Aiming to move themselves away from any late-season worries at the foot of the division, Wycombe Wanderers will do battle with relegation-threatened Cheltenham Town at Adams Park on Tuesday night in League One.
The Chairboys were defeated on their travels at playoff-chasing Stevenage last time out, while the Robins earned a respectable point at the home of Wigan Athletic on the weekend.
Match preview
© Reuters
Following a memorable night at Valley Parade in the EFL Trophy semi-final against Bradford City last Wednesday, Wycombe Wanderers returned to the grind of League One on Saturday afternoon, falling short at the Lamex Stadium against top-six hopefuls Stevenage.
Before former Burnley striker Sam Vokes was denied what was arguably a clear penalty in the final stages of the match, the Chairboys were breached in the 23rd-minute by centre-back Carl Piergianni, who was set up to win the contest for the Boro by his backline compatriot Daniel Sweeney.
With an EFL Trophy final clash with Peterborough United pencilled in at Wembley Stadium on April 7, Matt Bloomfield's men now have nine straight League One matches to focus on as they strive to secure their third-tier safety, currently sitting five points above the relegation zone in 15th.
Having joined the Chairboys on a permanent deal from Championship side Plymouth Argyle during the January transfer window, Matt Butcher picked the perfect time to net his maiden goal for Wycombe, blasting past Bradford goalkeeper Colin Doyle to earn Tuesday's hosts a day to cherish at Wembley in April.
Butcher's midfield partner Luke Leahy has been the main source of goalscoring and creativity in League One this term for Bloomfield's charges, netting eight goals and providing five assists for teammates from the engine room, meaning the 31-year-old leads his side in both attacking metrics.
Cheltenham's survival charge continued to gain momentum on the weekend at the DW Stadium, with the relegation-threatened side forcing a share of the spoils against fellow strugglers Wigan, although it could well have been four-straight League One victories for the visiting Robins.
Making the net ripple on the fourth occasion in five games since joining from Forest Green Rovers in January, Matt Taylor opened the scoring for the Robins, however Shaun Maloney's Latics were able to draw level in the second period via an unfortunate own goal from midfielder Elliot Bonds.
After going eight matches without finding the net at the beginning of the campaign - whilst managing just a single point during that time - Darrell Clarke's side looked destined for a return to League Two, however 10 points from the last four contests has allowed them to move to within one point of 20th-placed Charlton Athletic.
Realising their struggles in front of goal during the first half of the campaign, a large part of the Robins' New Year recruitment centred around bolstering their forward line, with Josh Harrop arriving from third-tier rivals Northampton Town on a deal until the end of the season.
Last season's visit to Adams Park was one to remember for Cheltenham, who returned to the Completely-Suzuki Stadium after collecting maximum points in emphatic fashion, with an Aidan Keena brace and a second-half strike from the now-departed Alfie May securing a 3-0 victory.
Team News
Wycombe could be without Dutch defender Nigel Lonwijk on Tuesday night, with the 21-year-old suffering a muscle injury just 32 minutes into the Stevenage clash on the weekend.
After receiving his marching orders at the Lamex Stadium on Saturday, Maksymilian Stryjek will be unavailable to face Cheltenham in this one, meaning that Franco Ravizzoli will start in between the sticks.
With Kane Vincent-Young also being forced off early against the Stags, Bloomfield could have to field a new-look defence, including the likes of Joseph Low and potentially Josh Scowen.
Cheltenham are set to give four-goal striker Taylor a new partner in attack on Tuesday night, with Irishman Keena fighting to replace George Lloyd in the XI.
The Robins have benefitted massively from the experience of ex-Derby County man Curtis Davies in defence as they strive to avoid relegation, and the 38-year-old should be joined by Tom Bradbury and Lewis Freestone in the backline once again.
Wycombe Wanderers possible starting lineup:
Ravizzoli; McCarthy, Low, Tafazolli, Scowen; Kodua, Butcher, Leahy, Sadlier; Kone, Lubala
Cheltenham Town possible starting lineup:
Southwood; Davies, Bradbury, Freestone; Long, Bonds, Pett, Kinsella, Ferry; Keena, Taylor
We say: Wycombe Wanderers 1-0 Cheltenham Town
Playing at Adams Park for the first time since securing their place at Wembley in April, there should be a feel-good factor around Wycombe on Tuesday night, and they should be confident of earning three points.
Cheltenham had to grind out the point at Wigan on the weekend in a valiant defensive display, but we feel that the Robins will be unable to repeat the trick in Buckinghamshire.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
