Match Preview: Exeter vs Wycombe Wanderers
City’s bright start to the season came to a halt on Saturday as Cambridge overcame a first half deficit to claim a 2-1 victory, but there’s no time to dwell on this as the fixtures are coming thick and fast starting with the visit of a side tipped by many to be towards the right end of the table come May. Matt Taylor remains hopeful he can bolster his squad perhaps even ahead of Tuesday
night, otherwise any changes may be in order to keep things fresh given this is the second of four successive Tuesday nights with a game. Taylor will have noted that all three goals conceded this season have been headers from crosses into the box, which may mean a recall for Sam Stubbs in the heart of the defence, while Jevani Brown will look to keep up the form that has seen him called up by Jamaica up front with Sam Nombe.
Wycombe’s style of play may be like Marmite, but there is no doubting that Gareth Ainsworth’s side has been effective, Ainsworth having taken over the Chairboys when they were expected to struggle to stay in the league only to take them to a season in the Championship in 20/21 and aiming to take them back there again. This season hasn’t yet been the best, however – they easily disposed of Burton on the opening day but lost at Bolton and at home to Shrewsbury on Saturday while defeating Northampton in the EFL Cup. There were a few notable departures in the summer, such as David Stockdale to Sheffield Wednesday, Anthony Stewart to Aberdeen and the retirement of the behemoth that is Adebayo Akinfenwa. The key signing was probably Alfie Mawson, who enjoyed a successful loan spell at Wycombe in 2014/15 and once cost Fulham a reported £20 million but whose career appears to have stalled somewhat – indeed he has so far managed four minutes off the bench on Saturday so far. One player who will be eager to feature will be David Wheeler, who made over 150 league appearances for City and now has over 100 in the bank for Wycombe, scoring in the opening day win over Burton, although he came off the bench against Shrewsbury on Saturday.
Like every other opponent for City so far this season in their new division you don’t have to go too far back to find the last meeting between the sides – this was in last season’s EFL Cup first round where, after a 0-0 draw, visitors Wycombe prevailed 4-3 on penalties. The last league meetings between the sides took place in the 2017/18 campaign and both finished level – the corresponding fixture was 1-1, Lloyd James’ first half goal cancelled out by Marcus Bean in the second, while at Adams Park it finished 0-0. Wycombe hold a slight league head to head lead with seven wins to City’s five, six matches finishing level.
The match officials for this game are:-
Referee: John Busvy
Assistant Referees:Adam Crysell and Rob Smith
Fourth Official : Adrian Waters
John Busby last refereed Exeter City last December in the 2-1 defeat to Northampton Town in December.