Preview: Wycombe Wanderers vs. Peterborough United - prediction, team news, lineups

The Posh have put themselves in the playoff places with three victories from their last four outings, while their hosts sit 17th after making a return to winning ways last weekend.

Match preview

After reaching the League One playoff final and falling just short of an immediate return to the Championship at Wembley, Wycombe Wanderers set to go one better and earn promotion this time around, but they have had an underwhelming start to the new term, currently finding themselves 17th after 12 outings.

Gareth Ainsworth's side followed up a poor start with victories over Barnsley and Accrington Stanley either side of draws with Charlton Athletic and Fleetwood Town but would then endure another run of defeats, firstly losing at the hands of Derby County and Sheffield Wednesday.

The Chairboys would then take on high-flying Plymouth Argyle and drop further towards the bottom of the division, as Sam Cosgrove's early penalty made the difference in an away victory.

Hoping to return to winning ways on the back of those three losses, Ainsworth's men travelled to take on Oxford United last weekend, and they managed to hold on for a much-needed 1-0 victory after Chris Forino-Joseph hit the only goal late in the first half.

Having now moved up to 17th spot, with just a three-point gap up to 10th-placed Derby County, Wycombe will look to keep getting their season on track with consecutive league wins for the first time this season.

They meet a Peterborough United side who have put themselves in a strong position in the leading pack after a slow start in their own bid for promotion back to the Championship.

Grant McCann's side will have been disappointed by their form at the beginning of the term, following their relegation from England's second tier last time around, as they had 12 points from nine outings after four straight defeats with just three wins on the board.

The Posh appear to have found their form since, though, firstly ending the losing run with a 3-0 thrashing of Port Vale before making it back-to-back wins with a hard-fought 3-2 triumph away at MK Dons.

After being held to a 1-1 draw at home to Burton Albion last weekend, the Posh returned to action on Tuesday at home to Forest Green Rovers, and they made it four unbeaten with three wins in that time as Nathan Thompson, Jonson Clarke-Harris, Ricky-Jade Jones and Harrison Burrows all got on the scoresheet in a dominant 4-1 victory.

Having now climbed to fourth spot, four points behind Sheffield Wednesday and eight outside of the top two, McCann's men will look to strengthen their pursuit and continue building momentum with another three-point haul at the weekend.

Wycombe Wanderers League One form:

D

W

L

L

L

W

Wycombe Wanderers form (all competitions):

W

L

L

L

L

W

Peterborough United League One form:

L

L

W

W

D

W

Peterborough United form (all competitions):

L

W

W

W

D

W

Team News

After making a return to winning ways last time out, Wycombe Wanderers could come into Saturday's game unchanged, with centre-back Ryan Tafazolli likely remaining out of contention through injury.

In his absence, Alfie Mawson will again play at the heart of a back three alongside Joe Jacobsen and Saturday's goalscorer Chris Forino-Joseph.

Dominic Gape and Lewis Wing will likely continue their partnership in midfield, while Sam Vokes should again lead the line with attacking support from Anis Mehmeti and Garath McCleary.

Peterborough will likely remain without midfielder Oliver Norburn due to an injury, leaving Jack Taylor and Jeando Fuchs to partner up in the engine room.

Jonson Clarke-Harris will continue to lead their line, having already hit 10 goals in just 13 League One appearances so far this season.

The frontman has plenty of attacking support around him, with 19-year-old Ricky-Jade Jones bound to keep his place on the left wing after scoring his second League One goal of the season last time out, with Harrison Burrows also set to feature after adding to his tally, while Jack Marriott may again have to settle for a place on the bench if McCann sticks with Clarke-Harris as a lone striker.

Wycombe Wanderers possible starting lineup:

Stryjek; Forino-Joseph, Mawson, Jacobsen; McCarthy, Gape, Wing, Obita; McCleary, Vokes, Mehmeti

Peterborough United possible starting lineup:

Bergstrom; Thompson, Knight, Kent, Butler; Fuchs, Taylor; Ward, Burrows, Jones; Clarke-Harris

We say: Wycombe Wanderers 1-3 Peterborough United

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