Wycombe Wanderers vs Torquay United
Posted: 21 Nov 2010, 21:26
Adams Park
Tuesday 23rd November 2010
KO: 7:45pm
The second half of our double-header takes us to Adams Park, home of Wasps Rugby Club aswell as Wycombe Wanderers. Wycombe currently sit 6th in the table, one place above us, although 3 points do separate the two sides. I'm expecting a very tough, physical game on Tuesday night, as we are up against another relegated side from League One last year. Wycombe were one of my favourites to be up and around the top 7 in July, and so far they are living up to that prediction. A narrow 2-1 defeat at Port Vale on Saturday was their latest result, so I'm expecting them to want to get back to winning ways against us. However, as we all know, on the road, the 4-4-1-1 formation employed by Paul Buckle seems to be working well, so maybe we can be more hopeful than usual, going into this one. Here is the Wycombe Fans Forum for you to have a look at, if you want:
http://www.gasroom.co.uk/
LAST 5 SEASONS.
2005/06 - League 2 - 6th place - 71 points
2006/07 - League 2 - 12th place - 62 points
2007/08 - League 2 - 7th place - 78 points
2008/09 - League 2 - 3rd place - 78 points - PROMOTED TO LEAGUE ONE
2009/10 - League 1 - 22nd place - 45 points - RELEGATED TO LEAGUE TWO
After two successful seasons which saw the club finish in the playoffs, neither time they had enough to get the promotion up to League One. However, in 2009, the promotion was finally delivered by Peter Taylors side, as they finished ahead of Bury on goal difference to seal the promotion. Infact, only one goal separated the two sides fates, which seems incredibly harsh on Bury fans, but thats football for you. The joy of League One football at Adams Park was shortlived though, and they were sent back down to the all to familiar League 2, finishing third from bottom, ahead of Southend and Stockport.
HEAD TO HEAD.
Wycombe wins - 2 (1 in Cup)
Torquay wins - 2
Draws - 3
There isn't much history between the two clubs. The first meetings ended in two 1-1 draws, in 1993/94. Wycombe knocked us out of the Football League Trophy in October 2002, winning 4-0 at Plainmoor, which is the biggest winning margin ever in this fixture. However, since then, we have played 2 at Adams Park, winning one and losing one. I remember the game we won up there, in that great escape of 2006. Tony Bedeau scored the only goal of the game. Also, the two sides last met at Plainmoor, when we beat the Chairboys 3-0, but that wasn't enough to keep us up.
FORM (LAST 6 GAMES).
DWWLWL
That is their form in all competitions in their past 6 games. It started with a draw against Lincoln. They then won 2-0 at Gillingham, and followed that up with a FA Cup win at Hayes & Yeading, to progress to Round 2. However, in an extraordinary Johnstones Paint Trophy match, they lost 6-3 at home to Bristol Rovers, with ex-Gulls Jo Kuffour and Scott Rendell bagging a hat-trick each. They then won 1-0 at home to Bradford, but they lost 2-1 at Vale Park yesterday.
PROBABLE LINE UP.
This is the line up that started at Port Vale:
Nikki Bull
Danny Foster
Chris Westwood
Dave Winfield
Andy Sandell
Kevin Betsy
Lewis Montrose
Matt Bloomfield
Gareth Ainsworth
Ben Strevens
Stuart Beavon
Subs: Arnold, Bennett, Johnson, Murtagh, McCoy, Harris, McClure.
PLAYERS TO WATCH.
Looking at that squad list above, I would expect players like Jon-Paul Pittman and Scott Rendell to return, unless they are both injured, which could be good for us! However, if those two miss out, then I'd watch out for Kevin Betsy, who still has a lot of pace to burn. Stuart Beavon is capable at this level, too, and I remember him from his Weymouth days. Andy Sandell has a great left foot on him, and I've seen him score a fair few freekicks this year - so hopefully we'll be clever enough not to give him an opportunity to put one past us.
PREDICTION.
I am not confident of returning with a win, but to come out unbeaten I'd be happy with.
