Next Up: Wycombe Wanderers at Home

Tisdale doesn’t do derbies, apparently. Another 3-1 win, this time at Torquay, perhaps put that myth to bed, and it’s with renewed optimism therefore that City enter 2014 looking for their first home win since October with the visit of Wycombe, although it’s worth keeping one eye on the weather forecast with the Exeter race meeting in doubt! The young guns have come to the fore of late, and with Matt Gill having limped out of the win at Plainmoor Matt Grimes is ready to step in, although Tisdale may recall forgotten man Tom Doherty in a more “like for like” swap. Tom Nichols is set to continue up front alongside Alan Gow, with John O’Flynn, Sam Parkin and Jimmy Keohane also vying for a start.

Wycombe have had something of an up and down season, and are currently in 16th place in the table having won just once in the league since mid-October. That win, a 4-1 thrashing of Northampton the weekend before Christmas, cost Aidy Boothroyd his job and probably bought Gareth Ainsworth some more time to continue his rebuilding exercise. A 1-0 home reverse against Newport followed on Boxing Day, before their match against Fleetwood on Sunday was postponed due to a frozen pitch – Wycombe will have the fresher legs therefore. Wycombe will look to one-time City trialist Dean Morgan as their main goal threat, he has six goals so far this season while Matt McClure also has six in all competitions. Stuart Lewis in midfield will provide plenty of bite in a side.

This is the third meeting between the sides this season – the JPT saw Wycombe emerge with a comfortable 2-0 win at the Park while the corresponding league fixture at Adams Park in November saw a 1-1 draw. Wycombe took an early lead through a heavily deflected Steven Craig shot, before a disgraceful show of time-wasting and petulance from the hosts saw them get their comeuppance when Alan Gow fired a late equaliser. Last season saw City pick up all six points – a 3-2 win at the Park (Davies, Cureton and Coles) followed by a 1-0 win on New Year’s Day thanks to a goal that was credited to John O’Flynn but was clearly a Kortney Hause own goal. What price a repeat scoreline exactly a year later?

Match Officials: http://www.exeweb.com/2013/12/30/match-officials-wycombe-wanderers-at-home/