Wycombe Wanderers are set to continue their fight for the League One title when they take on mid-table Exeter City at Adams Park on Wednesday afternoon.
The hosts are third in the table with 47 points after their first 22 matches, while the visitors are 13th in the standings with 31 points from their opening 22 games.
Match preview
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Since their relegation from the Championship in 2020-21, Wycombe have steadily slipped down the League One table, finishing sixth in 2021-22, ninth in 2022-23 and 10th in 2023-24.
However, they have climbed toward the top of the League One table in the first half of the 2024-25 campaign, currently sitting third with 47 points from 22 matches, after 14 wins, five draws and three defeats.
That leaves Wycombe just two points behind league-leading Birmingham City, who have one played one game fewer, and one point behind second-placed Wrexham, who have played one game more.
Matt Bloomfield's side initially had a poor start to the campaign as they lost their first two fixtures, albeit they were 3-2 losses to both Wrexham and Birmingham, but they went on to remain unbeaten in the following 19, recording 14 wins and five draws.
That undefeated streak came to a disappointing end in their last outing of 2024, as the Chairboys fell to a 2-1 defeat against Charlton Athletic, a result they will be eager to bounce back from in this one.
Bloomfield's men will likely fancy their chances to do exactly that in this one, given their impressive home record of six wins, two draws and one loss this term.
Their opponents, Exeter, sit 13th in the table with 31 points from 22 matches, after nine wins, four draws and nine losses, leaving them six points behind the playoffs and 11 ahead of the drop zone.
That position in the table has become a familiar one for Exeter since being promoted into League One in 2022-23 for the first time since 2011-12, having finished 13th last campaign and 14th in 2022-23.
Gary Caldwell, in charge since October 2022, will, however, be hopeful of steering Exeter higher up the table this campaign with ambitions of reaching the playoffs, and a win in this one could prove a significant result in the pursuit of that goal.
The visitors have struggled in this fixture in recent meetings at Adams Park, recording just one win in their last seven visits, alongside three losses and three draws, albeit the win did come in their most recent visit last season.
Team News
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Wycombe have no fresh injury concerns heading into this one, but a disappointing 2-1 defeat to Charlton Athletic last time out could mean Bloomfield opts to make several changes here.
Richard Kone is one player that is expected to certainly come back into the team, with the 21-year-old forward having netted 12 goals in 22 appearances this season, including three in his last two.
As for the visitors, Yanic Wildschut and Jay Bird are both unlikely to feature due to injury issues, but the remainder of the squad has avoided any fresh injury worries.
While Exeter were able to salvage a 4-4 draw with Crawley Town last time out, after initially going behind 4-1, Caldwell could opt to make a number of changes here.
Wycombe Wanderers possible starting lineup:
Ravizzoli; Grimmer, Low, Taylor, Harvie; Scowen, Morley; Onyedinma, Humphreys, Lubala; Kone
Exeter City possible starting lineup:
Whitworth; McMillan, Fitzwater, Francis; Watts, McDonald, Woods, Niskanen; Mitchell; Alli, Magennis
We say: Wycombe Wanderers 2-1 Exeter City
Exeter City may be enjoying a run of three matches without defeat heading into this one, but the hosts are one of the best sides in the league and are expected to win this one.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Ellis Stevens
