Three old boys aim to shoot down Blues

Wycombe Wanderers entertain Bristol Rovers on Tuesday in the first-round of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy.

The prize for the winner is a home tie against Cheltenham Town in the second-round.

Wycombe are 18th in League One with 5 points from 5 games.

Rovers are 14th in League Two with 8 points from 6 games.

Wycombe's Home Record (All competitions)...Won 1 - Drawn 1 - Lost 2

Rovers' Away Record (All competitions).........Won 1 - Drawn 1 - Lost 2

The Pirates knocked Wycombe out of this competition last season with an emphatic 6-3 victory at Adams Park featuring an impressive hat-trick from Jo Kuffour.

This time round their goal threat comes from a trio of familiar faces in Scott McGleish, Matt Harrold and Chris Zebroski who were all signed by Rovers' new manager Paul Buckle during the summer.

All three former Chairboys have returned to Adams Park just once since leaving the club, McGleish and Zebroski finishing on the winning side with Orient and Torquay, and Harrold picking up a draw with Shrewsbury Town.

Both sides come into this game having suffered a heavy defeat in their last outing, Rovers losing 4-1 at Crawley on Saturday and Wycombe 3-0 at Huddersfield the week before.

It was Rovers' second defeat in a row and Wycombe's third consecutive setback, so regardless of the importance of the JPT as a competition, neither manager will want to be on the losing side again on Tuesday.

The competition rules prevent wholesale changes to the starting line-up, but Wycombe fans will be hoping to see exciting youngsters Kadeem Harris and Jordan Ibe given another chance to shine.

Here are some stats.......


Rovers' last five games (All Competitions)

Lg2: Macclesfield (A).........Drew 0-0

Ccp: Watford (H)................Won 1-1 (4-2 on pens)

Lg2: Hereford (H)..............Drew 0-0

Ccp: Orient (A)...................Lost 2-3

Lg2: Crawley (A)................Lost 1-4


Wycombe's last five games (All Competitions)

Lg1: Colchester (A).............Drew 1-1

Lg1: Orient (A).....................Won 3-1

Lg1: Bury (H)........................Lost 0-2

Ccp: Nottingham Forest (H)....Lost 1-4

Lg1: Huddersfield (A).............Lost 0-3


Rovers' Goal Stats (8 games in all Competitions)

Goals Scored (Total)..........Lg: 7...Cups: 3...Total: 10

Goals Conceded (Total)......Lg: 9...Cups: 4...Total: 13

Goals Scored (Away).........Lg: 4...Cups: 2...Total: 6

Goals Conceded (Away).....Lg: 6...Cups: 3...Total: 9

Clean Sheets.....................Lg: 2...Cups: 0...Total: 2


Wycombe Goal Stats (7 games in all Competitions)

Goals Scored (Total)..........Lg: 5...Cups: 4...Total: 9

Goals Conceded (Total)......Lg: 8...Cups: 7...Total: 15

Goals Scored (Home).........Lg: 1...Cups: 4...Total: 5

Goals Conceded (Home).....Lg: 3...Cups: 7...Total: 10

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


Rovers' Goal Scorers - (All Competitions)

Matt Harrold.............3

Byron Anthony.........1

Lee Brown...............1

Jo Kuffour................1

Scott McGleish..........1

Eliot Richards...........1

Chris Zebroski..........1

Adam Virgo..............1 (inc 1 pen)


Wycombe's Goal Scorers - (All Competitions)

Joel Grant................2

Scott Donnelly..........2 (inc 1 pen)

Stuart Beavon..........1

Ben Strevens...........1

James Tunnicliffe......1

Elliot Benyon............1 (inc 1 pen)

Scott Rendell............1 (inc 1 pen)


Rovers Shooting (Top-3) - All Competitions

Scott McGleish.......6 on-target...11 off-target...0 against woodwork

Matt Harrold.........10 on-target....5 off-target...1 against woodwork

Chris Zebroski.......8 on-target....5 off-target...0 against woodwork


Wycombe Shooting (Top-3) - All Competitions

Joel Grant...............6 on-target...5 off-target...0 against woodwork

Scott Donnelly.........3 on-target...6 off-target...0 against woodwork

Andy Sandell...........2 on-target...5 off-target...0 against woodwork


Shooting (Club) - All Competitions

Rovers...........54 on target...46 off target...3 against w'work

Wycombe.......19 on target...22 off target...1 against w'work


The Man in the Middle

TBC: not yet allocated on Football League website.


Prediction

Wycombe 2 Bristol Rovers 2

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