Wycombevs.Huddersfield

Neither side were able to claim victory at the weekend, but now have the opportunity to gain ground on their rivals with this game in hand.

Match preview

Despite having the best away record in the division, Wycombe's slight lack of proficiency at home showed again on Saturday as they dropped more points at Adams Park.

While it would take some doing to better their form on the road, there is quite a drop off when playing in familiar surroundings, scoring almost half the amount of the goals as they have away.

With just one win in their last five home games, against Exeter City on New Year's Day, Wycombe will now enter a third straight fixture at Adams Park on the back of a 1-1 draw with Blackpool here at the weekend.

After going in front, Alex Hartridge's red card early in the second half made hanging onto the three points difficult, and they eventually succumbed to the pressure, conceding a 93rd-minute equaliser to Kyle Joseph.

Paired with Birmingham City's win away at Wigan Athletic, that saw Matt Bloomfield's men drop to second in the standings, and they are only above Wrexham now on goal difference after they also managed to pick up maximum points.

However, this game in hand will allow them to open up a three-point buffer over the money-rolled Welsh club, and go back to the top of League One, even though Birmingham would then have two games in hand themselves.

Therefore, the hosts will certainly hope there is no repeat of the last time they welcomed Huddersfield to Adams Park in League One, as they were thrashed 6-0 here in 2012.

There have been more recent encounters, with the two sides facing off in the Championship during the behind-closed-doors season of 2020-21, and Wycombe took four points off the Terriers.

Huddersfield should feel very confident of performing better against the Chairboys this time around though, considering they are currently the best of the rest outside the top three.

Michael Duff's men are seven points off the title-chasing pack, but are six points inside the playoff places with two games in hand.

That is thanks to a superb 14-game unbeaten run, dating back to their last defeat on October 1 against the league leaders Birmingham.

Only upcoming opponents Wycombe (33) have taken more points than Huddersfield (32) in that time, even though they had a frustrating afternoon at home to Rotherham on Saturday.

Despite registering 23 shots and managing an xG of over two, Town were held to a 0-0 draw on their own patch, allowing another in-form side, Barnsley, to close the gap on them.

Wycombe Wanderers League One form:

W

D

W

L

W

D

Huddersfield Town League One form:

W

D

W

W

D

D

Huddersfield Town form (all competitions):

L

D

W

W

D

D

Team News

After his red card in the draw with Blackpool at the weekend, defender Hartridge will be suspended for this one, joining the injured Kieran Sadlier on the sidelines.

Matthew Butcher returned to the matchday squad at the weekend following a month out, but there is still no Sam Vokes in attack, so the hosts will hope Richard Kone can continue his excellent form.

Kone scored his 13th league goal of the season on Saturday, and he will be one player to keep an eye on with the January transfer window now open.

Huddersfield will be without Ruben Roosken due to suspension here, given that he was sent off just 10 minutes after coming on as a late substitute in their goalless draw with Rotherham at the weekend.

First-choice goalkeeper Lee Nicholls is edging closer to a return to action, along with outfield trio Lasse Sorensen, David Kasumu and Daniel Ward, but they all remain doubts ahead of this one.

Returns for the likes of Anthony Evans, Mikel Miller, Jonathan Hogg and Rhys Healey may take a little longer to come about, while defender Nigel Lonwijk was forced off inside the first five minutes on Saturday.

Wycombe Wanderers possible starting lineup:

Ravizzoli; Grimmer, Low, Tafazolli, Harvie; Scowen, Leahy, Humphreys; Onyedinma, Kone, Lubala

Huddersfield Town possible starting lineup:

Chapman; Lees, Helik, Turton; Spencer, Wiles, Hodge, Kane, Koroma; Marshall, Radulovic

We say: Wycombe Wanderers 1-1 Huddersfield Town

Wycombe's home form is not as good as it could be, and may continue to hamper their chances of the title and even possibly automatic promotion.

Written by

Andrew Delaney

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