Wycombe: The battle ahead

Southampton's Alan Pardew yesterday joined the ranks of Millwall's Kenny Jackett, Leeds' Simon Grayson, Bristol Rovers' Paul Trollope and Brentford's Andy Scott in recognising that Wycombe Wanderers are not the pushover their lowly league position would suggest.

But over the next few weeks, it's the managers of the clubs around them in the league that the Chairboys will need to impress.

Unbeaten in their last three games, all of which were against teams currently in the top half of the table, Wycombe Wanderers are about to embark on a run of four games against sides from the lower half, and any hope of avoiding relegation will surely depend upon them improving their dire record against the lesser lights of the division.

So far this season, 20 of the Chairboys' 28 points have been won against top-half sides, with a mere 8 having been banked from their 14 games against teams currently in the bottom twelve.

Of their six wins this season, five have been against top-half sides, and bottom club Stockport County are their only scalp from the lower reaches of the table.

The Blues have the 12th best record in the division against top-half opposition, but are bottom of the pile in 24th place when it comes to playing against the so called weaker sides.

When you look at the records of the other relegation contenders, it's easy to see why Wycombe are in trouble.

Points Gained Against Bottom Half Opposition

Tranmere....24 points
Hartlepool....23 points
Oldham.......22 points
Southend.....21 points
Brighton......20 points
Gillingham...20 points
Exeter.........19 points
Stockport.....17 points
Wycombe .....8 points

So, with 13 games remaining, 8 of which are against bottom-half sides, Wycombe's fate depends upon them showing the same commitment they did against Millwall and Southampton - no matter who the opposition.

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