Preview: Colchester United v Wycombe Wanderers

Hot on the heels of two consecutive victories, Wycombe Wanderers travel to old rivals Colchester United on Tuesday evening for a second-round clash in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy. Both sides received a bye in the first round.

The Us are currently unbeaten in League One where they lie in 6th place with 16 points from 10 games. They also made it through to the second-round of the Carling Cup where they suffered their only defeat of the season, going down 2-0 to Sunderland at the Stadium of Light.

Rather like Wycombe, the Us have drawn too many games for their own good. Their current tally is seven in ten league games, one more than the Chairboys who have shared the spoils six times.

Wycombe haven't won in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy since October 2006 when they beat Swindon Town 1-0 at Adams Park.

Colchester went out at the first-round stage last season, but the previous year they reached the fourth-round before losing 1-0 at eventual winners Luton Town.

In the last twenty-five years the Blues and the Us have met three times in cup competitions. In November 1985, Wycombe won 2-0 at Loakes Park in the first-round of FA Cup. Eleven years later in November 1996, the Chairboys travelled to Layer Road and did it again, beating their hosts 2-1 to dump them out of the same competition at the same stage. Then in December 2003, the Essex side came out on top when a goal in the final minute of extra time gave them a 3-2 victory at Adams Park in the Football League Trophy.

Tomorrow's clash should see Blues' manager Gary Waddock shuffle his side to give some players a rest and allow others valuable time on the pitch.

A likely contender to be rested is veteran winger Gareth Ainsworth who scored a dramatic stoppage-time equaliser in last season's 1-1 draw at The Weston Homes Community Stadium.

Summer signing Scott Rendell could be handed a starting spot in the hope that he finally scores a confidence-boosting goal from open-play, while another likely contender for a run-out is promising right-back Marvin McCoy.


League Form

Colchester......Pld: 10...W: 3...D: 7...L: 0...Pts: 16

Wycombe.......Pld: 10...W: 3...D: 6...L: 1...Pts: 15


Colchester's Home Record.....Pld: 5...W: 1...D: 4...L: 0

Wycombe's Away Record.......Pld: 5...W: 1...D: 4...L: 0


Colchester's last five games (All Competitions)

LG1: Plymouth (H)...........Drew 1-1

LG1: Southampton (A).....Drew 0-0

LG1: Tranmere (H)...........Won 3-1

LG1: Dagenham (H)........Drew 2-2

LG1: Franchise (A)..........Drew 1-1


Wycombe's last five games (All Competitions)

LG2: Macclesfield (H)........Lost 1-2

LG2: Aldershot (A)..........Drew 0-0

LG2: Shrewsbury (H).......Drew 2-2

LG2: Barnet (H)................Won 4-2

LG2: Stevenage (A)..........Won 2-0


Colchester Goal Stats (12 games in all Competitions)

Goals Scored (Total)..........Lg: 14...Cups: 3....Total: 17

Goals Conceded (Total)......Lg: 10...Cups: 2....Total: 12

Goals Scored (Home).........Lg: 8.....Cups: 0....Total: 8

Goals Conceded (Home).....Lg: 6.....Cups: 0....Total: 6

Clean Sheets....Lg: 2....Cups: 1....Total: 3


Wycombe Goal Stats (11 games in all Competitions)

Goals Scored (Total)..........Lg: 13...Cups: 1.....Total: 14

Goals Conceded (Total)......Lg: 8.....Cups: 2.....Total: 10

Goals Scored (Away).........Lg: 4.....Cups: 0.....Total: 4

Goals Conceded (Away).....Lg: 2.....Cups: 0.....Total: 2

Clean Sheets....Lg: 5....Cups: 0....Total: 5


Colchester's Top Goal Scorers - (All Competitions)

David Mooney.............5

Andy Bond..................4

Anthony Wordsworth....3

Two other players have each scored two goals.

One other players has scored one goal.


Wycombe's Top Goal Scorers - (All Competitions)

Andy Sandell............4

Matt Bloomfield.........2

Lewis Montrose.........2

Scott Rendell............2 (inc 2 pens)

Four other players have each scored one goal.


Colchester Shooting (Top-3) - All Competitions

Ant Wordsworth........11 on-target....13 off-target....2 against woodwork

David Mooney............8 on-target....13 off-target....2 against woodwork

Ian Henderson...........9 on-target......8 off-target....0 against woodwork


Wycombe Shooting (Top-3) - All Competitions

Kevin Betsy............3 on-target...11 off-target....0 against woodwork

Ben Strevens..........7 on-target....5 off-target....1 against woodwork

Andy Sandell..........6 on-target.....6 off-target....1 against woodwork


Shooting (Club) - League Games Only

Colchester.......47 on target...49 off target...5 against w'work

Wycombe........31 on target...53 off target...5 against w'work


The Man In The Middle

Tuesday's referee is Andy Woolmer from Northamptonshire who was promoted to the National List of Referees in 2004. His most recent Wycombe game was the 1-0 win at Dagenham in February 2009. He was also in charge for the humiliating 7-0 defeat at home to Shrewsbury in the JPT earlier that season. During the current campaign he's issued 18 yellow and 2 red cards in 8 games.


On this day in history - 5th October

Colchester..........Played 10 - Won 2 - Drawn 3 - Lost 5

Wycombe.............Played 4 - Won 4 - Drawn 0 - Lost 0


Prediction - Haven't a clue.

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