Score predictions - Wycombe home

After the drab, and ultimately disappointing draw with Stockport, having led for 85 minutes, the Reds now welcome Wycombe to Oakwell, looking to kick start some sort of winning home form. Buoyed by a late comeback win at Bristol Rovers on Saturday, the Chair boys are 12/5 outsiders to pick up their 3rd away win of the season, with the Reds priced at 6/5 to bounce back from the disappointing late equaliser against County.


Despite being outside the play-offs by a point at present, Wycombe have made a solid start to the campaign, suffering just 2 defeats themselves. Both of their league defeats were by a 3-2 scoreline, and were the first two match days of the season against the leagues current top 2. On the road, they're undefeated in 3 in the league and 4 in all competitions, including a Cup victory over Championship Swansea. Last season, they had the 11th best away record, with 31 points from 23 games, en route to a 10th placed finish.


This will be just the 7th Oakwell meeting between the sides, with the Reds winning 3, drawing 2 and losing 1 of the first 6. A drab game last November was settled by Sam Cosgrove's first Barnsley goal, when Chairboys goalkeeper Mark Stryjek theatrically fell to the floor and inadvertently dropped the ball. Cauley Woodrow was the match winner in the first two Reds victories over Wycombe at Oakwell, both by 2-1 scorelines and both containing a Reds penalty. A 3-0 defeat early in Michael Duff's reign as manager is the only real blemish on our recent record over Wycombe at Oakwell.


There are 2 ex Reds in the Wycombe ranks. Jason McCarthy is in his 7th season, across 4 spells with Wycombe, having played for the Reds 21 times during the 17/18 season without making too much of an impact. He's mainly been bit part for the Wanderers in the last 2 seasons though has featured for them just over 200 times. His longevity at Wycombe is bettered by another former Red in Josh Scowen. The combative midfielder is in his 8th season, across 2 spells with Wycombe via stints at Oakwell, QPR and Sunderland. Scowie has featured over 230 times for Wanderers, and has been an ever present in League 1 again so far this season. He's more fondly remembered by the Reds faithful, having featured in both Wembley finals for the Reds in 2016. He scored 10 goals in 99 league games for the Reds, some of which in the Championship. There aren't any ex Wycombe players in the Barnsley squad.


Once again, I find it difficult to foresee many Reds changes, as the 11 on the field is arguably the best side. There is an argument for choosing between DKD and Adam Phillips, rather than trying to make both fit. I honestly think DKD works better with Cosgrove, though Humphrys may get the nod ahead of Sam once again. Lofthouse once more showed promise from the bench, and may get the nod if Cotter is injured. I could also see Pines in for Roberts, though I don't like altering the back line too much.



Its likely that Wycombe will be unchanged from the side that beat Bristol Rovers late on, on Saturday. 21 year old centre half, Caleb Taylor, is their highest rated player on Fot Mob; he's won an incredible 87.5% of his aerial duals so far this season, has a high pass accuracy percentage, and hasn't been dispossessed. The goals have been spread around their team, with McCleary, Kone and Humphreys all on 2 goals, with playmaker Morley on 3 assists. Unsurprisingly, Josh Scowen leads the way in terms of yellow cards, with 3.



Referee Ross Joyce was the runner up in last seasons golden Kettle award. His display in our home victory over Leyton Orient was deemed the 2nd worst by any referee last season; he controversially dismissed Luca Connell for protesting that Orient were trying to delay the restart after Adam Phillips had equalised in the 88th minute. Phillips went on to score again in the 95th. The atmosphere inside Oakwell that day was one of tbe better ones, as the Oakwell faithful tend to rally behind the team when there's a questionable ref. Coincidentally, that's the last red card he awarded. He last took charge of Wycombe a few weeks later, and their seemingly more sedate goalless draw away at Blackpool. In his 6 appointments so far this season, he's issued 27 yellow cards, 11 of which were in a game between Blackpool and Exeter, another game with 2 late goals. He's yet to award a penalty this season.


I seem to say this every game, but this especially is a difficult one to call. Wycombe have only been beaten so far by the best 2 sides in the league, and even then, it was in a 5 goal thriller on both occasions. The conditions may play a part, but as usual, it's difficult seeing us keep a clean sheet. We do tend to score too though, so for my bet, I'm backing Btts in the first half at 11/4 (P/L for the season after a win on Saturday = £57.43). In terms of the result, I can see another score draw on the cards. I'm going 1-1, with Connell getting our goal.

 

I would like to see this line up.

3-4-2-1

 

Colliers 3 Chairboys 0

 

0-2

 

1-3. Things get toxic.

 

Draw, BTTS @ 3/1

2-2 @ 10/1

 

I can see 37 year old Gareth McCleary causing us some real issues down that side with how forward Cotter is - I reckon a draw. 1-1.

 

Another tough test. As against Stockport, a point (on paper) wouldn't be horrific. But a win and four points from the last six looks good.

I think we'd all just like to see a better performance though wouldn't we? Some patterns, faster football, better decisions.

If only it was so simple!

I'm thinking 2-1 Reds. Close contest. They usually are against Wycombe to be fair.

 

Not confident at all. Type of side we always struggle against.

 

1-1 DKD

 

https://www.soccerbase.com/teams/head_to_head.sd?team_id=208&team2_id=2898

Wycombe have only beat us twice in 12 attempts. Last season was their only win at Oakwell and our 1-0 defeat at theirs saw them sit back, draw us in and dink long balls for their quick lads to chase.

Fair to say they always have a plan, but we normally do ok against them, but factor in our home form, our tendency to bring problems upon ourselves and the predictable way we retreat after the subs come on, who knows?

I’ll be brave and say 2-1 reds. Good start, get 2 up then concede and hang on grimly.

 

I'm thinking knives are out for Clarke and don't think the players are playing for him judging on what I saw on Saturday.

I think we'll lose or draw after going in front. 0-2 or 2-2 after bottling it again.

 

We did the double over them last season

 

In. A. Nutshell.

 

Us 0 them 3

 

Play like Saturday we get stuffed.

 

It's one of them classic conundrum nights.
3-0 and DC is a tactical genius aboard HMS P155 The League, or ........
0-3 and restless toxicity signals the beginning of a quick end.

Part of me fears the latter but I am going to swerve towards the former with Cozzy getting a first half opener, before adding another in the 2nd half with Phillips.

10,072

I'm not predicting Euro millions so today's outlandish prediction outside football is that Starmer will be accused of something else. Along the lines of accepting a coffee at his son's school results day. With milk and sugar. That is out of reach for most pensioners.

 

If it stays 0-0 well into the second half then I think we'll win 1-0 or 2-1. If we're sitting on a 1 goal lead for any length of time then we'll draw or lose.

I'll go for 2-1, with Connell and Humphrys getting the goals.

 

0-0

 

Wouldn’t feel confident with this one at best of times, unfortunately can’t see anything but a defeat in what will be a very frustrating game where we will be, out-thought, out- fought and bullied all over the pitch. I still bet we collect more yellow cards than them though. Might even see a red for Cosgrove if he plays.