Next Up: Wycombe Wanderers vs Exeter City
The optimism of last week’s thrashing of Blackpool seems to have evaporated as the same side went down limply to unfancied Mansfield on Saturday. Gary Caldwell has an immediate opportunity to get things going again on Tuesday against a side that hasn’t started in a manner befitting their status amongst the promotion favourites. Caldwell is likely to tinker with the side to keep things fresh, although it’s clear the side that started against Blackpool and Mansfield is close to the first choice XI depending on injuries.
Having narrowly missed out on a second go in the Championship last season, Wycombe were once again thought by the pundits to be amongst the stronger sides in the division. Mike Dodds was very busy during the summer managing a number of arrivals and departures, with one key signing being that of Junior Quitirna, who impressed at relegated Crawley last season. However, the Chairboys have been dealt a blow on the pitch (if not off it in terms of finances) with the departure last week of striker Richard Kone to QPR. Quitirna was on the scoresheet in Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Doncaster, a sign along with the EFL Cup win at Leyton Orient in midweek that things are recovering somewhat after back-to-back defeats in the first two league matches. Alex Hartridge continues to be out in the cold in league matches having not even made the bench for Doncaster after playing in the EFL Cup, so City supporters may not get to see one of their own in action unless the manager decides to rotate.
This fixture was bunched quite close together last season with matches in December and January. The corresponding fixture was highly controversial on New Year’s Day – Wycombe took the lead through Luke Leahy only for Tristan Crama to score an equaliser late on. That wasn’t the last of it, however, as in injury time Wycombe were awarded a penalty that could be described as dubious at best, which was tucked away by Aaron Morley. Four weeks previously City had raced into a 2-0 lead through Alli and McMillan, only for Low and Humphreys to peg City back to 2-2 in an enthralling match. Wycombe’s win in the last match meant this fixture has perfect symmetry in league head to heads, both sides having won eight with eight draws.
The match officials for this game will be:-
Referee: Ben Atkinson
Assistant Referees: Conall Bartlett and Michael Chard
Fourth Official: Sam Mulhall
The last time we saw Ben Atkinson refereeing a City game was in October 2023, when City lost 2-0 to Wigan at St James Park. He booked seven players in total that day. His record last season when he too charge of 15 games, was booking 72 players and sending one player off.
Pre match interview with Kevin Nicholson
Interview with Jake Doyle-Hayes