Next Up: Exeter City vs Wycombe Wanderers

It may not have been the thrashing that City supporters have become used to in recent matches, but Saturday’s 1-0 win at Portsmouth was as impressive as any of the results which went before in that Paul Tisdale’s side showed it had the stomach for a scrap and a determination to keep the ball out of their net – not only that but for large periods City had the edge and created the better chances. City are back in action on Tuesday night now occupying a playoff position, and a win coupled with defeat for Luton will mean City occupy fourth place, having been bottom in late November. With the games coming thick and fast Tisdale has a dilemma over whether to keep his side unchanged for the fourth successive match or whether to rest a few weary legs, the likes of Jordan Tillson and Liam McAlinden are waiting in the wings to start should Tisdale decide to freshen things up.

That this match is taking place in midweek is down to Wycombe’s cup exploits, their FA Cup adventure ending in heartbreak as they let slip a 2-0 and 3-2 lead at Spurs on Saturday to go down 4-3 in the 97th minute. That defeat marked the end of a 16 match unbeaten run for the Chairboys which has seen Gareth Ainsworth’s side also through to the last four in the EFL Trophy and occupying a playoff place in the league. Their last two league matches, both at home, ended 1-1 so Ainsworth will be hoping there is no cup hangover on Tuesday night. All eyes will be on Scott Kashket, the free transfer signing from Leyton Orient has notched 14 goals in just 19 appearances and pipped Ollie Watkins to the League Two player of the month award in December. Likewise it will be difficult to miss “The Beast”, Ade Akinfenwa, who has also been in fine form.

It’s fair to say Wycombe are an opponent City don’t relish facing, mainly a symptom of their polar opposite approaches to the game – five of the last six matches between the sides have seen the Buckinghamshire side take the points, including a 1-0 win at Adams Park early in October thanks to a late goal from Akinfenwa. Last season’s match at the Park saw Wycombe win 2-0 with second half goals from Jacobsen and Thompson. These recent results have allowed Wycombe to pull into a league head to head lead with seven wins to City’s four (four draws).

Officials for the game are:

Referee: John Brooks
Assistant Referee: Adrian Tranter and Matt Eva
Fourth Official Lee Swabey

Two Exeter games for the referee, both this season, the most recent being the Grimsby game at St James Park – details at http://www.grecians.co.uk/wordpress/?s=brooks

The last time these two teams met at the park was September 2015, line up and video can be found at http://www.grecians.co.uk/wordpress/?sp_event=4104