Wycombe Wanderers entertain Grimsby Town on Monday in their 41st league game of the season.
The Chairboys claimed a share of the spoils with a goalless draw at promotion rivals Notts County on Friday.
In a tense encounter that neither side wanted to lose, the stand out performance came from Wycombe captain Adam El-Abd who was imperious at the heart of the Wanderers’ defence.
Yet again, results elsewhere were kind to Gareth Ainsworth’s side, who finished the day in a stronger position overall, after Luton, Exeter and Mansfield all lost, and Accrington and Lincoln were the only teams in the top nine to win.
After two goalless draws in a row and no wins in their last four home games, Wanderers will be desperate to back Friday’s fine result up with a victory at Adams Park.
There are plenty of reasons why they should be confident.
The Chairboys are 3rd from top with 20 wins, 11 draws and 9 defeats, while in a perfect mirror image, the Mariners are 3rd from bottom with 9 wins, 11 draws and 20 defeats.
No side has conceded more league goals on the road than Grimsby.
Without a win of any description since the 9th December, the Mariners have now lost 6 in a row on their travels, conceding 18 goals in the process and scoring only 2.
The only fly in the ointment is Wycombe’s recent home form and their propensity to make life as difficult for themselves as they possibly can.
Ainsworth made two changes to his starting line-up against the Magpies. Luke O’Nien returned to the side after injury and Craig Mackail-Smith was also handed a recall.
They replaced Nick Freeman, who dropped to the bench and Dominic Gape, who missed out through injury.
Michael Harriman made his first appearance in almost six months when coming on a first-half substitute for the injured Tafari Moore.
Ainsworth could name only six substitutes and has a host of injury concerns ahead of Monday’s game.
Moore’s problem looked long-term, while Sido Jombati also appeared to pick up an injury.
Nathan McGinley (illness) will be hoping to return but Curtis Thompson and Gape are likely to be sidelined with hamstring injuries.
Loanee Dan Scarr is extremely doubtful with ankle ligament damage.
Anthony Stewart (calf) and Sam Saunders (knee) could return for the trip to Yeovil Town in a fortnight.
Grimsby Town were held to a goalless draw at home to Stevenage on Good Friday.
The Mariners are in a dreadful run of form and are without a win in their last 19 league matches.
Having collected just 6 points from the last possible 57, Michael Jolley’s side are in 22nd place with 38 points, 14 points less than they had at the same stage last season.
They sit four points above the relegation zone, but have played two games more than 23rd placed Chesterfield.
It’s worth noting that Grimsby have received 8 red cards this season, and that 20% of their goals have come from the penalty spot.
Jolley made four changes to his starting line-up against the Boro, with Nathan Clarke, Luke Summerfield, Mitch Rose and JJ Hooper all handed recalls to the side.
They were preferred to Harry Clifton, Martyn Woolford and Sean McAllister, who all dropped to the bench, while Ben Davies missed out through injury.
Scott Vernon was named on the bench after passing a fitness test, but Easah Suliman wasn’t involved after returning form international duty, and Diallang Jaiyesimi was also left out of the squad.
Mallik Wilks (hamstring), Karleigh Osborne (hamstring) and Jamille Matt (hip) will all be assessed ahead of the trip to Adams Park.
Davies (calf), Jake Kean (knee), Paul Dixon (knee) and Simeon Jackson (hamstring) are all sidelined, while Ahkeem Rose is ineligible pending a work permit hearing in April.
Here are some stats…
Grimsby Away Record……….W 5 – D 3 – L 12 – Pts 18 – Ppg 0.90 (Rank-17)
Wycombe Home Record……W 10 – D 5 – L 5 – Pts 35 – Ppg 1.75 (Rank-9)
League positions & comparison with last season
Grimsby (14 points worse off)
After 40 games this season the Mariners are 22nd with 38 points
After 40 games last season they were 14th with 52 points
Wycombe (13 points better off)
After 40 games this season the Chairboys are 3rd with 71 points
After 40 games last season they were 10th with 58 points
Grimsby’s last five games (All Competitions)
Lg2: Carlisle (A)………………….Lost 0-2
