Wycombe Wanderers started 2013 in disappointing style as they somehow conspired to lose 1-0 to ten-man Exeter City in a dismal League Two encounter at Adams Park on New Year’s Day.
An uninspiring first half was only livened up five minutes before half-time when experienced Grecians’ striker Jamie Cureton lost his head and kicked out at defender Anthony Stewart. The sharp-eyed linesman spotted the infringement and referee Mr Andy Davies showed him a straight red card. The hosts were unable to take advantage of the extra man in the second half despite being awarded a penalty when winger Joel Grant was tripped in the box by defender Pat Baldwin. His desperately weak penalty was easily saved by visiting goalkeeper Artur Krysiak and there was still an opportunity to score from the rebound but Grant bizarrely used his arm to bundle the ball into the net and the goal was disallowed for handball.
Exeter City were then gifted the winner with just seven minutes remaining when goalkeeper Jordan Archer could only parry a shot from striker John O’Flynn and teenage defender Kortney Hause got his feet in a tangle and bundled the ball into his own net. The hat-trick of calamities had manager Gareth Ainsworth lamenting his side’s lack of professionalism after the game and he will be as disappointed as any of the home fans in the 3,679 crowd that the team have begun the new year in such lacklustre fashion. He had made just the one change from the starting line-up which won at Plymouth Argyle last weekend, dropping himself from the squad completely with Grant returning to the side after suspension.
Striker Matt McClure was able to continue after recovering from a dead leg. Defender Michael Harriman was handed his debut as a second half substitute after signing on a month’s loan from Queens Park Rangers earlier in the day. Striker Dean Morgan returned as a half-time substitute after recovering from a hamstring injury. Defenders Charles Dunne and Dave Winfield also returned to the bench after recovering from foot and hamstring injuries respectively but were unused. Striker Ade Azeez also appeared as a second half substitute in the final game of his loan from Charlton Athletic.
Defeat sees the Wanderers fall two places to 19th in the League Two table and they are now just seven points ahead of bottom of the table side AFC Wimbledon. There is clearly still some work to do if the club is not to become embroiled in a relegation battle and they will want to secure their Football League status as soon as possible. They will be hoping to bounce back this weekend when Chesterfield make the trip to Adams Park. They will also been keen to exact some revenge having been beaten 3-1 when the two sides last met under Gary Waddock at Whittingham Moor back in September.
The Spireites are regular visitors to Adams Park and will be making their 15th trip to the Chair Metropolis this weekend. Wycombe have a good record, winning eight, drawing four and losing just twice. The first meeting at Adams Park came back in March 1994 and it ended in disappointment as Martin O’Neill’s promotion chasing side were beaten 1-0 after defender Matt Crossley was sent-off for handling a Steve Norris shot on the goal-line. Norris then beat goalkeeper Paul Hyde from the resulting penalty. Loan midfielder Stuart Castledine notched the winner in the next meeting on a September evening in 1995 with his first half header earning a 1-0 victory. Fourteen months later it was another solitary goal that sealed a 1-0 win under John Gregory and it came from Miguel De Souza’s fizzing strike from twenty yards which found the top corner.
The clash in April 1998 had little riding on it and Mark Stallard’s equaliser midway through the first half earned a 1-1 draw on the day Neil Smillie was appointed as the permanent successor to Gregory. He was in charge for the next two encounters, which came in the space of six weeks in November and December 1998. The first came in a F.A. Cup first round tie and the second in the league and the Blues won both games 1-0 courtesy of almost identical strikes from Keith Scott. The next meeting in January 2000 saw the hosts recorded their biggest ever victory over the Spireites with striker Sean Devine bagging a brace and Dannie Bulman heading home a late third goal in a 3-0 win. A forgettable goal-less draw then followed in September 2001.
