Preview: Wycombe Wanderers vs. Brighton & Hove Albion Under-21s - prediction, team news, lineups

The winners of this tie will move through to a showdown with either Peterborough United or AFC Wimbledon in the Southern section final.

Match preview

At one stage this season, Wycombe would have hoped to put together a promotion bid, but that is certainly no longer the case after a prolonged spell of indifferent form.

Just four wins have been recorded in 16 matches in all competitions, three of those triumphs coming in the EFL Trophy, and it highlights why the Chairboys are now just four points above the League One relegation zone.

On a plus note, though, Matt Bloomfield's side have lost only three of their most recent 12 games, all by 1-0 scorelines, with a further six encounters ending in draws.

The latest of those came on Saturday as Wycombe were held to a 2-2 draw by lowly Fleetwood Town, their comeback from a 2-0 deficit helped by a sending off for the visitors.

In this competition, Wycombe have won each of their five games, three of them coming against Under-21 sides from Crystal Palace, Fulham and West Ham United.

That will not have gone unnoticed by Shannon Ruth whose Brighton side deserve credit for being the last of the Under-21 teams standing in this competition.

Having initially come through a group that featured Walsall, Forest Green Rovers and Shrewsbury Town, the Seagulls were able to thrash MK Dons and come through a penalty-shootout with Reading.

Arguably most impressively, Brighton have not conceded a single goal in their last four EFL Trophy ties, some feat given that those games were against experienced professionals.

Nevertheless, Brighton's six-game undefeated streak came to an end on Friday as they suffered a 2-1 defeat to Crystal Palace in Premier League 2, leaving them in sixth place.

Wycombe Wanderers EFL Trophy form:

W

W

W

W

W

Wycombe Wanderers form (all competitions):

W

D

W

D

L

D

Brighton & Hove Albion Under-21s EFL Trophy form:

W

L

W

W

W

Brighton & Hove Albion Under-21s form (all competitions):

L

W

D

W

W

L

Team News

Although remaining in League One is the priority, Bloomfield is expected to make minimal changes to his Wycombe XI with a visit to Wembley becoming a realistic possibility.

One change will be enforced in the final third, a result of Chem Campbell being cup-tied, with Kieran Sadlier in line to be restored to the flank.

Chris Forino is an alternative in defence, while Bloomfield must decide whether Jason McCarthy should come into contention for a first outing since August because of injury.

Ruth may also opt against making major alterations to his Brighton side, their defeat to Palace coming after substitutions had been made in the second half.

Casper Nilsson could return at right-back, while Marcus Ifill may feature in the final third, depending on if Josh Duffus is part of the senior squad that travels to Luton Town in the Premier League on Tuesday night.

Wycombe Wanderers possible starting lineup:

Stryjek; Grimmer, Forino, Tafazolli, Leahy; Wheeler, Potts; McCleary, Taylor, Sadlier; Vokes

Brighton & Hove Albion Under-21s possible starting lineup:

Cahill; Nilsson, Jackson, Kavanagh, Slater; Chouchane, Hinchy, Mullins; Duffus, Flower, Barrington

We say: Wycombe Wanderers 3-2 Brighton & Hove Albion Under-21s

Having reached this stage of the competition, Brighton will have expectations of going all the way. However, despite their indifferent form, we feel that Wycombe's superior experience will win through, possibly overpowering Brighton's young guns in the closing stages.

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