Source: FOOTYMAD
The S24 Preview: Southend United v Wycombe Wanderers
It's the top three Chairboys of Wycombe in a vital rearranged fixture to both sides at Roots Hall on Tuesday, February 15th; kick-off 19.45. v SHRIMPERSI actually didn't have to go through the disappointment of Saturday's late postponement at Accrington, it has happened, hitched to Rochdale many years ago, waterlogged pitch believe it or not, so I do share your pain, awful thing to happen and I hope it's nice and sunny for Torquay at the weekend.As for this rearranged fixture from last December, something to do with some dodgy weather I'm told, it's going to be tough, and the Chairboys defeat at Bradford Saturday doesn't help, they had their chances to grab a point so we shouldn't expect them to miss sevaral again!As for us Bilel's injury and Ryan's troubles are annoying to what was an in-form team until the defeat to Shrewsbury, and it's a game that could need some oustanding defensive displays from the home side.Blues boss Paul Sturrock promised some changes for Accrington and I hope he sticks to that promise for the Yuesday evening.I would actually keep Kane Ferdinand at centre-half with captain Craig Easton dropping back to protect the back four allowing Lee Sawyer to work on his promising cameo sub appearances. Lee can make things happen. And I would continue the surprises with the strikers, and on the evidence of one reserve game after a year out with injury, well he did grab a hat-trick against the might of Luton second eleven, and start with Kyle Asante. Barry Corr has looked listless in the last couple of games, and Kyle could be the spark we need, and if it doesn't work, Barry usually scores when he comes off the bench!My head says 1-1, as does my heart I'm afraid, hopefully the lads can prove me wrong. Possible Southend United: Evans, Clohessy, Ferdinand, Barker, Gilbert, Sawyer, Grant, Easton, Hall, Sturrock, Asante. Subs: Morris, Coughlan, Phillips, Comminges, Soares, Corr, Crawford.COME ON YOU BLUES!!!!!OPPOSITIONNo new injury news at the moment from the Wycombe camp, we'll update here if we hear anything. Chairboys boss Gary Waddock was able to welcome back centre-half David Winfield in the 1-0 defeat at Bradford on Saturday (report below). He had missed the last two games through suspension after picking up 10 yellow cards, by February, Anthony Grant would be proud of him, and fellow defender Alan Bennett is back from a calf strain. Left-back Andy Sandell will certainly not play as he's out for up to six weeks with a medial knee ligament injury. Up front, strikers Scott Rendell also returned last week after almost a month out with an ankle injury, as did Jon-Paul Pittman after a knee problem kept him on the sidelines for a number of weeks. Even after the defeat at Spud Taylor's Bantams Wycombe have only been beaten three times in the last 12 games, winning eight of them to find themselves in third place, five points behind the leaders Chesterfield with games in hand.Player to watch - Kevin BetsyYes, the former Shrimpers wideboy obviously like it in leafy Buckinghamshire as he's in the second spell at the club and has scored six goals in all competitions for the, second only behind Scott Rendell who has nine, but they include four spot-kicks. More info on Kevin here:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kevin_BetsyScott Rendall; the top scoring ChairboyLast Time Out Home; Wycombe Wanderers 1 Port Vale 1(played on Saturday, February 5th, 2011.)Report here: www.wycombewanderers.co.uk/page/MatchReport/0,,10430~52957,00.html Beeb highlights: Wycombe 1-1 Port ValeAway; Bradford City 1 Wycombe Wanderers (played on Saturday, February 12th, 2011.)Report here: www.wycombewanderers.co.uk/page/MatchReport/0,,10430~52993,00.html The Chairboys; a serious shot at the title!1Chesterfield 2910323922572171215104563455+222Shrewsbury Town 31852241164625191498493051+193Wycombe Wanderers 28843221664317141486393050+94Rotherham United 30852352053717191389523947+13PREVIOUSLY At Southend Utd. (4)At Wycombe Wdrs. (3)ResultsTotal%ResultsTotal%Southend Utd.00.00Wycombe Wdrs.133.33Wycombe Wdrs.375.00Southend Utd.133.33Draws125.00Draws133.33GoalsTotalAv.pgGoalsTotalAv.pgSouthend Utd.30.75Wycombe Wdrs.51.67Wycombe Wdrs.61.50Southend Utd.31.00On Neutral Ground (0)Overall (7 matches)ResultsTotal%ResultsTotal%Southend Utd.00.00Southend Utd.114.29Wycombe Wdrs.00.00Wycombe Wdrs.457.14Draws00.00Draws228.57GoalsTotalAv.pgGoalsTotalAv.pgSouthend Utd.00.00Southend Utd.60.86Wycombe Wdrs.00.00Wycombe Wdrs.111.57RecordsHighest Aggregate5Wycombe Wdrs. 4 - 1Southend Utd.1997/1998 Highest Southend Utd. score:1Wycombe Wdrs. 0 - 1Southend Utd.2004/2005 Highest Wycombe Wdrs. score:4Wycombe Wdrs. 4 - 1Southend Utd.1997/1998 SeasonDateHomeScoreAwayCompetition 2009/2010Sat 23 JanSouthend Utd.1 - 1Wycombe Wdrs.League One Tue 18 AugWycombe Wdrs.1 - 1Southend Utd.League One 2004/2005Sun 26 DecWycombe Wdrs.0 - 1Southend Utd.League Two Sat 11 SepSouthend Utd.1 - 2Wycombe Wdrs.League Two 1997/1998Sun 28 DecSouthend Utd.1 - 2Wycombe Wdrs.League Division Two Tue 09 DecSouthend Utd.0 - 1Wycombe Wdrs.