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Wycombevs.Rotherham

sportsmole.co.uk, 22 August 2024, 15:09
Both still in search of a first victory of the League One season, Wycombe Wanderers and Rotherham United will do battle at Adams Park on Saturday.

The hosts are yet to pick up a point this term having lost each of their first two outings, while their visitors opened their account with a draw last weekend.

Match preview

Wycombe Wanderers will bid to get off the mark in League One at the third time of asking on Saturday, having endured a slow start to their second full season under the management of Matt Bloomfield.

Following an impressive end to the term, the Chairboys achieved a 10th-placed finish in England's third tier last time around and set out to build on that this time around, but they were unable to get off the mark in their opening trip to newly-promoted Wrexham.

After they fell 2-0 down in that game, Richard Kone halved the deficit around the hour mark, but Steven Fletcher would stretch the hosts' lead again in the 83rd minute and Sam Vokes's goal came too late to spark a turnaround, seeing the Buckinghamshire outfit leave empty-handed as a result.

Having bounced back from that loss with a 2-0 EFL Cup triumph over Northampton Town, Bloomfield's side faced another tough test at home to promotion-chasing Birmingham City last weekend, and they fell short in another 3-2 defeat, as Vokes again pulled one back in the dying embers having previously led through a Krystian Bielik own goal and fallen 3-1 down at Adams Park.

Now on the back of a disappointing 1-0 midweek EFL Trophy defeat to AFC Wimbledon, Wycombe Wanderers will be desperate to get up and running with a confidence-boosting home victory on Saturday to avoid finding themselves at the wrong end of the division when the table begins to take shape.

Their visitors travel to Buckinghamshire in a similar position, having only managed one point from their first two outings on their return to League One this term.

After their Championship relegation was confirmed, Rotherham United turned to returning boss Steve Evans late last season, and after overseeing a final-day victory over Cardiff City, he was tasked with leading the Millers' bid for an immediate promotion back to England's second tier.

Following a busy summer of squad changes, the Millers began with a trip to Exeter City and succumbed to a disappointing 1-0 defeat following Caleb Watts's goal, before hosting Bristol Rovers and former manager Matt Taylor last weekend on the back of a 2-1 EFL Cup victory over Crewe Alexandra.

The Millers were unable to make their dominance count in that second league outing, eventually opening their account with a point as the contest ended goalless at the New York Stadium.

Now on the back of another cup victory, having beaten Mansfield Town 2-0 in the EFL Trophy group stage in midweek thanks to Jordan Hugill's brace, Rotherham United will be keen to get their promotion bid up and running with a first league triumph of the season when they visit Adams Park on Saturday.

Wycombe Wanderers League One form:

L

L

Wycombe Wanderers form (all competitions):

L

W

L

L

Rotherham United League One form:

L

D

Rotherham United form (all competitions):

L

W

D

W

Team News

After rotating his squad heavily for their midweek EFL Trophy tie with AFC Wimbledon, Matt Bloomfield should revert back to a similar Wycombe Wanderers starting XI from last weekend's narrow defeat to Birmingham City, with Ryan Tafazolli hoping to return in the middle of the defence after picking up a knock in the second half of that game.

If deemed fit, he will rejoin Joe Low at the heart of a back four, while new arrival Cameron Humphreys will compete with Luke Leahy, Josh Scowen, Matt Butcher and Tyreeq Bakinson to feature in the midfield.

Kieran Sadlier and Garath McCleary will both hope to return on the wings, while Sam Vokes, Daniel Udoh and Richard Kone will fight to lead the line, with veteran Vokes having scored off the bench in both of their first two League One outings of the season.

Steve Evans should have a full Rotherham United squad to pick from on Saturday, with Alex MacDonald able to feature despite his red card against Mansfield Town last time out, with the suspension instead carrying over to their next EFL Trophy contest.

He could again line up on the right-hand side of a back four, with Cameron Humphreys, Jamie McCart and Zak Jules competing to feature in the centre, while Cameron Dawson and Dillon Phillips have both laid claims to start between the sticks.

Jordan Hugill should come into the attack from the outset, having netted the decisive brace in midweek after Sam Nombe and Jonson Clarke-Harris were preferred against Bristol Rovers, while Mallik Wilks could offer further support following his loan switch from Sheffield Wednesday and full debut on Tuesday.

Wycombe Wanderers possible starting lineup:

Bishop; Grimmer, Low, Tafazolli, Harvie; Butcher, Scowen, Leahy; McCleary, Kone, Sadlier

Rotherham United possible starting lineup:

Phillips; MacDonald, Humphreys, McCart, Bramall; Tiehi, Odoffin, Powell; Wilks; Clarke-Harris, Hugill

We say: Wycombe Wanderers 1-1 Rotherham United

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