Wycombe Wanderers entertain Stevenage on Saturday in their 46th and final league game of the season.
The Chairboys clinched promotion when they came from behind to beat Chesterfield 2-1 at the Proact Stadium on Saturday.
Nathan Tyson scored a crucial equaliser on the stroke of half-time and Dominic Gape rifled home the winner in front of the travelling fans with just ten minutes to go.
With Exeter City and Notts County losing at Stevenage and Grimsby Town respectively, it was enough to seal Wanderers’ promotion to League One with a week to spare.
For manager Gareth Ainsworth and his staff, it’s a remarkable achievement just four years after the Chairboys almost dropped out of the Football League altogether.
A five year plan was devised and Ainsworth exceeded expectations by taking the team to Wembley in year-one, but this was always the season earmarked for promotion, and he’s delivered yet again.
The next year is about survival in League One, but first the Chairboys will celebrate their success in front of a sell-out crowd at Adams Park on Saturday.
Ainsworth made four changes to his starting line-up against the Spireites.
Sido Jombati and Luke O’Nien returned from injury and illness respectively, while Randell Williams and Craig Mackail-Smith were also handed recalls to the side.
They were preferred to Nathan McGinley, Marcus Bean, Paris Cowan-Hall and Scott Kashket, who all dropped to the bench.
Adebayo Akinfenwa was an unused substitute following a calf injury.
The Blues’ boss has no new injury concerns ahead of this weekend’s clash with Stevenage.
Anthony Stewart kicked a ball for the first time this week after four months out with calf injury, while loanee Dan Scarr is also ruled-out with ankle ligament damage.
Stevenage claimed all three points with an epic 3-1 victory over promotion-chasers Exeter City at Broadhall Way on Saturday.
Former Chairboy Alex Revell bagged a hat trick to sink the Grecians and help his former club clinch promotion at Chesterfield.
Boro have now won three, lost three and drawn one of the seven league matches since Dino Maamria was appointed manager.
The Stevenage boss made four changes to his starting line-up against the Grecians.
Teenager Luke Wade-Slater was handed his full league debut after Joe Martin aggravated an injury in the warm-up.
Loanee Joe Fryer was recalled between the sticks whilst Terence Vancooten and Ben Kennedy also returned to the side.
They replaced Luke Wilkinson and Jack King, who missed out through suspension and injury whilst loanee Tom King dropped to the bench.
Maamria also handed debuts to teenagers Arthur Iontton and Dylan O’Donnell as second half substitutes.
The Boro manager has an injury-ravaged squad to contend with ahead of this weekend’s trip to Adams Park.
Fraser Franks (knee), Jack King (groin), Joe Martin (hamstring) and Luke Wade-Slater (knock) will all be assessed.
Jonathan Smith (knee), Mark McKee (calf) and Alex Samuel (hamstring) remain major doubts.
Dale Gorman (knee ligaments) and Tom Conlon (hamstring) are sidelined, while Luke Wilkinson serves the second of a four-match ban. Ben Wilmot won’t be involved.
Loanee Dean Bowditch has returned to parent club Northampton Town following knee surgery.
Here are some stats…
Stevenage Away Record…..W 5 – D 4 – L 13 – Pts 19 – Ppg 0.86 (Rank-19)
Wycombe Home Record…..W 11 – D 5 – L 6 – Pts 38 – Ppg 1.73 (Rank-9)
League positions & comparison with last season
Stevenage (12 points worse off)
After 45 games this season the Boro are 15th with 55 points
After 45 games last season they were 8th with 67 points
Wycombe (15 points better off)
After 45 games this season the Chairboys are 3rd with 81 points
After 45 games last season they were 11th with 66 points
Stevenage’s last five games (All Competitions)
Lg2: Newport (A)………………Won 1-0
Lg2: Mansfield (H)……….……Drew 1-1
Lg2: Cambridge (H)…….….…..Lost 0-2
Lg2: Coventry (A)………………Lost 1-3
Lg2: Exeter (H)………………….Won 3-1
Wycombe’s last five games (All Competitions)
Lg2: Grimsby (H)………………Won 2-1
Lg2: Yeovil (A)…………………Won 1-0
Lg2: Lincoln (A)………………Drew 0-0
Lg2: Accrington (H)……………Lost 0-4
Lg2: Chesterfield. (A)…………Won 2-1
Stevenage Goal Scorers – (All Competitions)
Newton…………………..16
Godden…………………..14
Kennedy………………….7
Pett………………………7
Revell…………………….6
Smith…………….………5
