Next Up: Wycombe Wanderers at Home

With City’s four-match winning run coming to an end on Saturday with the 1-1 draw against York, Paul Tisdale’s side will be hoping to bounce back immediately with victory over Wycombe Wanderers on Tuesday night. Liam Sercombe limped out of Saturday’s match and must be considered doubtful at best, if he is missing this could mean a start for Elliott Frear or Tom Doherty. Alan Gow and Guillem Bauza were both sidelined at the weekend and either one or both will be hoping to be passed fit to at least make the bench against the Chairboys.

Wycombe, under the stewardship of Gary Waddock, have had a difficult time since they joined City in the League One relegation places last season and currently lie in 20th place with four points from five games (their match with Bristol Rovers abandoned for safety reasons after lightning struck the away stand). Off the field there was a supporters’ takeover amidst rumours of financial woes, and they have had to cope with the loss of star striker Stuart Beavon during the August transfer window. Up front they have signed a number of players familiar to the City faithful – none more so than Richard Logan, whose five-year City career that saw him score nearly fifty goals for the club came to an end in the summer. With Logan having scored some vital goals – in the playoffs at Torquay, the winner at Rotherham to clinch promotion in 2009 – he is sure to expect a warm reception should he make it into the matchday squad having missed Saturday’s defeat to Chesterfield. Other names to watch out for include ex-Torquay forward Jo Kuffour and veterans Gary Doherty and Gareth Ainsworth. Nikki Bull in goal has a habit of turning in strong displays against City, while The Park holds happy memories for both Bull and manager Gary Waddock, being the place where they helped Aldershot clinch the Conference title in 2008.

Despite Wycombe having entered the Football League in 1993, it wasn’t until Boxing Day 2008 that the sides first met in league action (Wycombe won 1-0 in what is now the JPT in 00/01). That day Manny Panther equalised after Matt Harrold had given the home side the lead from the penalty spot. City won the return 1-0 through Matt Gill in what was very much a promotion 6-pointer, both sides eventually going up. Last season Wycombe had the upper hand, doing the double over City with a pair of 3-1 victories – the first at Adams Park a virtuoso display from Fulham loanee Marcello Trotta (Danny Coles with City’s goal and the less said about Guillem Bauza’s penalty the better!), the return thanks to a double from Paul Hayes and one from Beavon, James Dunne notching for City.

Paul Tisdale after the game on Saturday, speaking to Hants, said

We know a lot of their players, they have some very good individuals, their manager has worked with that team for a long time. They’ve had a tough start to the season, but we have to be wary of any side that visits St James Park.They’ll see us as a big scalp.

Match Officials.
LEE COLLINS
Steven Plane and Mark Pottage
Fourth Official Adam Matthews