The tough games just keep coming for Wycombe

Wycombe Wanderers take on Charlton Athletic at Adams Park on Saturday in their 27th league game of the season.


Charlton are currently third in the table with 48 points from 24 games.

Saturday’s game will be the Addicks’ first of 2010 after bad weather forced the postponement of their previous two fixtures, allowing Norwich City to collect six points in their absence and leapfrog them into the second automatic promotion place.

Having drawn their final three games of 2009, Charlton will be eager to take all three points on Saturday as they attempt to reel in the Canaries while keeping a close eye on 4th placed Colchester who lurk only three points behind them with a game in hand.

Despite their lofty position, the Addicks have played 15 games away from home in all competitions this season and have a less than daunting record of 5 wins, 5 losses and 5 draws.

Their cup setbacks at Hereford United, Northwich Victoria and Southampton, along with league defeats at Colchester United and Carlisle, suggest a vulnerability away from the Valley which should give the Chairboys encouragement ahead of Saturday’s game.

This will be the Addicks’ first competitive match at Adams Park, but the two sides have met twice before at the Valley.

In 2006, despite being separated by three divisions, Wycombe famously beat Charlton 1-0 in the Carling Cup quarter-final, while on the opening day of this season the Addicks ran out 3-2 winners despite a thrilling fightback from the Chairboys who peppered their goal for the final 20 minutes in search of an equaliser.


Wycombe Wanderers are currently in 23rd place with 19 points from 26 games.

A run of three consecutive defeats since Christmas was halted in style at Elland Road last Saturday when the Chairboys surprised everyone by outplaying league-leaders Leeds United on their own turf, in a performance which left the home fans grateful for a 1-1 draw.

This excellent display against the table-toppers came only a week after Wycombe had given second-placed Norwich City a fright at Adams Park, hitting the post just moments before the Canaries gratefully scored the only goal of the game deep into the second half.

These much improved performances are a welcome boost for the Wycombe fans, who may be forgiven for wondering how the same players could have been so comprehensively thrashed by relegation-rivals Brighton the previous week.

It seems Wycombe raise their game when up against the ‘big boys’ and if that’s the case, the home fans will be hoping for more of the same this weekend against club that was plying its trade in the Premier League as recently as 2007.

In Wycombe’s precarious position, if they do manage to deliver another Leeds-like performance on Saturday, they desperately need all three points to go with it this time.

This game marks the final appearance of on-loan midfielder Scott Davies unless a deal can be struck to keep him at Wycombe for the remainder of the season.

Whether or not the transfer of incoming striker Alex Revell is finalised in time for the game appears to be in the hands of the Football League, but missing for sure are Matt Bloomfield and Ian Westlake who have both undergone operations this week after picking up yet more training-ground injuries. Leon Johnson is also unavailable.



Charlton’s last five games (All Competitions)

LG1: Southend (H)…………Won 1-0
LG1: Stockport (A)…………Won 2-1
LG1: Milwall (H)……………Drew 4-4
LG1: Swindon (H))………..Drew 2-2
LG1: Brentford (A)………..Drew 1-1


Wycombe’s last five games (All Competitions)

LG1: Oldham (H)…………Drew 2-2
LG1: Yeovil (A)…………….Lost 4-0
LG1: Brighton (H)…………Lost 5-2
LG1: Norwich (H)………….Lost 1-0
LG1: Leeds (A) …………..Drew 1-1



Charlton Goal Stats (28 games in all Competitions)

Goals Scored (Total)………51
Goals Conceded (Total)…..32

Goals Scored (Away)……..19
Goals Conceded (Away)….17

Clean Sheets….8


Wycombe Goals Stats (30 games in all Competitions)

Goals Scored (Total)………31
Goals Conceded (Total)…..59

Goals Scored (Home)……..19
Goals Conceded (Home)….29

Clean Sheets….2


Charlton’s Top Goal Scorers (All Competitions)

Deon Burton…………….12 (inc 4 pens)
Nicky Bailey………………9 (inc 1 pen)
Scott Wagstaff……………4
Lloyd Sam…………………4
Sam Sodje………………..3
Jonjo Shelvey…………….3
Izale McLeod………………3
Miguel Angel Llera……….3

Two other Charlton players have each scored 2 goals.
Four other Charlton players have each scored 1 goal.


Wycombe’s Top Goal Scorers (All Competitions)

Jon-Paul Pittman………8 (inc 1 pen)
Matt Harrold……………7 (inc 4 pens)
Scott Davies……………4
Chris Zebroski…………2
Chris Westwood……….2

Eight other Wycombe players have each scored 1 goal.


Charlton Shooting (Top-3)

Nicky Bailey…………25 on-target…26 off-target….3 against woodwork
Deon Burton…………34 on-target…15 off-target….0 against woodwork
Jonjo Shelvey……….24 on-target…18 off-target….0 against woodwork


Wycombe Shooting (Top-3)

Scott Davies………..18 on-target…24 off-target…4 against woodwork
Jon-Paul Pittman…..20 on-target…16 off-target…1 against woodwork
Matt Phillips…………15 on-target…16 off-target…2 against woodwork


Shooting (Club)
Charlton…………..177 on target…134 off target…10 against woodwork
Wycombe…………134 on target…118 off target….8 against woodwork



League Form Guide

All Games
Charlton…..Pld: 24…W: 13…D: 9…L: 2……Pts: 48…Pts per game: 2.00
Wycombe…Pld: 26…W: 4…..D: 7…L: 15….Pts: 19…Pts per game: 0.73


Against Top Half Opposition
Charlton……Pld: 12….Pts: 23….Pts per game: 1.91
Wycombe….Pld: 14….Pts: 13….Pts per game: 0.93


Against Bottom Half Opposition
Charlton…….Pld: 12….Pts: 25….Pts per game: 2.08
Wycombe…..Pld: 12….Pts: 6……Pts per game: 0.50


Last Five league Games
Charlton……….WWDDD – 9 points
Wycombe………..DLLLD – 2 points


Last Five League Games (Away)
Charlton………..LDWWD – 8 points


Last Five League Games (Home)
Wycombe:……..WWDLL – 7 points



Previous Meetings

2006/07 LCp: Charlton 0 Wycombe 1
2009/10 LG1: Charlton 3 Wycombe 2

A Chris Zebroski double almost earned Wycombe a draw at the Valley on the opening day of the season.



The Man In The Middle
Saturday’s referee is Karl Evans from Greater Manchester who became a National List Referee in 2007. His one and only Wycombe game was a 1-0 win at Shrewsbury Town in December 2007. So far this season he’s issued 41 yellow cards and 3 reds in 13 games.

Latest News (Friday): Tommy Doherty has left the club and striker Alex Revell has not been cleared to play. Kevin Betsy has rejoined on a free transfer until the end of the season

Revised Prediction

Away Win