(Associate Members) Tue 02 SepWycombe Wdrs.4 - 1Southend Utd.League Division Two REFThe man in the middle is Andy Woolmer from Northamptonshire. He gives an interview here: http://refworld.com/referee/162/1/andy-woolmerHis assistants are Ryan Atkin and Paul Kelly; The fourth official is Barry Holderness.FIXTURESLeague TwoTuesday, Febuary 15th; (all kick-offs 19.45): Aldershot v Lincoln City, Bury v Chesterfield, Northampton v Morecambe, Rotherham v Accrington Stanley, Southend v Wycombe, Stevenage v Oxford Utd, Torquay v Burton Albion Friday, February 18th: Port Vale v Bradford, 19:45. Saturday, February 19th; (all kick-offs 15.00): Cheltenham v Barnet, Crewe v Stevenage, Gillingham v Bury, Hereford v Burton Albion, Lincoln City v Chesterfield, Morecambe v Oxford Utd, Northampton v Aldershot, Rotherham v Shrewsbury, Stockport v Macclesfield, Torquay v Southend, Wycombe v Accrington Stanley.BETSouthend (to win) - 13/8, Draw - 12/5, Wycombe (to win) - 15/8. For all the footy odds go here: www.oddschecker.com/football/english/league-two/HISTORYThe club was founded in 1887 by a group of furniture-makers, and settled at Loakes Park in High Wycombe in 1895. From 1896 they played in the Southern League, but had little success in a league dominated by professional teams. They moved to the Great Western Suburban League in 1908 and to the Spartan League after the First World War. After winning the Spartan League they joined the Isthmian League in 1921. Although they won the FA Amateur Cup in 1931 it would be 1956 before they won the first of eight Isthmian League titles. Wycombe Wanderers famous navy and light-blue quartered kit is described as Oxford and Cambridge Blue in their early days, although the club had no connection with the Universities, the players being local working men. The two blues have also been attributed to the town colours of High Wycombe. Wycombe Wanderers have used variations of their famous quartered kit, but due to supporter pressure, have left their football strip largely unchanged since 1996-97.The club's average league attendance was 5,109 in the 2008/09 season. There are two elected fan representatives on the club board, one from each of the two former Supporters Trusts, which have now combinedYou gotta love 'em as Wycombe's main rivals are considered to be Colchester United. Whilst not a local rivalry, there is a history between the two clubs going back to the 1985/86 season, when Wycombe, then a non-league club, defeated Colchester 2-0 in an FA Cup tie marred by crowd trouble at Loakes Park.Colchester and Wycombe were also involved in a two-horse race for the Conference title throughout the 1991/92 season, during which Colchester defeated Wycombe 2-1 at Adams Park with an injury-time wind-assisted winner from their goalkeeper, Scott Barrett.Another controversial meeting was during the 1998/99 season. Relegation-threatened Wycombe were leading Colchester 2-1 at Adams Park until the ninth minute of stoppage time, when Colchester were awarded, and converted, an equalising penalty.The 2008/09 season started well for Wycombe, with them embarking on an 18 match unbeaten run in the league, from the start of the season until December 6th when this was ended by Aldershot Town, who beat Wycombe 3-2. Wycombe's unbeaten home record in the league was ended by Grimsby Town, when the 'table toppers' were beaten 1-0.On the last day of the season they managed to get promoted, even though they lost and the teams either side of them (before the last match was played) in the league table won. The 4th place team, Bury F.C., had the same amounts of points as Wycombe but 1 less goal difference. At a press conference on 29 May 2008 former Shrimpers player and manager Peter Taylor was announced as Wycombe's new boss.The 2008/09 season started well for Wycombe, with them embarking on an 18 match unbeaten run in the league, from the start of the season until 6 December when this was ended by Aldershot Town, who beat Wycombe 3-2. Wycombe's unbeaten home record in the league was ended by Grimsby Town, which saw the 'table toppers' beaten 1-0 by the strugglers, which was only Grimsby's 3rd win of the campaign so far.On the last day of the season they managed to get promoted, even though they lost and the teams either side of them (before the last match was played) in the league table won. The 4th place team, Bury, had the same amounts of points as Wycombe but 1 less goal difference.Wycombe had a disappointing start to 2009/10 and after picking up just six points from their first 11 games, they parted company with manager Taylor.Wycombe appointed Gary Waddock from Aldershot Town to become the new manager with his first game being a 1-1 draw against rivals Colchester United. Waddock made major changes to the playing staff in January 2010, but an upturn in results came too late and Wycombe were relegated back to League 2 after a 2-0 loss against Leyton Orient on 1 May 2010.(For a full history of the club go here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wycombe_Wanderers_F.C.)
