Preview: Wycombe Wanderers vs. Cheltenham Town - prediction, team news, lineups

sportsmole.co.uk, 27 April 2023, 22:26
Wycombe Wanderers take on Cheltenham Town at Adams Park on Saturday afternoon, in the penultimate game of the League One season.

Both sides have nothing to play for at this stage, with Wycombe currently in eighth and unable to finish inside the top six, while Cheltenham are safe from the threat of relegation, sitting in 17th place.

Match preview

Having finished sixth in League One last season, Wycombe fans would have been hoping they could mount another push for the playoffs, however they have come up short, trailing sixth-placed Derby County by seven points with two games left to spare.

It is the Chairboys' poor recent form which has meant they have been unable to challenge for a playoff berth, picking up 11 points from their last 10 league matches, just the 16th-best record in the third tier.

Matt Bloomfield's side have had a kind fixture schedule as of late, taking on three of the current bottom four in their last four games, but they have not managed to impress, losing 1-0 away at Morecambe earlier this month.

Wycombe's poor recent record in front of goal has also done them no favours, failing to score in three of their last five matches, although they have created plenty of chances, which indicates their strikers have not been clinical enough.

Last time out, the Chairboys dominated the majority of the possession against Lincoln City, however they failed to make their superiority count, losing 2-0, which ended all hope of finishing inside the top six.

Cheltenham have fared roughly how they would have been expected to this season, currently sitting nine points clear of the relegation zone, with just two games to go, meaning they are comfortably clear of the bottom four.

By and large, the Robins have been a very difficult side to beat since the beginning of March, losing just two of their last 11 games, however they have only won four games during that time period.

That said, Wade Elliott's side have picked up some impressive points, holding promotion-chasing Ipswich Town and Sheffield Wednesday to draws at the Completely-Suzuki Stadium, where they have picked up the majority of their points this season.

Away form has not been as solid, however, with Cheltenham collecting just 19 points on their travels all season, just the 20th-best record in the league, and they were very disappointing in their most recent away trip, losing 4-0 at Oxford United.

Wycombe Wanderers League One form:

D

L

W

L

W

L

Cheltenham Town League One form:

D

L

D

D

W

L

Team News

Jack Grimmer suffered a concussion in Wycombe's recent match against Lincoln, and the right-back is unlikely to feature again this season, meaning Jordan Willis is expected to come in at right-back.

Nick Freeman was withdrawn just before the hour mark last time out, with Chem Campbell replacing him, and the 20-year-old could feature in the starting lineup, playing just in-behind Sam Vokes.

As for Cheltenham, Elliott may make a few changes to his side after the very disappointing display against Oxford United, with Will Ferry coming back in at left-wing, replacing Ben Williams.

Having been brought on as a substitute on Tuesday night, Tom Bradbury may return to the starting lineup, replacing Lewis Freestone, while Will Goodwin could come into the attack, with Aidan Keena dropping to the bench.

Wycombe Wanderers possible starting lineup:

Stryjek; McCarthy, Willis, Tafazolli, Jacobson; Wing, Scowen, Wheeler, Freeman, McCleary; Vokes

Cheltenham Town possible starting lineup:

Southwood; Bradbury, Taylor, Long; Jackson, Bonds, Sercombe, Ferry, Broom; May, Goodwin

We say: Wycombe Wanderers 2-0 Cheltenham Town

Wycombe have not been at their best in the second half of the season, however they should still be able to beat a Cheltenham side that struggled considerably against 19th-placed Oxford United at the weekend.

We expect the Chairboys to record a comfortable victory, however their recent results mean the game will ultimately count for very little.

