Next Up: Wycombe Wanderers at Home

An efficient performance by promotion-chasing Rochdale means City go into Tuesday night’s game against a side battling at the opposite end of the table still searching for a first home win since October. Artur Krysiak was once again missing through injury, and faces a race against time to be fit for the visit of Wycombe. Christy Pym has started the last three matches and has performed very capably as understudy. Paul Tisdale has rotated his forwards and it’s expected that Nichols and Richards will get the nod ahead of O’Flynn and Keohane, otherwise there may not be too much tinkering elsewhere.

Wycombe’s shock 1-0 win over leaders Chesterfield eased the pressure on Gareth Ainsworth somewhat, but the Chairboys go into Tuesday night’s match still only one place above the drop zone having endured a wretched run of form in recent months. They do now have a five point lead over the bottom two, however. Saturday’s victory was their first since a 4-1 thrashing of basement boys Northampton (which cost Aidy Boothroyd his job) before Christmas. Like City, Wycombe have shared their goals around this term, their top scorer being one time City trialist Dean Morgan with six goals. Stuart Lewis in midfield is someone who likes to put himself about and will need to be watched, while Paris Cowan-Hall, recently of Plymouth, will hope to please the supporters of his previous club by putting City to the sword.

The sides played out a 1-1 draw in November, marked out by some ultra-cynical tactics employed by Ainsworth’s side. They took the lead early on through a Craig shot that took a massive deflection, before City deservedly equalised late on through Alan Gow. There has already been an encounter at the Park this season in the JPT, Wycombe emerging comfortable 2-0 victors, but last season’s league fixture was a different story as goals from Davies, Cureton and Coles (with a cheeky backheel) sealed a 3-2 win, Wycombe’s goals coming from Ainsworth and Morgan. City hold the slight edge in the FL head-to-head with three wins to Wycombe’s two, four matches ending up level.

Match Officials: http://www.exeweb.com/2014/02/23/match-officials-wycombe-wanderers-at-home-2/