Wycombe (H) Preview
Brady Frost, Feature Writer
Twitter: @brady0894
Source for image above: HTAFC
George from The Wycombe Way is not feeling confident going into Saturday’s match, but can Town finally get their first win of 2021? Let’s find out.
Huddersfield need to win this game. Opponents Wycombe are rock bottom of the Championship with just 16 points after 27 played. Huddersfield need to win this game. Wycombe have just three wins all season and are 23rd in the form table in the last six league matches. Huddersfield need to win this game. Do you know who’s 24th in the form table? That’s right, Huddersfield Town. Yeah, Huddersfield need to win this game.
The injuries aren’t stopping for Town with Rolando Aarons ruled out of this one with a hamstring problem, Christopher Schindler’s recovery has not gone as expected and Danny Ward still not fit. With Harry Toffolo serving a three-match suspension following his late challenge at Luton, Carlos Corberán has said that Lewis O’Brien will be playing at left-back, so who knows what lineup we will see today?
As for Wycombe, they’ve only won one away game all season but proved a frustrating opponent in the previous fixture between these two sides earlier in the campaign. To find out what’s changed since Wycombe last played The Terriers, we spoke to George from fan podcast The Wycombe Way.
Wycombe manager Gareth Ainsworth has done a remarkable job at Wycombe but George from The Wycombe Way says “there seems to be a hesitation to try new tactics and make changes.” Photo source: Wycombe Wanderers
What did you make of Huddersfield in the previous match between these two teams?
I was impressed, going forward I thought Huddersfield looked exciting and dangerous, despite the lack of end product on the night. I believe the front three they deployed were Campbell, Mbenza and Diakhaby. Obviously, Duane Holmes has taken the place of Diakhaby in that front three more recently since signing, and it seems he is yet to hit the ground running, however, he had a good game against us for Derby earlier on in the season, so there’s every chance he has a similar performance. A little bit more quality in front of goal and Town would’ve taken the points that night, however, at the other end of the pitch, Huddersfield, gifted us a number of good chances, it’ll be a question of whether we can take them for a change.
When we last spoke, you mentioned the incredible work that Gareth Ainsworth has done to get you to the Championship. It was always going to be a massive achievement to avoid relegation but have you been impressed with his tactics?
Deploying tactics that you’ve used over the past few seasons in League’s One and Two will only do so much up in the Championship. There also seems to be a hesitation to try new tactics and make changes, and when changes are made, they’re usually only personnel changes. It doesn’t help when our two main options up front are Uche Ikpeazu & Adebayo Akinfenwa, two very similar players, so when the long ball isn’t working - you’re kind of stuck. There’s a worry that we also aren’t fielding our best eleven’s in recent weeks, there are very few injuries (I think Dom Gape is the only notable one) but players who just aren’t Championship quality are getting more minutes than better players on the bench, simply based on an opportunity factor.
We’re halfway through the season now, how would you rate your first half of the campaign?
All throughout the first half of the season, I maintained the belief that we could stay up come May. I thought we were definitely in with a shout and that we’d be able to take points from teams here and there. There was a big win against Cardiff in late December where I think a lot of supporters really believed that the team could build on the result and take it into the second half of the season. Then came a couple of good performances in the FA Cup and I really thought we were looking good.
Goalkeeper Ryan Allsop has performed some heroics recently for Wycombe, according to George. Photo source: Wycombe Wanderers
What are your hopes for the rest of the season, do you think you can stay up or is it a stretch too far?
Following on from the previous question, it hasn’t quite worked out in that fashion. Following a good showing against Tottenham in the cup, we’ve had four bitterly disappointing performances in the league, and bar some Ryan Allsop heroics against Birmingham, we’d also be looking at four straight defeats. The 7-2 defeat away at Brentford has no doubt knocked out any wind from our sails, and the dismal performances that followed against Birmingham, Nottingham Forest and Sheffield Wednesday show that. It’s even worse knowing that it’s those games we should be looking at as an opportunity to take points. I think survival may be out of reach, many people will chuckle and say it’s definitely relegation for Wycombe, but until it’s mathematically impossible, Wycombe will fight for it, and they’ve defied the odds before.
The transfer window has now closed. What do you make of Wycombe’s transfer business? Are they any signings you are particularly pleased with?
We signed players in the positions that we needed, but probably not quite the quality we were crying out for. Nnamdi Ofoborh in on loan from Bournemouth is smart business, being on loan with us last season means he knows the squad well of course, and he adds more depth into our midfield. The deal regarding Jordan Obita is an odd one, it’s no doubt a good signing for us, and definitely cover we were crying out for, but he was a free agent six months ago - and instead we’ve paid Oxford a fee for him (albeit a small one). Getting Josh Knight back in to the club was also huge for us, if we are to have any hope of staying up. There was talk of a potential permanent move for him, but in the end we were just glad to get him back in for another six months. Admiral Muskwe on loan from Leicester is another good option attacking wise, and he’s started well.
Are you expecting something different from the game against Huddersfield this time?
I’m expecting a similar match up, but I’m really expecting - and hoping - that Wycombe fly out of the traps from the first whistle and really take the game to Huddersfield. Wycombe heads are bound to drop if the opening goal goes the way of Huddersfield, and we simply can’t afford to let that happen, otherwise it could be another long afternoon.
Adebayo Akinfenwa. That’s it. That’s the caption. Photo source: Wycombe Wanderers
Who has been your best player this season? Anyone we need to watch out for in the game?
It’s not often you hope that your best player doesn’t have too much to do, and that’s because our stand out performer is Ryan Allsop in goal. Despite conceding 47 goals already, he’s miles ahead of anyone else in that regard. In an attacking sense, our most dangerous player Uche Ikpeazu, I strongly believe we’d be better off than our 16 points so far and he has not returned to full fitness as late as the start of January.
What are Wycombe’s key weaknesses this season, is there anything Huddersfield can capitalise on?
There have only been a handful of games where Wycombe have been played off the park, which I suppose a lot of people were expecting to happen every game. Individual errors twinned with a lack of quality in front of goal have left us in the position we currently find ourselves in. Our top scorer is on 3 league goals and has rarely featured in the last few months, especially starting. If Huddersfield applies a high press and put our defence and midfield under pressure they’re bound to reap the rewards from that.
Have your expectations for Huddersfield Town changed for this season based on the previous game?
I still expect Huddersfield to stay up this season, despite my early season predictions. I do think they’ve got a squad that should be nestling comfortably in mid-table, and I’m sure there’s room for improvement, and they will improve, but I don’t think there’s any serious threat of a drop to League One.
What’s your score prediction for the game?
3-1 Huddersfield. Away trips haven’t been kind to us this season, along with our recent form - I’m expecting a similar game to recent weeks.
How do you think Huddersfield will get on against Wycombe? Let us know in the comments!