Samuel…………..………4
Gorman…………………..2 (inc 1 pen)
Amos……………………..2
Bowditch…………………2
Martin…………………….2
Wootton………………….2 (inc 1 pen)
Beautyman……..………..1
Franks……………………1
McKee…………………….1
Whelpdale………………..1
Wilkinson…………………1
Own Goals………………..1
Wycombe Goal Scorers – (All Competitions)
Adebayo Akinfenwa………..18
Craig Mackail-Smith………..10
Paris Cowan-Hall……………8
Luke O’Nien…………………8
Nathan Tyson……………….8
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
Dominic Gape……………….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
Luke O’Nien………………..5
Nathan Tyson………………5
Paris Cowan-Hall…………..4
Joe Jacobson………………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
Stevenage Goal Stats (53 games in all Competitions)
Goals Scored (Total)………..Lg: 60…Cups: 15…Total: 75
Goals Conceded (Total)……Lg: 64…Cups: 14…Total: 78
Goals Scored (Away)……….Lg: 18…Cups: 0…..Total: 18
Goals Conceded (Away)……Lg: 37…Cups: 5…..Total: 42
Clean Sheets………………..Lg: 9…..Cups: 3…..Total: 12
Failed to Score……………..Lg: 13…Cups: 4…..Total: 17
Wycombe Goal Stats (52 games in all Competitions)
Goals Scored (Total)………..Lg: 78…Cups: 9…..Total: 87
Goals Conceded (Total)……Lg: 60…Cups: 14…Total: 74
Goals Scored (Home)…..…..Lg: 42…Cups: 7…..Total: 49
Goals Conceded (Home)..….Lg: 35…Cups: 13…Total: 48
Clean Sheets………………..Lg:13…Cups: 2…..Total: 15
Failed to Score……………..Lg: 11…Cups: 2…..Total: 13
Wycombe – miscellaneous stats
Shots on-target (for)………….Lg: 255…Cups: 40…Total: 295
Shots on-target (against)…….Lg: 157…Cups: 34…Total: 191
Shots off-target (for)………….Lg: 336…Cups: 53…Total: 389
Shots off-target (against)…….Lg: 260…Cups: 40…Total: 300
Corners (for)………………….Lg: 256…Cups: 45…Total: 2301
Corners (against)……………..Lg: 208…Cups: 34…Total: 242
Ave possession (for)………….Lg: 51.33%…..Cups: 50.14%
Ave possession (against)……..Lg: 48.67%…..Cups: 49.86%
Shooting comparison (league only)
Stevenage………shots on target – 173 (per game: 3.84) – (Rank-18)
Wycombe………shots on target – 255 (per game: 5.67) – (Rank-1)
League Form Guide
All Season
Stevenage…….Pld: 45 – W: 14 – D: 13 – L: 18 – Pts: 55 – Pts per game: 1.22
Wycombe…….Pld: 45 – W: 23 – D: 12 – L: 10 – Pts: 81 – Pts per game: 1.80
Last Five league Games
Stevenage……….WDLLW – 7 points (Rank-15)
Wycombe………WWDLW – 10 points (Rank-6)
Last Five League Games (Away)
Stevenage……..…LDDWL – 5 points (Rank-18)
Last Five League Games (Home)
Wycombe…………LDDWL – 5 points (Rank-17)
First 45 mins v Second 45 mins – Performance Comparison
First 45 mins
Wycombe…….W: 17…D: 17…L: 11…Gf: 36…Ga: 26…Pph: 1.51
Second 45 mins
Wycombe…….W: 17…D: 16…L: 12…Gf: 42…Ga: 34…Pph: 1.49
Discipline *
Stevenage………5 Red Cards…83 Yellow Cards
Wycombe………1 Red Card…..90 Yellow Cards
Marcus Bean……………12 yellow (inc 1 Checkatrade)
Joe Jacobson…………..10 yellow
Adam El Abd…………….8 yellow
Luke O’Nien……………..8 yellow – 1 red
Scott Brown……………..6 yellow
Paris Cowan-Hall………..6 yellow (inc 1 Checkatrade)
Sam Saunders………….5 yellow
Adebayo Akinfenwa……4 yellow
Matt Bloomfield………..4 yellow
Craig Mackail-Smith……4 yellow
Nathan Tyson…………..4 yellow
Dominic Gape…………..3 yellow
Sido Jombati……………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 11 previous meetings there have been 4 wins for Wycombe, 4 for Stevenage and 3 draws.
At Adams Park the tally is 2 wins for Boro, 2 for the Chairboys and 1 draw.
2010/11 Lg2: Stevenage 0 Wycombe 2
2010/11 Lg2: Wycombe 0 Stevenage 1
2011/12 Lg1: Wycombe 0 Stevenage 1
2011/12 Lg1: Stevenage 1 Wycombe 1
2014/15 Lg2: Stevenage 1 Wycombe 3
2014/15 Lg2: Wycombe 2 Stevenage 2
2015/16 Lg2: Stevenage 2 Wycombe 1
2015/16 Lg2: Wycombe 1 Stevenage 0
2016/17 Lg2: Wycombe 1 Stevenage 0
2016/17 Lg2: Stevenage 3 Wycombe 0
2017/18 Lg2: Wycombe 0 Stevenage 0
Boss v Boss
In their managerial careers, Gareth Ainsworth and Dino Maamria have never clashed before.
Stevenage’s record last season
Home….W:11…D:1…..L:11…GF:42 – GA:33 – Pts:34
Away…..W:9…..D:6…..L:8…..GF:25 – GA:30 – Pts:33
Total…..W:20…D:7…..L:19…GF:67 – GA:63 – Pts:67
Final position: 10th 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 Martin Coy from County Durham who is enjoying his first season on the National List of Referees.
In January he took charge of Wycombe’s 3-2 victory at Crewe Alexandra.
During the current campaign he’s issued 3 red and 69 yellow cards in 33 appearances.
Prediction
Wycombe 3 Stevenage 2
