Next Up: Wycombe Wanderers vs Exeter City

A hard-fought 1-0 win in Cumbria saw City return to the top of the league ahead of a quickfire double bill of matches against sides also coming into contention thanks to some good recent form. Luke Croll’s bad luck with injuries continued as he limped out of the Carlisle match before half time – Dean Moxey deputised but with Jordan Moore-Taylor said to be nearing a return the captain could slot straight back in, otherwise there are options around Troy Archibald-Henville, Moxey or Jordan Tillson. Otherwise it’s likely to be pretty much “as you were” although Paul Tisdale may have a choice to make over to whether to stick to Hiram Boateng or put Tillson back into the midfield.

When the fixtures are released, this fixture is probably circled by many albeit as one that elicits groans and thoughts of how to avoid attending, after a few rather acerbic encounters in recent years. Gareth Ainsworth has moulded his team in his own combative image, where enterprising play tends to make way for stretching the boundaries of fair play to their limit should his side go a goal up. It’s a style that has proved effective as the Chairboys, perhaps not one of the best resourced clubs in the division, are punching (not literally, one hopes) above their weight once more and sit in fourth place in the table. One would expect Ainsworth’s side to be robust, illustrated best of all by perhaps the most “robust” player in the division, Adebayo Akinfenwa, leading the line alongside a striker of much pedigree in Nathan Tyson. Expect also to see players like Eberechi Eze and former Luton and Peterborough striker Craig Mackail-Smith causing problems.

City’s record at Adams Park in recent years has not been the best since a 1-0 win on New Year’s Day 2013, all of the last three visits to Buckinghamshire ending in defeat. Last season it wasn’t the usual nagging encounter, perhaps because the only goal of the game came late on through “The Beast”. City gained some revenge however with a 4-2 win under the lights during that great run at the start of 2017. City took the lead through Wheeler, but it was 1-1 at half time through Thompson’s equaliser. Brown and Grant looked to have sealed the points only for Jakubiak’s late goal to reduce the arrears before Ollie Watkins, omitted from the starting line up due to transfer deadline day speculation, made the game safe in stoppage time. Wycombe have the slight lead in league head to heads with seven wins to City’s five (four draws).

The match officials are:

Referee: Robert Jones
Assistant Referees: Anthony Da Costa and Christopher Kidd
Fourth Official: Mark Griffiths

Jones has refereed three City games, including the recent defeat at Coventry. Details at http://www.grecians.co.uk/wordpress/?s=robert+jones