Winger Lewis Cook put in an impressive performance on a Tuesday October evening in 2002 and the game was won late on as striker Andy Rammell grabbed a brace to seal a deserved 2-0 victory. In August 2003 the reign of Lawrie Sanchez was coming to an end as a relegation battle loomed and the Chairboys somehow conspired to throw away a lead on three separate occasions. Darren Currie broke the deadlock after just four minutes and Jermaine McSporran restored the lead in the 20th minute but the sides went in level at the break. The late Simon Patterson had only been on the pitch two minutes when he headed home with his first touch to make it 3-2 but some dreadful defending from Roger Johnson allowed the visitors to snatch an injury time equaliser.
It would be more than four and a half years before the sides would renew acquaintances in South Bucks and again the Wanderers won it with a single goal. The January 2008 meeting was sealed by striker Scott McGleish’s spectacular strike, which was reminiscent of De Souza’s effort twelve years previously. Striker Jon-Paul Pittman snatched a dramatic last minute equaliser in a 1-1 draw under Peter Taylor in 2009 before the Spireites recorded only their second ever win at Adams Park in October 2010 courtesy of a brace from Craig Davies. The last meeting came 13 months ago in December 2011 when the Blues twice came from behind to goals from Dean Morgan to equalise through loanees Anthony McNamee and Marcello Trotta. Striker Stuart Beavon then snatched a winner deep into injury-time when he headed home Nikki Bulls’ free-kick to snatch a 3-2 victory.
Gareth Ainsworth will be considering making changes to his starting line-up against the Spireites. Midfielder Josh Scowen has recovered from a hamstring strain and would seem a shoe-in to replace midfielder Matt Spring, who continues to disappoint. Striker Jo Kuffour may well drop back to the bench after another ineffective 45 minutes and he is set to be replaced by striker Dean Morgan who has signed a new deal until the end of the season. His capture will be vitally important if the club is to retain its Football League status with our attacking options somewhat compromised. Striker Adebayo Azeez has returned to parent club Charlton Athletic with his loan having now ended. Ainsworth will also have to decide whether to recall himself to the squad.
Midfielder Jesse Kewley-Graham is doubtful with back problem whilst defender Leon Johnson remains sidelined with a knee injury. Defender Danny Foster is ruled-out with a bruised knee and defender Gary Doherty faces another month or so on the sidelines as he recovers from surgery on his back. Midfielder Matt Bloomfield will miss at least another month with a pelvic shear whilst full-back Grant Basey has been ruled out for the rest of the season. He continues his rehabilitation following surgery on his anterior cruciate ligaments.
Here’s the current list of players availability…
Charles Dunne (Defender) – available (returned to the bench after recovering from a foot injury)
Dave Winfield (Centre Back) – available (returned to the bench after recovering from a hamstring injury)
Dean Morgan (Attacker) – available (returned as a second half substitute after a hamstring injury and has signed a new deal to the end of the season)
Josh Scowen (Midfielder) – available (has recovered from a hamstring strain
Jesse Kewley-Graham (Midfielder) – doubtful (believed to be struggling with a back problem)
Ade Azeez (Attacker) – unavailable (has returned to parent club Charlton Athletic following the end of his loan)
Leon Johnson (Centre Back) – ruled-out with a knee injury (timescale for recovery unknown)
Danny Foster (Right Back) – ruled out with a knee injury (timescale for recovery unknown)
Gary Doherty (Centre Back) – ruled out with a back injury (has undergone surgery and is set for another month on the sidelines)
Matt Bloomfield (Midfielder) – ruled out with a groin injury (will be sidelined for at least another month)
Grant Basey (Left-Back) – ruled out with an anterior cruciate knee ligament injury (continues his rehabilitation following surgery and is unlikely to play again this season)
The Chairboys starting eleven could look something like this (4-4-2):
Jordan Archer
Marvin McCoy – Anthony Stewart – Kortney Hause – Sam Wood
Joel Grant – Josh Scowen – Stuart Lewis – Bruno Andrade
Dean Morgan – Matt McClure
Subs: Lee Harrison, Charles Dunne, Dave Winfield, Michael Harriman, Matt Spring, Junior Morias, Jo Kuffour
Chesterfield manager Paul Cook suffered a disappointing return to his former club as they slipped to a 1-0 defeat to Accrington Stanley at the Crown Ground on New Year’s Day. The Spireites have now suffered back-to-back defeats on the road and they drop two places to 11th in the League Two table as a result. Cook made three changes to his starting line-up last time out with striker Marc Richards returning to the side after a hamstring injury. Striker Jack Lester returned after serving a three match ban whilst former Arsenal winger Luis Boa Morte was also handed a recall. Midfielder Danny Whitaker and loanees Jay O’Shea and Brennan Dickenson all dropped to the bench.
