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

The home side are currently seventh in the table, six points behind sixth-placed Barnsley, while Fleetwood occupy 14th, 12 points behind their opponents heading into the contest.

Match preview

Matt Bloomfield has now taken charge of two games for Wycombe since replacing Gareth Ainsworth as head coach last month, and he is still waiting for his first victory at the helm.

Indeed, the Blues suffered a 2-0 defeat at Shrewsbury Town on February 25 before drawing 1-1 at home to Exeter City on Saturday afternoon, with the result leaving them in seventh spot in the table.

Bloomfield's side are now six points behind sixth-placed Barnsley, who have played a game fewer, so they will need to start putting together a run of victories in order to move into the playoff positions.

Wycombe have picked up 31 points from their 17 home league fixtures this term, and they will be welcoming a Fleetwood side that have been relatively impressive on their travels, losing just five times, picking up 22 points in the process, boasting the eighth-best away record.

The two teams played out a 1-1 draw in the reverse fixture earlier this season, but Wycombe have not actually lost to Fleetwood since February 2020.

The away side will enter this match off the back of a 1-0 defeat at Cheltenham Town on Saturday, while they were beaten 1-0 by Burnley in the FA Cup at the start of the month.

A record of 10 wins, 12 draws and 12 defeats from 34 matches has seen them collect 42 points, which is enough for 14th spot in the table, 10 points clear of the relegation zone.

The Fishermen finished 20th in League One last season, but they are comfortably clear of the bottom four at this moment in time, while there are only two points separating them from 11th-placed Lincoln City.

Scott Brown's team have only won once on their travels since New Year's Day, but they have been victorious in each of their last four games in front of their own supporters.

As mentioned, Fleetwood's last win over Wycombe came in February 2020, with one goal separating the two teams in the fixture at Adams Park.

Wycombe Wanderers League One form:

W

W

W

W

L

D

Fleetwood Town League One form:

W

W

D

W

W

L

Fleetwood Town form (all competitions):

W

D

W

W

L

L

Team News

Wycombe will again be without the services of Dominic Gape due to a hamstring problem.

Jack Grimmer made his return from a concussion against Exeter on Saturday, and the defender came through the match unscathed, so he should continue at the back here.

Ryan Tafazolli just missed out against Exeter due to a hamstring problem, but he could be back in contention for the contest with Fleetwood.

Fleetwood, meanwhile, will again be without long-term absentee Darnell Johnson.

The visitors did not suffer any fresh issues in their loss at Cheltenham, but head coach Brown could make a couple of changes due to the disappointing result.

Indeed, Jack Marriott is pushing to come into the side, while there could also be a position in the XI for Phoenix Patterson, who was a second-half substitute on Saturday.

Wycombe Wanderers possible starting lineup:

Stryjek; McCarthy, Grimmer, Forino-Joseph, Jacobson; Wing, Scowen; McCleary, Wheeler, Campbell; Vokes

Fleetwood Town possible starting lineup:

Lynch; Holgate, Nsiala, Earl; Rooney, Vela, Warrington, Patterson; Gomes, Marriott, Stockley

We say: Wycombe Wanderers 1-0 Fleetwood Town

This is a really difficult match to call, but it is one that Wycombe desperately need to win in order to remain in playoff contention. The hosts might have to suffer in order to secure a positive result, but we are backing them to navigate their way to an important three points.

Previews by email