After finishing just outside the playoff positions last season, Wycombe Wanderers will be aiming to go one step further this term as they kick-start their League One campaign.
Matt Bloomfield's men will host Exeter City on Saturday, with the visitors heading into the game on the back of a mixed pre-season.
Match preview
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Wycombe Wanderers had a fairly consistent season throughout the 2022-23 campaign, which is why they finished in ninth place, but after coming so close to the playoffs the focus now is on making the next step.
Throughout pre-season, the club has added experience in the likes of Richard Keogh and Kane Vincent-Young, all while putting on some impressive performances in their friendlies.
The Chairboys have had three featured games and managed to string together an undefeated run throughout them, injecting plenty of confidence into the squad for the start of the new season.
Bloomfield's men have only conceded once throughout those matches as well, with the club having invested and focused on the defensive side of the team which has paid dividends already.
Wycombe were also far stronger at home throughout last season than they were on the road, and continuing that form in the opening day of the season would provide the ideal launching platform for them.
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For the visitors, the previous campaign was a rather forgettable one which meandered and never truly went anywhere, finishing in mid-table and never promising much more.
Exeter particularly struggle on the road as they only managed five away victories throughout last season, which proved to be one of their biggest weaknesses.
Addressing that is something that Gary Caldwell will be hoping to manage throughout this season as that is something that will help them progress up the division.
Tom Carroll is a new signing for Exeter, which should add plenty of experience to the midfield throughout this campaign, meanwhile, the club have made several new additions all across the team.
Injecting some fresh blood into the squad should help, but it has been a mixed pre-season with just two victories across the six matches that they have played.
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Jason McCarthy and David Wheeler are two injury concerns for the hosts as Bloomfield has made it clear that neither man is close to being ready for selection.
Despite the fact that Wycombe Wanderers will be without two key players, the Chairboys did welcome back Sam Vokes and Josh Scowen during their most recent friendly.
Sam Nombe will be the main attacking threat for the visitors, despite rumours linking him with a move to Charlton Athletic earlier in the summer.
The Grecians were also given a huge boost in their final pre-season friendly as Kyle Taylor made his return to the squad for the first time in 16 months following a knee injury.
Wycombe Wanderers possible starting lineup:
Stryjek; Jacobson, Keogh, Low, Vincent-Young; Breckin, Woodhouse, Hanlan, Potts; Vokes, Taylor
Exeter City possible starting lineup:
Sinsalo; Sweeney, Aimson, Hartridge, Rankine; Carroll, Taylor, Mitchell, Cole; Aitchison, Nombe
We say: Wycombe Wanderers 2-1 Exeter City
Wycombe Wanderers will be looking to build upon what they achieved last season, and a home fixture should be the perfect launching pad for the campaign.
The visitors had a lot of difficulties on the road across the previous season, and it remains to be seen if they have fixed those issues.
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