Exeter City Preview

Wycombe Wanderers entertain Exeter City on Saturday in their 37th league game of the season.


The League table currently shows both teams in the relegation zone with Exeter in 21st place on 36 points from 36 games and the Chairboys in 23rd with 30 points from 36 games.

Exeter's away record is............Won 2, Drawn 4, Lost 12.
Wycombe's home record is.......Won 4, Drawn 5, Lost 9.


One of a rapidly shrinking list of teams Wycombe can realistically hope to catch, struggling Exeter did themselves a big favour on Wednesday evening by snatching three valuable points with a last-minute winner against Bristol Rovers.

Late goals are becoming something of a speciality for the Grecians, with 11 of their 36 league goals this season having been scored in the final five minutes of the game.

An unimpressive away record has seen them win only twice on their travels in the league this season, a 1-0 victory at Carlisle United in August and a 2-1 win at Stockport County in November.

Since the turn of the year, they've picked up only 2 points from a possible 18 away from home, losing at Norwich, Yeovil, Millwall and Brighton, but earning a point at both Franchise and Southend.

Wycombe Wanderers are 7 points from safety and with only 10 games remaining are now staring relegation in the face.

Two excellent performances in February saw them collect 4 points from tough encounters with Millwall and Southampton, but rather than build on that, the Chairboys have only managed a return of 2 points from their last three games against Stockport, Carlisle and Oldham.

In order to avoid the drop, Wycombe have to overtake three teams and Exeter are one of their targets.

A win on Saturday would take the Chairboys to within three points of the Grecians, whereas defeat would make the gap nine points and virtually seal Wycombe's fate in the eyes of even their most optimistic fans.


Exeter's last five games (All Competitions)

LG1: Stockport (H)...........Lost 1-0
LG1: Brighton (A).............Lost 2-0
LG1: Oldham (H)............Drew 1-1
LG1: Southend (A).........Drew 0-0
LG1: Bristol Rovers (H)....Won 1-0


Wycombe's last five games (All Competitions)

LG1: Millwall (H)...............Won 1-0
LG1: Southampton (H).....Drew 0-0
LG1: Stockport (A)............Lost 4-3
LG1: Carlisle (H).............Drew 0-0
LG1: Oldham (A) ............Drew 2-2


Exeter Goal Stats (40 games in all Competitions)

Goals Scored (Total).........44
Goals Conceded (Total).....60

Goals Scored (Away)........20
Goals Conceded (Away)....37

Clean Sheets....7


Wycombe Goal Stats (40 games in all Competitions)

Goals Scored (Total).........44
Goals Conceded (Total).....75

Goals Scored (Home)........22
Goals Conceded (Home)....35

Clean Sheets....5


Exeter's Top Goal Scorers (All Competitions)

Adam Stansfield.......8
Ryan Harley.............7 (inc 1 pen)
Barry Corr...............6
Matthew Taylor.........4
Richard Logan..........3
Stuart Fleetwood......3

Four other Exeter players have each scored 2 goals.
Three other Exeter players have each scored 1 goal.


Wycombe's Top Goal Scorers (All Competitions)

Matt Harrold.............10 (inc 6 pens)
Jon-Paul Pittman.........9 (inc 1 pen)
Scott Davies...............4
Matt Phillips................3
Kevin Betsy................3

Three other Wycombe players have each scored 2 goals.
Eight other Wycombe players have each scored 1 goal.


Exeter Shooting (Top-3)

Ryan Harley..........31 on-target...26 off-target...1 against woodwork
Adam Stansfield....17 on-target.....7 off-target...0 against woodwork
Marcus Stewart.....10 on-target...14 off-target...0 against woodwork


Wycombe Shooting (Top-3)

Jon-Paul Pittman.....30 on-target...20 off-target...1 against woodwork
Scott Davies...........19 on-target...24 off-target...4 against woodwork
Matt Phillips............19 on-target...20 off-target...2 against woodwork


Shooting (Club)

Exeter.......163 on target..130 off target..6 against woodwork (Rank-23)
Wycombe..185 on target..166 off target..9 against woodwork (Rank-16)



League Form Guide

All Season
Exeter........Pld: 36...W: 8...D: 12...L: 16...Pts: 36...Pts per game: 1.00
Wycombe...Pld: 36...W: 6...D: 12...L: 18...Pts: 30...Pts per game: 0.83


Since 1st January 2010
Exeter.........Pld: 12...W: 2...D: 4...L: 6...Pts: 10...Pts per game: 0.83
Wycombe....Pld: 12...W: 2...D: 6...L: 4...Pts: 12...Pts per game: 1.00


Against Top Half Opposition
Exeter..............Pld: 20....Pts: 16....Pts per game: 0.80....(Rank-17)
Wycombe.........Pld: 20....Pts: 17....Pts per game: 0.85....(Rank-15)


Against Bottom Half Opposition
Exeter..............Pld: 16....Pts: 20....Pts per game: 1.25....(Rank-19)
Wycombe.........Pld: 16....Pts: 13....Pts per game: 0.81....(Rank-24)


Last Five league Games
Exeter..............LLDDW - 5 points
Wycombe........WDLDD - 6 points


Last Five League Games (Away)
Exeter...............LDLLD - 2 points


Last Five League Games (Home)
Wycombe........LLWDD - 5 points



Previous Meetings

In 4 previous meetings there have been 2 draws and 1 win for each side.

Earlier this season the Grecians rescued a point at St James Park courtesy of a stoppage time equaliser from Barry Corr which cancelled out Matt Harrold's first half penalty.

Last season the two sides drew 1-1 at Adams Park on Boxing Day when Emmanuel Panther's second half goal cancelled out Matt Harrold's 6th minute penalty for Wycombe. The return match at St James Park in April saw Exeter claim victory with the only goal of the game scored by Matthew Gill in front of a full house as both sides pushed for promotion.

2000/01 FLT: Wycombe 1 Exeter 0
2008/09 LG2: Wycombe 1 Exeter 1
2008/09 LG2: Exeter 1 Wycombe 0
2009/10 LG1: Exeter 1 Wycombe 1


The Man In The Middle

Saturday's referee is Peter Quinn from Cleveland who's enjoying his first season on the National List. He refereed Wycombe's 1-0 defeat at Carlisle United in December and so far this campaign has issued 50 yellow and 4 red cards in 19 games.


Prediction

Home Win

Click here to join in the debate on the club forum.