Preview: Wycombe Wanderers v Morecambe

Wycombe Wanderers entertain Morecambe on Saturday in their 34th league game of the season.

The Chairboys won 2-0 at Cheltenham Town on Saturday with goals from Adebayo Akinfenwa and Paris Cowan-Hall.

Wanderers are in sensational form and remain unbeaten in the league in 2018 with 7 wins and 1 draw.

Gareth Ainsworth’s side are 2nd in the table with 62 points, 16 points more than they had at the same stage last season.

The Blues are only 5 points behind league-leaders Luton and are beginning to shake off some of the chasing pack, with 5th placed Notts County now 4 points behind having played a game more.

Next up are Morecambe who have been a fly in the ointment for Wycombe a few times in recent years, but a 2-0 win over the Shrimps at Adams Park last season hopefully broke the spell.

After a run of 8 games without defeat, some may expect a setback, but Wanderers fans can point to an 18 game unbeaten run in the league in 2008, and it could be argued that today’s squad is a lot stronger. So let’s just keep going!

Ainsworth made two changes to his starting line-up against the Robins.

Matt Bloomfield and Nathan McGinley were both handed recalls to the side in place of Marcus Bean, and Dan Scarr who dropped to the bench with a slight hamstring strain.

Ainsworth could name only six substitutes, but has no newly reported injury concerns ahead of Saturday’s clash with the Shrimps.

When the following players return to action is anyone’s guess…

Scott Kashket (thigh), Sam Saunders (knee), Randell Williams (unspecified), Anthony Stewart (calf), Sido Jombati (knee) and Michael Harriman (broken leg).

Morecambe grabbed a late equaliser in a 1-1 draw 1-1 at Forest Green Rovers on Saturday.

The Shrimps are in a poor run of form and have won just 2 of their last 11 games and none of their last 6.

They sit just above the relegation zone in 22nd place with 32 points, 13 points less than they had at the same stage last season.

Manager Jim Bentley made three changes to his starting line-up against the Green Devils.

Luke Conlan and Steven Old both returned after recovering from hamstring and thigh strain respectively, while Kevin Ellison was also handed a recall to the side.

Andy Fleming, Patrick Brough and Garry Thompson all dropped to the bench.

Bentley has no newly reported injury concerns ahead of this weekend’s clash with the Chairboys.

First-choice stopper Barry Roche has been struggling with a shoulder injury for the last fortnight.

Aaron Wildig missed out with an ankle injury at the weekend whilst loanee Callum Lang has a back problem.

The trio will all be assessed ahead of the trip to Adams Park.

Max Muller has missed the last three weeks following a family bereavement but cannot face his parent club anyway under the terms of his loan.


Here are some stats…


Morecambe Away Record……W 2…..D 7 – L 7 – Pts 13 – Ppg 0.81 (Rank-19)

Wycombe Home Record………W 10 – D 3 – L 3 – Pts 33 – Ppg 2.06 (Rank-6)


League positions & comparison with last season

Morecambe (13 points worse off)

After 32 games this season the Shrimps are 22nd with 32 points

After 32 games last season they were 13th with 45 points


Wycombe (16 points better off)

After 33 games this season the Chairboys are 2nd with 62 points

After 33 games last season they were 11th with 46 points


Morecambe’s last five games (All Competitions)

Lg2: Luton (A)……………………Lost 0-1

Lg2: Newport (A)……………..Drew 1-1

Lg2: Mansfield (H)…………….Lost 1-2

Lg2: Port Vale (A)…………….Drew 0-0

Lg2: Forest Green (H)………Drew 1-1


Wycombe’s last five games (All Competitions)

Lg2: Luton (A)…………………..Won 3-2

Lg2: Carlisle (H)………………..Won 4-3

Lg2: Exeter (A)…………………Drew 1-1

Lg2: Swindon (H)………………Won 3-2

Lg2: Cheltenham (A)…………Won 2-0


Morecambe Goal Scorers – (All Competitions)

Ellison……………………………8

Lang……………………………..6

McGurk…………………………4

Old………………………………..4

Oliver…………………………….4

Thompson…………………….3

Rose………………………………2 (inc 2 pen)

Campbell………………………1

Fleming…………………………1

Lavelle…………………………..1

Osborne………………………..1

Wildig……………………………1

Wylde……………………………1

Own Goals…………………….2


Wycombe Goal Scorers – (All Competitions)

Adebayo Akinfenwa………..16

Craig Mackail-Smith………..10

Paris Cowan-Hall…………….8

Luke O’Nien……………………7

Nathan Tyson…………………6

Eberechi Eze…………………..5

Joe Jacobson…………………..5 (inc 3 pens)

Nick Freeman…………………3

Marcus Bean…………………..2

Matt Bloomfield………………2

Sam Saunders…………………2

Josh Umerah…………………..2

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………..14

Craig Mackail-Smith………..7

Paris Cowan-Hall…………….4

Joe Jacobson…………………..4

Nathan Tyson…………………4

Nick Freeman………………….3

Dominic Gape…………………3

Michael Harriman…………..3

Sam Saunders…………………3

Matt Bloomfield………………2

Eberechi Eze……………………2

Luke O’Nien…………………….2

Dan Scarr………………………..2

Marcus Bean…………………..1

Sido Jombati……………………1

Nathan McGinley…………….1

Jack Williams……………………1


Morecambe Goal Stats (38 games in all Competitions)

