A preview of Wycombe's six-pointer against Orient

Wycombe Wanderers entertain fellow strugglers Leyton Orient at Adams Park on Saturday in their 11th League One fixture of the season.


Orient are 21st in the table with 9 points from their opening 10 league games.

Currently keeping the Chairboys company in the relegation zone, the O's have two league victories to their name this season, having won at Bristol Rovers on the opening day and then beaten Millwall at Brisbane Road last Saturday.

Orient fans who hoped the Millwall win would boost their side's confidence were brought back down to earth with a bump on Tuesday evening when they were soundly beaten 4-0 by Norwich City at Carrow Road.

One visitor to Adams Park on Saturday who will need no introduction to the home crowd is O's top scorer Scott McGleish who returns to face his former side for the first time since his controversial departure caused some debate amongst Wycombe fans.

McGleish will be fondly remembered for his 26 goal contribution to the Chairboys' 2007-08 season which ended in play-off disappointment at Edgeley Park.

Unfortunately, the striker went on to blot his copybook with Wycombe fans the following season when a few ill-chosen remarks in the wake of manager Paul Lambert's departure were followed by some petulant displays of dissatisfaction when McGleish couldn't establish himself in new manager Peter Taylor's side.

Loaned out for the majority of last season, McGleish finalised his move to Orient this summer and Wycombe can only hope the prolific goalscorer doesn't come back to haunt them on Saturday.

Orient have been managed by former Colchester United boss Geraint Williams since February of this year, when he was given the task of preserving the O's League One status.

Williams was successful and Orient finished the 2008-09 season in 14th place with 56 points. The Season before they were again 14th but with 60 points and the year before that they finished 20th with 51 points.


O's on target

Seven different players have scored for Orient in all competitions so far this season and their top marksman is Scott McGleish with three goals to his name. Andros Townsend , Ryan Jarvis, Tamika Mkandawire and John Melligan have each scored twice.


Shooting (Top-3)

Ryan Jarvis.................9 on-target...8 off-target...1 against woodwork
Andros Townsend ......11 on-target...3 off-target...0 against woodwork
Jimmy Smith...............7 on-target...7 off-target...0 against woodwork


Orient's League Results so far

LG1: Bristol Rovers (A).....Won 2-1
LG1: Oldham (H)...............Lost 2-1
LG1: Charlton (H)..............Lost 2-1
LG1: Yeovil (A)................Drew 3-3
LG1: Carlisle (H)..............Drew 2-2
LG1: Southend (A)............Lost 3-0
LG1: Exeter (H)...............Drew 1-1
LG1: Stockport (A)............Lost 2-1
LG1: Millwall (H)...............Won 1-0
LG1: Norwich (A)..............Lost 4-0


Orient's summer signings

Ben Chorley (Tranmere Rovers) - Defender
Scott McGleish (Wycombe Wanderers) - Striker
Adrian Patulea (Lincoln City) - Striker
Jimmy Smith (Chelsea) - Midfielder
James Scowcroft (Crystal Palace) - Striker
Andros Townsend (Tottenham) - Striker - On Loan
Luke Summerfield (Plymouth) - Midfielder - On Loan



The Chairboys are currently 23nd in the table with 6 points from their opening 10 league games.

With only one win in their first ten outings, Tuesday's 1-0 defeat to Tranmere Rovers confirmed Wycombe as the side with the worst record in the division so far this season, with Southampton only below them in the table due to their ten point deduction.

Much has been made of Wycombe's tough start to life in this division, and with 7 of their opening 10 games having been against teams currently in the top half of the table, it's true enough.

However, having said that, it's interesting and a little worrying to note that the Chairboys have actually won over twice as many points per game against these tougher sides than they have in their games against opposition from the lower half of the table.

Manager Peter Taylor has never made any secret of the fact that he felt survival would represent a good season for Wycombe, but even so, he must currently be feeling under some pressure as the Chairboys prepare for another early season six-pointer against Orient on Saturday.

Tommy Doherty and Matt Bloomfield are still out injured but Stuart Beavon is expected to be fit after missing Tuesday's match with a groin strain.


Chairboys on target

Six different players have scored for Wycombe in all competitions this season and their top marksman is Jon-Paul Pittman with 4 goals. Chris Zebroski and Matt Harrold have 2 goals apiece.


Shooting (Top-3)

Jon-Paul Pittman.....11 on-target.....7 off-target....0 against woodwork
Stuart Green............9 on-target.....9 off-target....0 against woodwork
Chris Zebroski........10 on-target.....5 off-target....0 against woodwork


Wycombe's League results so far

LG1: Charlton (A)............Lost 3-2
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
LG1: Brighton (A)............Lost 1-0
LG1: Hartlepool (A)........Drew 1-1
LG1: Franchise (H) ..........Lost 1-0
LG1: Swindon (A)...........Drew 1-1
LG1: Tranmere (H)..........Lost 1-0


League form comparison

Overall

Wycombe...Pld: 10...W: 1...D: 3...L: 6...Pts: 6...GF: 9...GA: 16...CS: 0

Orient........Pld: 10...W: 2...D: 3...L: 5...Pts: 9...GF: 12...GA: 20...CS: 1


Home and Away

Wycombe (Home).....Pld: 5...W: 1...D: 1...L: 3...Pts: 4...GF: 3...GA: 5

Orient (Away)..........Pld: 5....W: 1...D: 1...L: 3...Pts: 4...GF: 6...GA: 13


Against Top Half Opposition

Wycombe...Pld: 7.......Pts: 5......Pts per game: 0.71

Orient........Pld: 4.......Pts: 3......Pts per game: 0.75


Against Bottom Half Opposition

Wycombe....Pld: 3......Pts: 1......Pts per game: 0.33

Orient.........Pld: 6......Pts: 6......Pts per game: 1.0


Quotes

Peter Taylor:

'If we play like that again on Saturday I won't be too disappointed. The boys tried to do everything that was asked of them, no one hid and we tried to play football. However, the table doesn't lie after nine or ten matches, so I'd imagine we're in a relegation scrap.'


Jason Demetriou (Orient midfielder):

'I know we have dropped back into the bottom four, but three more points would put us half-way up the table. We have proved we can match the big boys. We beat Millwall last weekend and the lads are all raring to go on Saturday, especially Scott (McGleish). We don't want to get sucked into trouble and be looking over our shoulders all the time. There is enough ability in the side and I'm sure it's only a matter of time before we start climbing the table.'


Previous Meetings at Adams Park

1993/94: LCp Wycombe 1 Orient 0
1994/95: LG1 Wycombe 2 Orient 1
1995/96: LCp Wycombe 3 Orient 0
2004/05: LG2 Wycombe 3 Orient 2
2005/06: LG2 Wycombe 4 Orient 2

5 wins for Wycombe, 0 wins for Orient and 0 draws.


The Man In The Middle

Saturday's referee is Jarnail Singh from Middlesex who reached the National List of referees in 2004. His most recent Wycombe game was last season's 1-1 draw with Barnet at Underhill.



If the Chairboys are able to attack Orient as much as they attacked Tranmere on Tuesday, you would expect lady luck to grant them a goal this time. However, I wouldn't like to bet on them keeping a clean sheet.

Prediction

Wycombe 1 Leyton Orient 1

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