Preview: Wycombe Wanderers v Bristol Rovers

Wycombe Wanderers entertain Bristol Rovers on Tuesday in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy.


Wycombe are 5th in League Two with 25 points from 15 games.

Rovers are 12th in League One with 20 points from 15 games.


Wycombe's Home Record (All competitions)...Won 2 - Drawn 3 - Lost 3

Rovers' Away Record (All competitions).........Won 2 - Drawn 3 - Lost 5


Some fans see it as a realistic opportunity to reach Wembley and some see it as an unwelcome distraction from the league, but whatever you think of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy, we're in it - so we might as well try to win it.

The Bristol Rovers game is an Area Quarter Final which means there are only 16 teams left in the whole competition. So, beat the Pirates on Tuesday and we're only a couple of wins away from a trip to Wembley, and when you say it like that, it almost sounds exciting.

In the last round Rovers beat Aldershot 1-0 at home, while Wycombe triumphed 2-0 at old-rivals Colchester United. Both sides received a bye in the first round of the competition.

In order to get past Rovers tomorrow, the Blues have to win at Adams Park - something they've only managed twice in eight attempts so far this season, but on the plus side, Rovers haven't been great on the road with only two wins in ten attempts.

One good omen is that last season when wins of any description were rare, Wycombe still managed to do the double over the Pirates, coming from behind on both occasions to win 2-1 at home and 3-2 away.

The Blues are also on a great run of form at the moment with seven wins, one draw and just one defeat in their last nine games. It's an impressive record which compares favourably with Rovers' three wins, two draws and four defeats in the same period.

Without a win in their last four games, the Pirates' confidence will have been dented by Saturday's FA Cup defeat at the hands of Conference side Darlington. Wycombe meanwhile were winning ugly at Hayes & Yeading to further boost morale.

The rules of the JPT ensure that both clubs will field a strong side in tomorrow's clash. They must play at least six of the eleven players who have made the most starts in all competitions in the current campaign - or at least six of the eleven players who started the previous game, or will start the next game.

Among those likely to be drafted in by Blues' mananager Gary Waddock are exciting full-back Marvin McCoy, fans' favourite and 2008 player of the season Leon Johnson and big summer signing Scott Rendell.



Rovers' last five games (All Competitions)

LG1: Rochdale (H)............Won 2-1

LG1: Hartlepool (A).........Drew 2-2

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

LG1: Plymouth (A)............Lost 1-3

FAC: Darlington (A)..........Lost 1-2



Wycombe's last five games (All Competitions)

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

LG2: Rotherham (A).........Won 4-3

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

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

FAC: Hayes & Y'ing (A).....Won 2-1



Rovers' Goal Stats (18 games in all Competitions)

Goals Scored (Total)..........Lg: 18...Cups: 3...Total: 21

Goals Conceded (Total)......Lg: 22...Cups: 8...Total: 30

Goals Scored (Away).........Lg: 11...Cups: 2...Total: 13

Goals Conceded (Away).....Lg: 13...Cups: 8...Total: 21

Clean Sheets.....................Lg: 3.....Cups: 1...Total: 4



Wycombe Goal Stats (18 games in all Competitions)

Goals Scored (Total)..........Lg: 24...Cups: 5...Total: 29

Goals Conceded (Total)......Lg: 16...Cups: 3...Total: 19

Goals Scored (Home).........Lg: 12...Cups: 1...Total: 13

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

Clean Sheets.....................Lg: 6.....Cups: 1...Total: 7



Rovers' Top Goal Scorers - (All Competitions)

Will Hoskins.............8

Jeff Hughes..............5 (inc 3 pens)

Chris Lines...............3

Jo Kuffour................3

Byron Anthony.........2



Wycombe's Top Goal Scorers - (All Competitions)

Kevin Betsy..............5

Andy Sandell............5

Matt Bloomfield.........3

Ben Strevens............3

Gareth Ainsworth......3

Scott Rendell............3 (inc 3 pens)

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

Scott Davies.............2

Stuart Beavon..........2

One other player has scored one goal.



The Man In The Middle

Tuesday's referee is Keith Hill from Hertfordshire was promoted to the National List of Referees in 1998. His most recent Wycombe game was a 1-1 draw at home to Oxford United in September 2004 when he sent off Gary Silk. During the current campaign he's issued 3 red and 47 yellow cards in 11 games.



Prediction

Wycombe 1 Bristol Rovers 1

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