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Preview: Wycombe Wanderers vs. Preston North End - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Saturday's Championship clash between Wycombe Wanderers and Preston North End, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Bottom-of-the-table Wycombe Wanderers welcome Preston North End to Adams Park on Saturday afternoon looking to end a four-match losing streak in the Championship.

While the home side look certainties for relegation, Preston sit in 15th position after claiming just one victory in six fixtures.


Match preview

Queens Park Rangers' Charlie Austin in action with Wycombe Wanderers' Curtis Thompson in the Championship on March 9, 2021© Reuters

Sitting 12 points adrift of 21st place with just 11 matches remaining, Gareth Ainsworth knows that his Wycombe side are running out of chances to stay in the second tier.

Despite their tough recent schedule, Ainsworth will be desperately disappointed that four successive defeats have occurred without them troubling the scoresheet.

The Chairboys remained in the games at Stoke City and Queens Park Rangers for long periods, but failure to breach either backline means that last season's League One playoff winners are almost at the point of no return.

Just 14 points and 10 goals have come from their 17 home encounters, statistics which will be viewed as the difference makers if Wycombe's relegation is confirmed in the coming weeks.

Nevertheless, while they can mathematically survive, Ainsworth will have faith in a group of players which have occasionally produced against the odds this season.

Preston North End manager Alex Neil pictured in December 2020© Reuters

Like their hosts, Preston will regard this fixture as the ideal opportunity to get back on track after going two matches without a win.

With just one point being claimed from meetings with Millwall and Bournemouth, Alex Neil's side look increasingly likely to remain in mid-table for the rest of the season.

However, still trailing 11th position by just two points, there is an opportunity for Preston to get themselves back into the top half of the table with a ninth away success of the season.

Only leaders Norwich City have won more games on their travels, suggesting that the North-West outfit have the quality in their ranks to make a late burst for the top eight.

Wycombe Wanderers Championship form:
  • D
  • W
  • L
  • L
  • L
  • L

Preston North End Championship form:
  • L
  • L
  • D
  • W
  • L
  • D


Team News

Wycombe Wanderers manager Gareth Ainsworth pictured in September 2020© Reuters

Nnamdi Ofoborh, Scott Kashket and Uche Ikpeazu are all in contention for a recall to the Wycombe XI.

Despite having recently returned to the substitutes' bench, Adebayo Akinfenwa is unlikely to be used in the starting lineup.

Sean Maguire, Brad Potts and Anthony Gordon will be considered for starting roles after dropping down to the substitutes' bench last time out.

While Daniel Johnson may keep Potts out of the Preston side, Everton loanee Gordon is in line to take the place of Scott Sinclair.

Wycombe Wanderers possible starting lineup:
Stockdale; McCarthy, Knight, Tafazolli, Jacobson; Ofoborh, Gape; Kashket, Mehmeti, Horgan; Ikpeazu

Preston North End possible starting lineup:
Iversen; Van den Berg, Huntington, Storey, Cunningham; Browne, Whiteman; Barkhuizen, Johnson, Gordon; Evans


SM words green background

We say: Wycombe Wanderers 0-2 Preston North End

Wanderers have little choice but to throw caution to the wind on Saturday, something which does not necessarily suit the players at Ainsworth's disposal. With no pressure on Preston, we are backing the visitors to record a relatively comfortable win at Adams Park.



Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting a double chance bet on a home win or an away win in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Home/Away:data


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Bournemouth manager Jonathan Woodgate pictured on February 20, 2021
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Todays Game Header Right
Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Norwich CityNorwich38258556272983
2Watford38229755262975
3Swansea CitySwansea37209845291669
4Brentford371911765392668
5Barnsley38197124942764
6Reading381881252411162
7Bournemouth3716111055371859
8Cardiff CityCardiff3816101255371858
9Middlesbrough38168144639756
10Millwall381216103836252
11Stoke CityStoke381313124242052
12Queens Park RangersQPR371311133943-450
13Luton TownLuton37148153141-1050
14Bristol City38154193950-1149
15Blackburn RoversBlackburn381210165042846
16Preston North EndPreston38135203949-1044
17Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest381012163038-842
18Huddersfield TownHuddersfield37119174152-1142
19Derby CountyDerby381010182742-1540
20Coventry CityCoventry37912163248-1639
21Birmingham CityBirmingham38911182850-2238
22Rotherham UnitedRotherham34105193847-935
23Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds37108192847-1932
24Wycombe WanderersWycombe3869232561-3627

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