Cook has no new injury concerns and will be hoping to have defender Terrell Forbes available to face the Blues after missing the last two games through illness. Loan defender Conor Townsend serves a second of a three game suspension. There is not a single player in the Chesterfield squad to have played for Wycombe Wanderers but Dean Morgan did spend two seasons with the Spireites between 2010 and 2012.
Chesterfield could line up as follows: (4-4-2):
Tommy Lee
Drew Talbot – Nathan Smith – Sam Hird – Liam Cooper
Luis Boa Morte – Mark Randall – Sam Togwell – Tendayi Darwikwa
Jay O’Shea – Marc Richards
Subs: Richard O’Donnell, Neal Trotman, Craig Clay, Danny Whitaker, Brennan Dickenson, Jack Lester, Scott Boden
Here are all the stats…
The league table currently shows Wycombe in 19th place with 29 points from 25 games and Chesterfield in 11th spot with 36 points from 26 games.
Chest’field Away Record..W 4 – D 4 – L 5 – Pts 16…Ppg 1.23 (Rank-9)
Wycombe Home Record…W 3 – D 4 – L 5 – Pts 13…Ppg 1.08 (Rank-19)
Chesterfield’s last five results (All Competitions)
Lg2: Burton (H)…………….Drew 1-1
Lg2: Southend (A)………….Lost 0-3
Lg2: York (H)………………..Won 3-0
Lg2: Morecambe (H)………Drew 1-1
Lg2: Accrington (A)…………Lost 0-1
Wycombe’s last five results (All Competitions)
Lg2: Morecambe (H)………Drew 2-2
Lg2: Accrington (A)…………Won 2-0
Lg2: Cheltenham (A)……….Lost 0-4
Lg2: Plymouth (A)…………..Won 1-0
Lg2: Exeter (H)………………Lost 0-1
Chesterfield Goal Stats (31 games in all Competitions)
Goals Scored (Total)……….Lg: 33…Cups: 10…Total: 43
Goals Conceded (Total)……Lg: 29…Cups: 7…..Total: 36
Goals Scored (Away)………Lg: 10…Cups: 1…..Total: 11
Goals Conceded (Away)…..Lg: 13…Cups: 3…..Total: 16
Clean Sheets…………………Lg: 7…..Cups: 0…..Total: 7
Failed to score……………….Lg: 7…..Cups: 1…..Total: 8
Wycombe Goal Stats (29 games in all Competitions)
Goals Scored (Total)……….Lg: 28…Cups: 4…Total: 32
Goals Conceded (Total)……Lg: 37…Cups: 8…Total: 45
Goals Scored (Home)………Lg: 13…Cups: 0…Total: 13
Goals Conceded (Home)…..Lg: 13…Cups: 0…Total: 13
Clean Sheets…………………Lg: 7…..Cups: 0…Total: 7
Failed to score……………….Lg: 8…..Cups: 2…Total: 10
Chesterfield’s Top Goal Scorers – (All Competitions)
Jack Lester…………..8
Chris Atkinson………5
Marc Richards……….4
Tendayi Darikwa……4
Craig Westcarr……..3
Five other players have each scored 2 goals.