Previews by email

Top News

27 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Wolverhampton Wanderers head coach Vitor Pereira is hopeful that his club will be able to keep hold of Matheus Cunha in January amid the growing speculation surrounding his future. 27 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Mid-table duo Udinese and Torino will meet on Sunday afternoon, fighting it out for maximum points from their final Serie A fixture of 2024. 27 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Paris Saint-Germain are reportedly not prepared to pay £50m for Marcus Rashford, with the French champions potentially pulling out of the race for the Manchester United forward. 27 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk The January transfer window is almost here and clubs around the UK and Europe are lining up moves as they look to take advantage of the opportunity to strengthen. 27 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Brighton vs. Brentford (Friday, 7.30pm) Brighton & Hove Albion welcome Brentford to the Amex in one of two games being played after Boxing Day in the Premier League. 27 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal have reportedly shortlisted 22-year-old Boca Juniors goalkeeper Leandro Brey as a transfer target for the January 2025 window. 26 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Ruben Amorim has suffered the worst start of a Manchester United manager in 92 years thanks to Thursday's disheartening 2-0 Premier League loss to Wolverhampton Wanderers. 26 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea suffered their worst Premier League collapse of the 2000s in their shock 2-1 home loss to Fulham at Stamford Bridge on Boxing Day. 26 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk AVS and Estrela Amadora are in action for the last time in 2024 when they go head to head at the Estadio do Desportivo das Aves in round 16 of the Portuguese Primeira Liga on Saturday. 26 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool wing wizard Mohamed Salah hit yet another Premier League goalscoring landmark as Arne Slot's league leaders fought back to defeat Leicester City 3-1 on Boxing Day. 26 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool have moved seven points clear at the top of the Premier League table courtesy of a 3-1 victory over Leicester City at Anfield on Boxing Day. 26 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool have lost key midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai to suspension for their trip to West Ham United in the Premier League this weekend. 26 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk The only team in the Premier League with their unbeaten home record still intact, Arsenal seek to avoid a festive giant killing in Friday's Emirates encounter with Ipswich Town. 26 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk The agent of Manchester United attacker Antony has confirmed that there is "concrete interest" in the Brazilian ahead of the January transfer window. 26 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Tottenham Hotspur's defensive crisis worsened in their 1-0 Premier League loss to Nottingham Forest on Boxing Day, as Djed Spence was sent off while Radu Dragusin sustained an ankle injury. 26 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Aiming to end 2024 on top of Serie A, league leaders Atalanta BC will tackle close challengers Lazio at Stadio Olimpico on Saturday evening. 26 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea hotshot Cole Palmer broke a 23-year-old club goalscoring record set by Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink in the Blues' shock 2-1 Premier League defeat to West London derby rivals Fulham at Stamford Bridge. 26 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Julen Lopetegui's West Ham United beat Southampton 1-0 away from home on Thursday afternoon and spoiled Saints manager Ivan Juric's first game in charge of the club. 26 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Nottingham Forest have shot back into third place in the Premier League table thanks to Nuno Espirito Santo masterminding a 1-0 win over former club Tottenham Hotspur. 26 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Andoni Iraola's Champions League hopefuls Bournemouth were held to a 0-0 draw away from home by Crystal Palace on Boxing Day at the Vitality Stadium in the Premier League. 26 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Rodrigo Muniz scored a last-gasp winner as Fulham sensationally came from behind to defeat West London rivals Chelsea 2-1 at Stamford Bridge. 26 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Aiming to arrest their underwhelming Primeira Liga results before Christmas, Estoril Praia and Moreirense clash at Estadio Antonio Coimbra da Mota on Saturday, keen to notch important victories in the gameweek 16 encounter. 26 December 2024 talksport.com Birmingham's Boxing Day clash with Burton had to be temporarily suspended due to a medical emergency at St Andrew's. 26 December 2024 talksport.com Kevin De Bruyne certainly wasn't in the festive spirit after walking down the tunnel immediately after Manchester City were held to a 1-1 draw against Everton. 26 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Jose Mourinho reportedly wants Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford at Fenerbahce, while Paris Saint-Germain will not sign the 27-year-old. 26 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Erling Haaland missed a second-half penalty as Manchester City's Premier League plight continued with a 1-1 draw at home to a dogged Everton unit at the Etihad Stadium. 26 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Primeira Liga title contenders Porto could climb to first place on Saturday when they host relegation-threatened Boavista at Estadio do Dragao in gameweek 16. 26 December 2024 talksport.com Goalkeepers tend to be a little crazy and Jordan Pickford is no different. 26 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea and Fulham have announced their teams for the West London derby at Stamford Bridge on Boxing Day. 26 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United are paying increased attention to Atalanta BC midfielder Ederson ahead of a potential summer move to Old Trafford.