Preview: Crewe Alexandra v Wycombe Wanderers

Wycombe Wanderers travel to Crewe Alexandra on Saturday for their 23rd league game of the season.


The league table currently shows Wycombe in 3rd place with 40 points from 22 games and Crewe in 8th spot with 32 points from 21 games.

Crewe's Home Record........Won 4 - Drawn 3 - Lost 3 - Pts 15 (Rank 12)

Wycombe's Away Record....Won 5 - Drawn 4 - Lost 1 - Pts 19 (Rank 2)


It`s full steam ahead for the Wanderers as they travel to the Railwaymen on Saturday looking to charge to the top of the League Two table. Three points at Gresty Road, coupled with a Chesterfield defeat would see the Chairboys sitting pretty at the top.

That would seem as good a reason as any why victory is unlikely (Yes, it`s Benny again). You want more than my in-built pessimism? Ok, the Alex have started the New Year in promising style as Dario Gradi again works his magic. Like the Blues they have a settled starting line-up with some exciting players such as Shaun Miller. He scored in their 1-0 win against Shrewsbury Town on Bank Holiday Monday which smashed the hosts` unbeaten record at the New Meadow. They are in good form.

"Yes, but we`ve won five on the bounce" I hear you retort. That`s true, and isn`t it marvellous? Another reason to be wary is our record at Gresty Road. It`s a bit iffy. We`ve only won there once back in 1994, courtesy of a sublime Dave Carroll free-kick and a header by Uncle Cyrille. It is a venue that saw one of the most bizarre own goals you are ever likely to see too, when Darren Rowbotham sliced a clearance into his own net from outside the area. Tony Hemmings even had the audacity to claim the goal. Yet despite this piece of luck, we still lost.

Also, our only away league defeat so far this season came down the road at Port Vale. There`s a geological fault line which goes straight to San Francisco.

There is some cause for hope. The only consistency Alex have found so far this season is inconsistency. We also have a strong squad and the starting line-up is likely to see just one change, with Gareth Ainsworth expected to return to the right-wing and Ben Strevens drop to the bench. The 1-0 win over Gillingham saw arguably Dave Winfield`s best performance in a Wycombe shirt yet, whilst the only thing left for Stuart Lewis to do is notch a goal and he will achieve "my favourite new Wycombe player" status.

The greatest thing about the clash at the weekend is that you know you will see a committed performance that will be full of pluck, as well as a little skill. These might not be good times to be a Wycombe fan off-the-field, but on it things are looking good, really good.



Crewe's last five games (All Competitions)

LG2: Rotherham (H)...........Lost 0-1

LG2: Morecambe (A)..........Won 2-1

LG2: Stockport (A)............Drew 3-3

LG2: Northampton (H).........Won 2-0

LG2: Shrewsbury (A)..........Won 1-0


Wycombe's last five games (All Competitions)

FAC: Chelmsford (H)........Won 3-1

LG2: Bury (H)..................Won 1-0

LG2: Hereford (H)............Won 2-1

LG2: Cheltenham (A).......Won 2-1

LG2: Gillingham (H).........Won 1-0


Crewe Goal Stats (26 games in all Competitions)

Goals Scored (Total)..........Lg: 43...Cups: 7...Total: 50

Goals Conceded (Total)......Lg: 28...Cups: 8...Total: 36

Goals Scored (Home).........Lg: 21...Cups: 1...Total: 22

Goals Conceded (Home).....Lg: 10...Cups: 1...Total: 11

Clean Sheets.....................Lg: 5.....Cups: 1...Total: 6


Wycombe Goal Stats (27 games in all Competitions)

Goals Scored (Total)...........Lg: 33...Cups: 11...Total: 44

Goals Conceded (Total).......Lg: 23...Cups: 10...Total: 33

Goals Scored (Away)..........Lg: 15...Cups: 4.....Total: 19

Goals Conceded (Away)......Lg: 9.....Cups: 1.....Total: 10

Clean Sheets......................Lg: 9....Cups: 1.....Total: 10



Crewe's Top Goal Scorers - (All Competitions)

Clayton Donaldson....12 (inc 1 pen)

Shaun Miller..............10

Ashley Westwood........5 (inc 1 pen)

Byron Moore...............4

David Artell................4

Joel Grant..................3

Luke Murphy..............3

Two other players have each scored two goals.

Three other players have each scored one goal.



Wycombe's Top Goal Scorers - (All Competitions)

Scott Rendell............9 (inc 4 pens)

Kevin Betsy..............6

Gareth Ainsworth......5

Stuart Beavon..........5

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

Ben Strevens...........4

Matt Bloomfield........3

Three other players have each scored two goals.

One other player has scored one goal


Crewe Shooting (Top-3) - All Competitions

Clayton Donaldson..33 on-target...35 off-target...2 against woodwork

Shaun Miller...........25 on-target...24 off-target...1 against woodwork

Ashley Westwood....18 on-target...17 off-target...1 against woodwork


Wycombe Shooting (Top-3) - All Competitions

Kevin Betsy............15 on-target...27 off-target...1 against woodwork

Gareth Ainsworth....12 on-target...19 off-target...2 against woodwork

Stuart Beavon.........13 on-target...13 off-target...1 against woodwork


Shooting (Club) - League Games Only

Crewe.........131 on target...113 off target...6 against w'work (Rank-6)

Wycombe......90 on target...114 off target...8 against w'work (Rank-19)


League Form Guide

All Season

Crewe...........Pld: 21...W: 8....D: 8...L: 5...Pts: 32...Pts per game: 1.52

Wycombe......Pld: 22...W: 11...D: 7...L: 4...Pts: 40...Pts per game: 1.82


Last Five league Games

Crewe...........LWDWW - 10 points (Rank-6)

Wycombe......LWWWW - 12 points (Rank-4)


Last Five League Games (Home)

Crewe.............DWLLW - 7 points (Rank-8)


Last Five League Games (Away)

Wycombe.....WWWLW - 12 points (Rank-1)


Against Top Half Opposition

Crewe............Pld: 10...Pts: 12...Pts per game: 1.20...(Rank-9)

Wycombe.......Pld: 11...Pts: 20...Pts per game: 1.82...(Rank-2)


Against Bottom Half Opposition

Crewe...........Pld: 11...Pts: 20...Pts per game: 1.82...(Rank-8)

Wycombe......Pld: 11...Pts: 20...Pts per game: 1.82...(Rank-9)


Previous Meetings

In 10 previous meetings there have been 5 wins for Crewe, 3 for Wycombe and 2 draws.

At Gresty Road there have been 4 wins for Crewe, 1 for Wycombe and 0 draws.

1993/94 Lg2: Crewe 2 Wycombe 1

1994/95 Lg1: Crewe 1 Wycombe 2

1995/06 Lg1: Crewe 2 Wycombe 0

1996/07 Lg1: Crewe 3 Wycombe 0

2002/03 Lg1: Crewe 4 Wycombe 2


The Man In The Middle

Saturday's referee is Simon Hooper from Wiltshire who was promoted to the National List of Referees in 2008. His only previous Wycombe game was last season's 4-4 draw at home to Brighton in the first-round of the FA Cup - a thriller that included three penalties and two red cards - Craig Woodman for the Blues and Gavin Hoyte for the Seagulls. During the current campaign Mr Hooper has issued 4 red and 37 yellow cards in 13 games.


Prediction

Crewe Alexandra 1 Wycombe Wanderers 0

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