Lg2: Port Vale (H)……………..Drew 1-1
Lg2: Lincoln (A)………………….Lost 1-3
Lg2: Coventry (A)……………….Lost 0-4
Lg2: Stevenage (H)……………Drew 0-0
Wycombe’s last five games (All Competitions)
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
Lg2: Notts County (A)………..Drew 0-0
Grimsby Goal Scorers – (All Competitions)
Jones……………………6 (inc 2 pens)
Rose…………………….5 (inc 1 pen)
Dembele………………4
Hooper…………………4 (inc 2 pens)
Collins………………….3
Matt……………………..3
Davies………………….2 (inc 2 pens)
Berrett………………….1
Cardwell……………….1
Clarke…………………..1
Jackson…………………1
Jaiyesimi……………….1
Vernam………………..1
Vernon…………………1
Woolford……………..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
Grimsby Goal Stats (45 games in all Competitions)
Goals Scored (Total)………..Lg: 32…Cups: 3…..Total: 35
Goals Conceded (Total)……Lg: 61…Cups: 6…..Total: 67
Goals Scored (Away)………..Lg: 17…Cups: 1…..Total: 18
Goals Conceded (Away)……Lg: 38…Cups: 3…..Total: 41
Clean Sheets……………………Lg: 9…..Cups: 0…..Total: 9
Failed to Score…………………Lg: 20…Cups: 2…..Total: 22
Wycombe Goal Stats (47 games in all Competitions)
Goals Scored (Total)………..Lg: 73…Cups: 9…..Total: 82
Goals Conceded (Total)……Lg: 54…Cups: 14…Total: 68
Goals Scored (Home)………Lg: 40…Cups: 7…..Total: 47
Goals Conceded (Home)….Lg: 30…Cups: 13…Total: 43
Clean Sheets……………………Lg:11…Cups: 2…..Total: 13
Failed to Score…………………Lg: 9…..Cups: 2…..Total: 11
Wycombe – miscellaneous stats
Shots on-target (for)………….Lg: 227…Cups: 40…Total: 267
Shots on-target (against)……Lg: 146…Cups: 34…Total: 180
Shots off-target (for)………….Lg: 306…Cups: 53…Total: 359
Shots off-target (against)……Lg: 232…Cups: 40…Total: 272
Corners (for)………………………Lg: 223…Cups: 45…Total: 268
Corners (against)………………..Lg: 185…Cups: 34…Total: 219
Ave possession (for)……………Lg: 50.98%…..Cups: 50.14%
Ave possession (against)……..Lg: 49.02%…..Cups: 49.86%
Shooting comparison (league only)
Grimsby…………shots on target – 146 (per game: 3.65) – (Rank-22)
Wycombe……….shots on target – 227 (per game: 5.68) – (Rank-1)
League Form Guide
All Season
Grimsby……..Pld: 40…W: 9 – D: 11 – L: 20 – Pts: 38 – Pts per game: 0.95
Wycombe……Pld: 40…W: 20 – D: 11 – L: 9 – Pts: 71 – Pts per game: 1.78
Last Five league Games
Grimsby…………….LDLLD – 2 points (Rank-24)
Wycombe……….DWWDD – 9 points (Rank-5)
Last Five League Games (Away)
Grimsby…………….LLLLL – 0 points (Rank-24)
Last Five League Games (Home)
Wycombe………..WLLDD – 5 points (Rank-21)
First 45 mins v Second 45 mins – Performance Comparison
First 45 mins
Wycombe…….W: 17…D: 14…L: 9…..Gf: 35…Ga: 22…Pph: 1.63
Second 45 mins
Wycombe…….W: 14…D: 15…L: 11…Gf: 38…Ga: 32…Pph: 1.43
Discipline *
Grimsby………..8 Red Cards…60 Yellow Cards
Wycombe………1 Red Card…..78 Yellow Cards
Marcus Bean……………..10 yellow (inc 1 Checkatrade)
Joe Jacobson………………10 yellow
Scott Brown……………….6 yellow
Adam El Abd………………6 yellow
Luke O’Nien……………….6 yellow – 1 red
Paris Cowan-Hall………..5 yellow (inc 1 Checkatrade)
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
Nathan Tyson…………….3 yellow
Sido Jombati………………2 yellows
Dayle Southwell…………2 yellow
Will de Havilland……….1 yellow
Nick freeman……………..1 yellow
Tafari Moore……………..1 yellow
From FA website *
Previous Meetings
In 19 previous meetings there have been 10 wins for Wycombe, 2 for Grimsby and 7 draws.
At Adams Park the tally is 5 wins for the Chairboys, 1 for the Mariners and 3 draws.
1997/98: Lg1 Wycombe 1 Grimsby 1
2000/01: Fac Wycombe 1 Grimsby 1
2003/04: Lg1 Wycombe 4 Grimsby 1
2004/05: Lg2 Wycombe 2 Grimsby 0
2005/06: Lg2 Wycombe 3 Grimsby 1
2006/07: Lg2 Wycombe 1 Grimsby 1
2007/08: Lg2 Wycombe 3 Grimsby 0
2008/09: Lg2 Wycombe 0 Grimsby 1
2016/17: Lg2 Wycombe 2 Grimsby 1
Boss v Boss
In their managerial careers, Gareth Ainsworth and Michael Jolley have never clashed before.
Grimsby’s record last season
Home….W:9…..D:6…..L:8…..GF:32 – GA:31 – Pts:33
Away…..W:8…..D:5…..L:10…GF:27 – GA:32 – Pts:29
Total……W:17…D:11…L:18…GF:59 – GA:63 – Pts:62
Final position: 14th 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
Monday’s referee is Christopher Sarginson from Staffordshire who was promoted to the National List of Referees in 2008.
Earlier this season he refereed Wycombe’s 2-1 defeat at home to Mansfield Town.
During the current campaign he’s issued 5 red and 122 yellow cards in 38 appearances.
Prediction
Wycombe 2 Grimsby 0