Goals Scored (Total)………..Lg: 30…Cups: 9…..Total: 39

Goals Conceded (Total)……Lg: 42…Cups: 12…Total: 54

Goals Scored (Away)………..Lg: 13…Cups: 4…..Total: 17

Goals Conceded (Away)……Lg: 20…Cups: 8…..Total: 28

Clean Sheets……………………Lg: 8…..Cups: 1…..Total: 9

Failed to Score…………………Lg: 12…Cups: 2…..Total: 14


Wycombe Goal Stats (40 games in all Competitions)

Goals Scored (Total)………..Lg: 65…Cups: 9…..Total: 74

Goals Conceded (Total)……Lg: 46…Cups: 14…Total: 60

Goals Scored (Home)………Lg: 37…Cups: 7…..Total: 44

Goals Conceded (Home)….Lg: 24…Cups: 13…Total: 37

Clean Sheets……………………Lg: 8…..Cups: 2…..Total: 10

Failed to Score…………………Lg: 6…..Cups: 2…..Total: 8


Wycombe – miscellaneous stats

Shots on-target (for)………….Lg: 187…Cups: 40…Total: 227

Shots on-target (against)……Lg: 131…Cups: 34…Total: 165

Shots off-target (for)………….Lg: 265…Cups: 53…Total: 318

Shots off-target (against)……Lg: 199…Cups: 40…Total: 239

Corners (for)………………………Lg: 183…Cups: 45…Total: 228

Corners (against)………………..Lg: 155…Cups: 34…Total: 189

Ave possession (for)……………Lg: 51.15%…..Cups: 50.14%

Ave possession (against)……..Lg: 48.85%…..Cups: 49.86%


Shooting comparison (league only)

Wycombe………shots on target – 187 (per game: 5.67) – (Rank-1)

Morecambe…..shots on target – 128 (per game: 4.00) – (Rank-17)


League Form Guide

All Season

Morecambe…..Pld: 32…W: 7….D: 11…L: 14…Pts: 32…Pts per game: 1.00

Wycombe……..Pld: 33…W: 18…D: 8…..L: 7…..Pts: 62…Pts per game: 1.88


Last Five league Games

Morecambe…………LDLDD – 3 points (Rank-20)

Wycombe………WWDWW – 13 points (Rank-1)


Last Five League Games (Away)

Morecambe…………LWLDD – 5 points (Rank-7)


Last Five League Games (Home)

Wycombe……….WLWWW – 12 points (Rank-7)


First 45 mins v Second 45 mins – Performance Comparison

First 45 mins

Wycombe…….W: 15…D: 10…L: 8…Gf: 32…Ga: 18…Pph: 1.67

Second 45 mins

Wycombe…….W: 12…D: 12…L: 9…Gf: 33…Ga: 28…Pph: 1.45


Discipline *

Morecambe….2 Red Cards…57 Yellow Cards

Wycombe…….1 Red Card…..66 Yellow Cards

Marcus Bean………………9 yellow (inc 1 Checkatrade)

Joe Jacobson………………8 yellow

Luke O’Nien……………….6 yellow – 1 red

Adam El Abd………………5 yellow

Sam Saunders……………5 yellow

Scott Brown……………….4 yellow

Paris Cowan-Hall………..4 yellow (inc 1 Checkatrade)

Adebayo Akinfenwa……3 yellow

Matt Bloomfield…………3 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

From FA website *


Previous Meetings

In 19 previous meetings there have been 10 wins for Wycombe, 3 for Morecambe and 6 draws.

At Adams Park the tally is 5 wins for the Chairboys, 2 for the Shrimps and 2 draws.

1992/93: FAT Morecambe 1 Wycombe 1

1992/93: FAT Wycombe 2 Morecambe 0

2007/08: LG2 Wycombe 2 Morecambe 0

2007/08: LG2 Morecambe 0 Wycombe 1

2008/09: LG2 Wycombe 1 Morecambe 1

2008/09: LG2 Morecambe 0 Wycombe 0

2010/11: LG2 Wycombe 2 Morecambe 0

2010/11: LG2 Morecambe 0 Wycombe 3

2012/13: LG2 Wycombe 2 Morecambe 2

2012/13: LG2 Morecambe 0 Wycombe 1

2013/14: LG2 Wycombe 1 Morecambe 0

2013/14: LG2 Morecambe 1 Wycombe 1

2014/15: LG2 Morecambe 1 Wycombe 3

2014/15: LG2 Wycombe 0 Morecambe 1

2015/16: LG2 Morecambe 0 Wycombe 1

2015/16: LG2 Wycombe 0 Morecambe 2

2016/17: LG2 Wycombe 2 Morecambe 0

2016/17: LG2 Morecambe 1 Wycombe 1

2017/18: LG2 Morecambe 2 Wycombe 1

Boss v Boss

In their managerial careers, Gareth Ainsworth and Jim Bentley have clashed 11 times.

The current tally is 5 wins for Ainsworth, 3 for Bentley and 3 draws.


Morecambe’s record last season

Home….W:6…..D:4…..L:13…GF:24 – GA:38 – Pts:22

Away…..W:8…..D:6…..L:9…..GF:29 – GA:35 – Pts:30

Total……W:14…D:10…L:22…GF:53 – GA:73 – Pts:52

Final position: 18th 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 Craig Hicks from Surrey who is enjoying his first season on the National List of Referees.

In August he took charge of Wycombe`s 3-2 win at Port Vale.

During the current campaign he’s issued 4 red and 106 yellow cards in 30 appearances.


Prediction

Wycombe 2 Morecambe 1