Wycombe vs Portsmouth: Preview

The Chairboys welcome Portsmouth to Adams Park on Saturday afternoon as they look to bounce back from a bumpy run of form.

Just one win in Wycombe’s last six in all competitions has seen the Blues experience their first rough patch, but Gareth Ainsworth knows not to look too much into it.

He said: “there was a blip against Ipswich (losing 4-1 at home) and those things can happen, but one game won’t define a season.”

Having chosen to bite the bullet on the international absences of Daryl Horgan (Republic of Ireland), Sullay Kaikai (Sierra Leone) and Tjay De Barr (Gibraltar) the Wanderers play the second of four consecutive home fixtures.

Wycombe will be without this season’s top scorer (five) as Garath McCleary remains a doubt with a shoulder injury he picked up in the 2-1 win over Crewe in October. But, Ainsworth’s side have found goals through Sam Vokes and centre-back Ryan Tafazolli (both on four) who are likely to start.

The afternoon’s visitors will also have to contend with a smaller squad. Gavin Bazunu (Ireland) and Joe Morrell (Wales) are internationally tied up, but the most pertinent of their worries come from a clogged physio room.

Captain Clark Robertson remains on the sidelines with Ellis Harrison, Jayden Reid and Ryan Tunnicliffe adding to Danny Cowley’s headache. Pompey are said to only have 14 senior players available for Saturday.

Cowley, who’s been at the helm since March of this year, had his say on his paper thin squad: “the squad is stretched at the moment. Perhaps they smelt a bit of blood and so we have to prove that we’re not going to roll over for anyone.”

And recently Portsmouth have held firm. Cowley’s side have finally got the ball rolling on their 2021/22 campaign as they enjoy a five-game unbeaten run.

However, four of those five games have been played at Fratton Park where they’ve proved to be more comfortable. Pompey haven’t won in their last nine away games. To make it worse reading, Wycombe have won six of their seven league home games this season.

Ainsworth on playing at Adams Park: “we love playing at home; we relish every game here because the fans have been fantastic from day one and we need to make sure we get back to winning ways.”

If Wycombe were to come away with a win on Saturday, expect for the Chairboys to do it early. Nine of their 26 goals have come within the first 20 minutes, five of which have occurred in the opening 10.

Since the two opposing managers last met in the dugout, Ainsworth has had his foot in the enemy camp. Cowley spoke of his admiration of Gareth: “I’ve got to know him well.

“My daughter and his daughter had trials recently for the Independent English Schools team. He spent the afternoon with my mum, dad and my wife and Gareth is such a good guy.”

Whether Ainsworth managed to eek out any information from Cowley’s parents regarding Portsmouth’s set-up for Saturday remains unknown.

Any potential information would be welcomed as a win would see Wycombe climb to the top of the table, if Plymouth were to lose to Accrington, whilst Pompey can break into the top half.