Eight other players have each scored 1 goal
Wycombe’s Goal Scorers – (All Competitions)
Joel Grant…………….7
Matt McClure…………7
Dean Morgan…………5
Gareth Ainsworth……2
Bruno Andrade………2
OG……………………..2
Stuart Beavon……….1
Matt Bloomfield………1
Gary Doherty………..1
Josh Scowen…………1
Matt Spring…………..1
Dave Winfield………..1
Sam Wood……………1
Chesterfield Shooting (Top-3) – All Comps
Marc Richards…..21 on-target…16 off-target…1 against woodwork
Jack Lester………17 on-target…..9 off-target…1 against woodwork
Danny Whitaker..15 on-target…..9 off-target…0 against woodwork
Wycombe Shooting (Top-3) – All Comps
Dean Morgan……20 on-target…15 off-target…3 against woodwork
Joel Grant………..16 on-target…18 off-target…0 against woodwork
Matt McClure…….11 on-target…14 off-target…1 against woodwork
Shooting (Club) – League only
Chesterfield..137 on target…113 off target…6 against w’work (Rank-14)
Wycombe…….97 on target…105 off target…6 against w’work (Rank-22)
Most Assists
Chesterfield – Darikwa & Richards….5
Wycombe – Stuart Lewis………………4
Discipline – All Comps
Chesterfield….3 Red Cards – 43 Yellow Cards
Wycombe…….5 Red Cards – 47 Yellow Cards
League Form Guide
All Season
Chest’field….Pld: 26…W: 9…D: 9…L: 8…..Pts: 36…Pts per game: 1.38
Wycombe…..Pld: 25…W: 8…D: 5…L: 12…Pts: 29…Pts per game: 1.16
Last Five league Games
Chesterfield…….DLWDL – 5 points (Rank-19)
Wycombe……….DWLWL – 7 points (Rank-15)
Last Five League Games (Away)
Chesterfield…….LWWLL – 6 points (Rank-14)
Last Five League Games (Home)
Wycombe……….LWWDL – 7 points (Rank-11)
Against Top Half Opposition
Chesterfield…Pld: 11…Pts: 15…Pts per game: 1.36…(Rank-6)
Wycombe……Pld: 13…Pts: 10…Pts per game: 0.77…(Rank-21)
Against Bottom Half Opposition
Chesterfield…Pld: 15…Pts: 21…Pts per game: 1.40…(Rank-18)
Wycombe……Pld: 12…Pts: 19…Pts per game: 1.58…(Rank-15)
Record in the First Half of games
Chesterfield….W: 8…D: 14…L: 4….Pts: 38 (Rank-2)
Wycombe…….W: 9…D: 8…..L: 8….Pts: 35 (Rank-8)
Record in the Second Half of games
Chesterfield….W: 7…D: 11…L: 8….Pts: 32 (Rank-15)
Wycombe…….W: 4…D: 10…L: 11…Pts: 22 (Rank-23)
Previous Meetings
In 28 previous meetings there have been 12 wins for Wycombe, 11 for Chesterfield and 5 draws.
At Adams Park the tally is 8 wins for the Chairboys, 2 for the Spireites and 4 draws.
1993/94 LG2: Wycombe 0 Chesterfield 1
1995/96 LG1: Wycombe 1 Chesterfield 0
1996/97 LG1: Wycombe 1 Chesterfield 0
1997/98 LG1: Wycombe 1 Chesterfield 1
1998/99 FAC: Wycombe 1 Chesterfield 0
1998/99 LG1: Wycombe 1 Chesterfield 0
1999/00 LG1: Wycombe 3 Chesterfield 0
2001/02 LG1: Wycombe 0 Chesterfield 0
2002/03 LG1: Wycombe 2 Chesterfield 0
2003/04 LG1: Wycombe 3 Chesterfield 3
2007/08 LG2: Wycombe 1 Chesterfield 0
2008/09 LG2: Wycombe 1 Chesterfield 1
2010/11 LG2: Wycombe 1 Chesterfield 2
2011/12 LG1: Wycombe 3 Chesterfield 2
The Man In The Middle
Saturday’s referee is James Linington from the Isle of Wight who was promoted to the National List of Referees in 2008. Last season he took charge of two Wycombe games, a 1-0 home win over Sheffield United and a 1-1 draw at Stevenage. Saturday’s match will be his first of the current campaign.
Predictions
Benny: Wycombe 1 Chesterfield 0
Len: Wycombe 1 Chesterfield 1
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