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Next Up: Adams Park
Next Up: Adams Park

Wycombe v Grimsby Preview

By: Sam Kinnaird
Date: 15/01/2009 (Last updated: 16/01/2009)

GRIMSBY finally get their New Year underway on January 17th when they head to runaway leaders Wycombe Wanderers for what is on paper their hardest game of the season.

Home > 2008-2009 Season > Previews > Wycombe (a)


The Opposition

Overview

A series of failed promotion attempts in the past few years have meant Wycombe have taken the mantle from Lincoln as perennial play-off bottlers. However this season looks set to take a different path, as they lead the way in League Two with an impressive 49 points and only a single defeat from their 24 games. Wycombe’s stint in League Two began in 2005 when under manager John Gorman, they began the season with a 21 match unbeaten run yet still finished up in 6th place, and were beaten in the play-off semi finals by eventual winners Cheltenham. The following season began in a similar fashion, with the Chairboys winning 11 of their first 22 games. They reached the semi finals of the League Cup against Chelsea, the first leg at Adams Park finished 1-1 and left the tie delicately poised for the second leg. This did not go to plan though as a dominant and rejuvenated Chelsea ran out comfortable 4-0 winners. The cup run seemed to detract Wycombe from the league, their form faltered and a run of eleven games without a win culminated in a disappointing 12th place finish to the season. However the 2007/8 season began differently and the season took the unfamiliar shape of beginning badly and ending well. Wycombe improved after Christmas and comfortably finished in 7th place, and were to face Stockport County in the semi finals, could it be different this time? It wasn't, a narrow 2-1 aggregate defeat broke Chairboys' hearts and the familiar sinking feeling was back, manager Paul Lambert left the club and was replaced by experienced head Peter Taylor (left), who is hoped to be the man to finally lift Wycombe out of League Two and into the higher reaches of the football pyramid. An 18 game unbeaten run was ended at Aldershot, but this has not altered the winning mentality, and Town will have to be at their best to come away with anything from Adams Park on Saturday.

The Team

The summer of 2008 saw the notable signings of strikers Chris Zebroski and Magno Vieira, defender Lewis Hunt and winger Angelo Balanta on loan from QPR. All have added considerable quality and depth to an already formidable League Two side. Experienced players at this level include Tommy Docherty and Gary Holt (left). Possibly the best signing made in the summer was the acquisition of a striker the Mariners will know all about, Matt Harrold (left). The imposing front man’s appearance is likened to Prince Harry and he had a spell at Blundell Park in 2005, scoring twice during a month long loan. This season he has blossomed alongside a number of partners, scoring 10 times already. Goalkeeper Scott Shearer was signed from Bristol Rovers after helping them to promotion from League Two. His form this season has been impressive with Wycombe keeping 14 clean sheets already, thanks to Shearer himself and a settled back four including David McCracken and Mike Williamson at its heart.

Key Player

Mike Williamson. The defender was signed on a free from Southampton after a successful loan spell in 2005 and has since made nearly 150 appearances for the Buckinghamshire side. His presence at the back has led to many a clean sheet for Wycombe in the past seasons, and is constantly linked with moves to higher divisions, only this week a six figure bid from Colchester was rejected. The 25 year old was named PFA player of the month for October in League Two and is regarded amongst home fans as Wycombe’s best player this season.

Recent Form

TownWycombe
LAccrington(a)1-3
LNotts Co(h)0-1
DAldershot(a)2-2
WShrewsbury(a)1-0
LPort Vale(a)1-2
Currently 22nd in League Two.
WBury(h)2-1
DGillingham(a)1-1
DExeter(h)1-1
WShrewsbury(a)1-0
DLuton(h)0-0
Currently 1st in League Two.

Top Scorers

TownWycombe
Hegarty3
Proudlock3
Harold10
Zebroski6

Team News

TownWycombe

  • Grimsby still have three players waiting to make their debuts: Joe Widdowson. Dean Sinclair and Stuart Elliot. All three are likely to start.

  • Chesterfield have taken Peter Till for a month on loan.

  • Robbie Stockdale has picked up a hamstring injury and is missing, as is Peter Bore.
  • Defender Chris Casement, on loan from Ipswich, is expected to make his debut

  • Fellow new signing TJ Moncur is unlikely to make his debut as he is struggling with a slight knee injury

  • Striker Scott McGleish has returned from a loan spell with League One side Northampton.

  • Lewis Hunt is out for at least two months after the defender broke a metatarsal in his foot on Boxing Day while

  • Striker Chris Zebroski misses out once again due to a foot injury.

  • Angelo Balanta returns after an impact injury

  • Gavin Grant is still unavailable due to personal problems.
  • Squads

    TownWycombe
    1GKPhil Barnes
    2DFRobbie Stockdale
    3DFTom Newey
    4DFRyan Bennett
    5DFMatthew Heywood (c)
    6DFRichard Hope
    7MFPeter Till
    8MFPaul Bolland
    9MFAdam Proudlock
    10MFChris Llewellyn
    11MFDanny Boshell
    12DFJamie Clarke
    13GKGary Montgomery
    14MFJames Hunt
    15DFMatthew Bird
    16MFJean-Paul Kalala
    17MFNick Hegarty
    18MFPeter Bore
    19FWDanny North
    20FWAndy Taylor
    22FWNathan Jar man
    23MFGrant Normington
    25MFRob Atkinson
    26FWJean-Louis Akpa Akpro
    27MFMickael Buscher
    28GKLeigh Overton
    TBADFJoe Widdowson
    TBAMFStuart Elliot
    TBAMFDean Sinclair
    1GKScott Shearer
    2DFLewis Hunt
    3DFCraig Woodman
    4DFLeon Johnson
    5DFWill Antwi
    6DFMike Williamson
    7DFDavid McCracken (c)
    8MFTommy Doherty
    9FWMatt Harrold
    10MFMatt Bloomfield
    11FWChris Zebroski
    12GKJamie Young
    15MFGary Holt
    17FWScott McGleish
    18FWGavin Grant
    19MFLewwis Spence
    20MFJohn Mousinho
    21DFRobbie Rice
    22DFNathan Ashton
    23FWMagno Silva Vieira
    24MFDerek Duncan
    25DFChris Casement (On loan from Ipswich Town)
    26DFLeon Crooks
    28FWAngelo Balanta (On loan from QPR)
    29MFMatt Richards
    30DFTJ Moncur
    34MFScott Shulton
    35MFEddie Savage
    38MFMatt Phillips

    Head to Head

    Wycombe are Grimsby's ultimate bogey side. Town have a worse record against the Chairboys than any other team in their entire history including Man Utd, Arsenal, Liverpool et al.

    P 15 W1 D7 L7 F12 A24

    Wycombe Head-to-Head (104th on The Opposition Ladder)

    Last Meeting

    Grimsby 1 Wycombe 1 (Sat 11th Oct 2008)

    Mike Newell's first ever game in charge of Grimsby saw Town take the lead and almost beat their bogey side, only to concede a sickening late goal.

    Report

    Prediction

    Well with the current form of Notts and the league places for both clubs I think this will be a draw 1-1

    The Fishy Prediction

    It’s a comfortable home win on paper, but as we know football isn't played on paper and the unlikely can and often does happen.

    Wycombe 1-2 Grimsby

    Reader's POMs

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