Preview: Wycombe Wanderers v Northampton Town

Wycombe Wanderers take-on Northampton Town at Adams Park on Tuesday evening in the first-round of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy.


The Cobblers have gone out of this competition at the first-round stage in each of the last three seasons.

Johnstone's Paint Trophy Record

2006/07: Brentford (H).....Drew 0-0 (Lost 4-2 on penalties)
2007/08: Luton Town (A)....Lost 2-0
2008/09: Brighton (H)........Lost 1-0


A defeat at Leeds United on the final day of last season saw Northampton relegated from League One by a single point after finishing in 21st place with 49 points.

A mixed start to life back in League Two has seen the Cobblers pick up 7 points from their opening 5 games and they currently occupy 12th place in the table.

They have scored 7 league goals and conceded only 4, with 3 of those coming last Saturday in a 3-2 defeat at newly promoted Burton Albion.

The Cobblers have kept 3 clean sheets so far this season.



Cobblers on target

Four different players have scored for Northampton this season and their top marksman is Adebayo Akinfenwa with 2 goals.


Northampton's season so far

LG2: Macclesfield (H)....Drew 0-0
Ccp: Southampton (A)....Lost 2-0
LG2: Chesterfield (A)......Lost 1-0
LG2: Accrington (A)........Won 3-0
LG2: Bournemouth (H)....Won 2-0
LG2: Burton Albion (A)....Lost 3-2




The Chairboys have only won one game in this competition in the last three seasons.

Johnstone's Paint Trophy Record

2006/07: Swindon Town (H)....Won 1-0
2006/07: Bristol Rover (H)......Lost 2-0
2007/08: Swansea City (A).....Lost 2-0
2008/09: Shrewsbury (H).......Lost 7-0


After winning promotion on the final day of last season, the Chairboys have endured a tough start to their League One campaign and currently lie 20th in the table with 4 points from their first 5 games.

They have scored 7 goals, but some alarming defensive work, particularly from set pieces, has seen Wycombe concede 15 times, 11 of them in the league.

The Chairboys are yet to keep a clean sheet this season.

Manager Peter Taylor is likely to make several changes for this match and the Adams Park crowd may well witness the debuts of on-loan signings Ashley Chambers and Marlon Pack.

Michael Duberry is likely to be missing through injury, which could see Leon Johnson given another 90 minutes towards full match-fitness.

With others such as Stuart Beavon also in the running to start on Tuesday, Wycombe fans will be hoping to avoid another humiliating defeat like the 7-0 drubbing Shrewsbury Town handed them in this competition last season.


Chairboys on target

Four different players have scored for Wycombe in all competitions this season and their top marksmen are Chris Zebroski, Jon-Paul Pittman and Matt Harrold with 2 goals apiece.


Wycombe's season so far

LG1: Charlton (A)...........Lost 3-2
Ccp: Peterborough (H)....Lost 4-0
LG1: Leeds (H)...............Lost 1-0
LG1: Southend (H)........Drew 1-1
LG1: Norwich (A)............Lost 5-2
LG1: Bristol Rovers (H)...Won 2-1


Previous Meetings At Adams Park

1993/94: LG2 Wycombe 1 Northampton 0
1997/98: LG1 Wycombe 0 Northampton 0
1998/99: LG1 Wycombe 1 Northampton 2
2000/01: LG1 Wycombe 1 Northampton 0
2001/02: LG1 Wycombe 2 Northampton 1
2002/03: LG1 Wycombe 1 Northampton 1
2004/05: LG2 Wycombe 0 Northampton 1
2005/06: LG2 Wycombe 1 Northampton 1
2005/06: FAC Wycombe 1 Northampton 3

3 wins for Northampton, 3 wins for Wycombe and 3 draws.


The Man In The Middle

Tuesday's referee is Gary Sutton from Lincolnshire. His last Wycombe game was the 2-1 FA Cup defeat at Stockport County in December 2006.



Winning is a good habit to get into and after Saturday's first victory of the campaign against Bristol Rovers, this is a good opportunity for the Chairboys to build on that and boost their confidence ahead of what could be season-defining clashes at bottom-four sides Brighton and Hartlepool United.


Prediction

Wycombe Wanderers 2 Northampton Town 1

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