However;
Wycombe 2-1 Torquay
Tuesday 23rd November 2010
KO: 7:45pm
The second half of our double-header takes us to Adams Park, home of Wasps Rugby Club aswell as Wycombe Wanderers. Wycombe currently sit 6th in the table, one place above us, although 3 points do separate the two sides. I'm expecting a very tough, physical game on Tuesday night, as we are up against another relegated side from League One last year. Wycombe were one of my favourites to be up and around the top 7 in July, and so far they are living up to that prediction. A narrow 2-1 defeat at Port Vale on Saturday was their latest result, so I'm expecting them to want to get back to winning ways against us. However, as we all know, on the road, the 4-4-1-1 formation employed by Paul Buckle seems to be working well, so maybe we can be more hopeful than usual, going into this one. Here is the Wycombe Fans Forum for you to have a look at, if you want:
http://www.gasroom.co.uk/
LAST 5 SEASONS.
2005/06 - League 2 - 6th place - 71 points
2006/07 - League 2 - 12th place - 62 points
2007/08 - League 2 - 7th place - 78 points
2008/09 - League 2 - 3rd place - 78 points - PROMOTED TO LEAGUE ONE
2009/10 - League 1 - 22nd place - 45 points - RELEGATED TO LEAGUE TWO
After two successful seasons which saw the club finish in the playoffs, neither time they had enough to get the promotion up to League One. However, in 2009, the promotion was finally delivered by Peter Taylors side, as they finished ahead of Bury on goal difference to seal the promotion. Infact, only one goal separated the two sides fates, which seems incredibly harsh on Bury fans, but thats football for you. The joy of League One football at Adams Park was shortlived though, and they were sent back down to the all to familiar League 2, finishing third from bottom, ahead of Southend and Stockport.
HEAD TO HEAD.
Wycombe wins - 2 (1 in Cup)
Torquay wins - 2
Draws - 3
There isn't much history between the two clubs. The first meetings ended in two 1-1 draws, in 1993/94. Wycombe knocked us out of the Football League Trophy in October 2002, winning 4-0 at Plainmoor, which is the biggest winning margin ever in this fixture. However, since then, we have played 2 at Adams Park, winning one and losing one. I remember the game we won up there, in that great escape of 2006. Tony Bedeau scored the only goal of the game. Also, the two sides last met at Plainmoor, when we beat the Chairboys 3-0, but that wasn't enough to keep us up.
FORM (LAST 6 GAMES).
DWWLWL
That is their form in all competitions in their past 6 games. It started with a draw against Lincoln. They then won 2-0 at Gillingham, and followed that up with a FA Cup win at Hayes & Yeading, to progress to Round 2. However, in an extraordinary Johnstones Paint Trophy match, they lost 6-3 at home to Bristol Rovers, with ex-Gulls Jo Kuffour and Scott Rendell bagging a hat-trick each. They then won 1-0 at home to Bradford, but they lost 2-1 at Vale Park yesterday.
PROBABLE LINE UP.
This is the line up that started at Port Vale:
Nikki Bull
Danny Foster
Chris Westwood
Dave Winfield
Andy Sandell
Kevin Betsy
Lewis Montrose
Matt Bloomfield
Gareth Ainsworth
Ben Strevens
Stuart Beavon
Subs: Arnold, Bennett, Johnson, Murtagh, McCoy, Harris, McClure.
PLAYERS TO WATCH.
Looking at that squad list above, I would expect players like Jon-Paul Pittman and Scott Rendell to return, unless they are both injured, which could be good for us! However, if those two miss out, then I'd watch out for Kevin Betsy, who still has a lot of pace to burn. Stuart Beavon is capable at this level, too, and I remember him from his Weymouth days. Andy Sandell has a great left foot on him, and I've seen him score a fair few freekicks this year - so hopefully we'll be clever enough not to give him an opportunity to put one past us.
PREDICTION.
I am not confident of returning with a win, but to come out unbeaten I'd be happy with.
However;
Wycombe 2-1 Torquay