitions)
Hope……………………9
Miller……………………9
Grainger……………….8 (inc 3 pens)
Lambe………………….6
Bennett…………………5
Devitt……………………5 (inc 2 pens)
Etuhu……………………2
Joyce…………………….2
Cosgrove………………1
Hill………………………..1
Kennedy……………….1
Parkes…………………..1
Own Goals……………2
Wycombe Goal Scorers – (All Competitions)
Adebayo Akinfenwa………..14
Craig Mackail-Smith………..9
Paris Cowan-Hall…………….6
Nathan Tyson…………………6
Eberechi Eze…………………..5
Joe Jacobson…………………..5 (inc 3 pens)
Luke O’Nien……………………5
Nick Freeman…………………3
Sam Saunders…………………2
Josh Umerah…………………..2
Matt Bloomfield………………1
Will De Havilland…………….1
Michael Harriman…………..1
Sido Jombati……………………1
Dan Scarr………………………..1
Dayle Southwell………………1
Anthony Stewart……………..1
Wycombe Assists – (All Competitions)
Adebayo Akinfenwa………..11
Craig Mackail-Smith………..5
Joe Jacobson…………………..4
Nathan Tyson…………………4
Nick Freeman………………….3
Michael Harriman…………..3
Sam Saunders…………………3
Matt Bloomfield………………2
Paris Cowan-Hall……………..2
Eberechi Eze……………………2
Dominic Gape………………….2
Luke O’Nien…………………….2
Dan Scarr………………………..2
Marcus Bean…………………..1
Sido Jombati……………………1
Nathan McGinley…………….1
Jack Williams……………………1
Carlisle Goal Stats (39 games in all Competitions)
Goals Scored (Total)………..Lg: 39…Cups: 13…Total: 52
Goals Conceded (Total)……Lg: 37…Cups: 12…Total: 49
Goals Scored (Away)………..Lg: 18…Cups: 5…..Total: 23
Goals Conceded (Away)……Lg: 21…Cups: 4…..Total: 25
Clean Sheets……………………Lg: 10…Cups: 2…..Total: 12
Failed to Score…………………Lg: 7…..Cups: 3…..Total: 10
Wycombe Goal Stats (36 games in all Competitions)
Goals Scored (Total)………..Lg: 55…Cups: 9…..Total: 64
Goals Conceded (Total)……Lg: 40…Cups: 14…Total: 54
Goals Scored (Home)………Lg: 30…Cups: 7…..Total: 37
Goals Conceded (Home)….Lg: 19…Cups: 13…Total: 32
Clean Sheets……………………Lg: 7…..Cups: 2…..Total: 9
Failed to Score…………………Lg: 6…..Cups: 2…..Total: 8
Wycombe – miscellaneous stats
Shots on-target (for)………….Lg: 160…Cups: 40…Total: 200
Shots on-target (against)……Lg: 115…Cups: 34…Total: 149
Shots off-target (for)………….Lg: 237…Cups: 53…Total: 290
Shots off-target (against)……Lg: 177…Cups: 40…Total: 217
Corners (for)………………………Lg: 163…Cups: 45…Total: 208
Corners (against)………………..Lg: 138…Cups: 34…Total: 172
Ave possession (for)……………Lg: 51.03%…..Cups: 50.14%
Ave possession (against)……..Lg: 48.97%…..Cups: 49.86%
League Form Guide
All Season
Carlisle………..Pld: 29…W: 11…D: 8…L: 10…Pts: 41…Pts per game: 1.41
Wycombe…….Pld: 29…W: 15…D: 7…L: 7…..Pts: 52…Pts per game: 1.79
Last Five league Games
Carlisle………………LLWDW – 7 points (Rank-12)
Wycombe………LWWWW – 12 points (Rank-4)
Last Five League Games (Away)
Carlisle………………LDWLD – 5 points (Rank-13)
Last Five League Games (Home)
Wycombe………WWWLW – 12 points (Rank-4)
First 45 mins v Second 45 mins – Performance Comparison
First 45 mins
Wycombe…….W: 12…D: 10…L: 7…Gf: 26…Ga: 16…Pph: 1.59
Second 45 mins
Wycombe…….W: 11…D: 10…L: 8…Gf: 29…Ga: 24…Pph: 1.48
Discipline *
Carlisle………..3 Red Cards – 50 Yellow Cards
Wycombe…….0 Red Cards – 64 Yellow Cards
Marcus Bean………………8 yellow (inc 1 Checkatrade)
Joe Jacobson………………8 yellow
Luke O’Nien……………….6 yellow
Adam El Abd………………5 yellow
Sam Saunders……………5 yellow
Scott Brown……………….4 yellow
Adebayo Akinfenwa……3 yellow
Matt Bloomfield…………3 yellow
Paris Cowan-Hall………..3 yellow (inc 1 Checkatrade)
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 21 previous meetings there have been 7 wins for Wycombe, 5 for Carlisle and 9 draws.
At Adams Park the tally is 4 wins for the Chairboys, 2 for the Cumbrians and 4 draws.
1993/94 Lg2: Carlisle 2 Wycombe 2
1993/94 Lg2: Wycombe 2 Carlisle 0
1993/94 P’off Carlisle 0 Wycombe 2
1993/94 P’off Wycombe 2 Carlisle 1
1995/96 Lg1: Carlisle 4 Wycombe 2
1995/96 Lg1: Wycombe 4 Carlisle 0
1997/98 Lg1: Wycombe 1 Carlisle 4
1997/98 Lg1: Carlisle 0 Wycombe 0
2005/06 Lg2: Wycombe 1 Carlisle 1
2005/06 Lg2: Carlisle 0 Wycombe 1
2009/10 Lg1: Carlisle 1 Wycombe 0
2009/10 Lg1: Wycombe 0 Carlisle 0
2011/12 Lg1: Carlisle 2 Wycombe 2
2011/12 Lg1: Wycombe 1 Carlisle 1
2014/15 Lg2: Wycombe 3 Carlisle 1
2014/15 Lg2: Carlisle 2 Wycombe 3
2015/16 Lg2: Wycombe 1 Carlisle 1
2015/16 Lg2: Carlisle 1 Wycombe 1
2016/17 Lg2: Carlisle 1 Wycombe 0
2016/17 Lg2: Wycombe 1 Carlisle 2
2017/18 Lg2: Carlisle 3 Wycombe 3
Carlisle’s record last season
Home….W:10…D:7…..L:6…..GF:34 – GA:34 – Pts:37
Away…..W:8…..D:10…L:5…..GF:35 – GA:34 – Pts:34
Total……W:18…D:17…L:11…GF:69 – GA:68 – Pts:71
Final position: 6th 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 Carl Boyeson from East Yorkshire who was promoted to the National List of Referees in 2002.
Last season he took charge of Wycombe’s 3-3 draw at home to Cheltenham Town.
During the current campaign he’s issued 9 (nine) red and 64 yellow cards in 24 appearances.
Prediction
Wycombe 2 Carlisle 1
