Preview: Wycombe Wanderers vs. Cheltenham Town - prediction, team news, lineups

Wycombe Wanderers will continue their search for an automatic berth in League One when midtable Cheltenham Town visit Adams Park on Saturday afternoon.

A fixture in the promotion race for much of the campaign, the hosts will be confident of taking three points against the League One newbies.

Match preview

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One time leader of the division, Wycombe have slipped down in the pecking order for potential automatic promotion suitors.

Trailing second-placed Wigan Athletic by a lengthy eight points, it may be that Wycombe turn their attention to securing a playoff spot instead.

That was, of course, the route that Wycombe took when they earned promotion to the Championship in 2019-20, beating Oxford United in the playoff final.

A repeat of that season will no doubt be on manager Gareth Ainsworth's wishlist, but ensuring that his side do not slip out of the top six between now and the end of the season will be paramount.

However, recent form suggests that the Chairboys have hit a little bit of a rut, as they are winless in their last four outings.

Hoping to take advantage of their dip in form will be Cheltenham, who after winning League Two last season have taken to life in the third tier quite well.

Nine points clear of the drop zone heading into the final months of the campaign, the Robins have demonstrated enough ability to suggest they are deserving of maintaining their position in the division.

One way to continue what has been a fine campaign would be to take three points off the promotion hopefuls this weekend, with Cheltenham actually winless against Wycombe since 2013.

Achieving the double over Wycombe in the 2012-13 campaign, Cheltenham will be keen to avenge their 3-1 defeat against the Chairboys from earlier in the campaign.

Team News

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Sent off in their disappointing 1-1 draw with Lincoln City at the weekend, Josh Scowen will be unavailable for Wycombe.

Scowen will serve a one-match ban, starting this weekend, with Anis Mehmeti the man most likely to come into the side in his place.

Retaining his place between the sticks, experienced shot-stopper David Stockdale will be keen to turn his form around, having failed to keep a clean sheet in three of his last four outings.

Most things Cheltenham do well often go through star-man Alfie May, with the forward having enjoyed a stellar campaign so far.

His strike during the win against Fleetwood Town last time out was his 11th of the campaign, and he will be joined in attack by Kion Etete.

Elliot Bonds was also on the scoresheet for Cheltenham recently, netting in their famous win over Sunderland, and the 21-year-old will start in the midfield for the Robins.

Wycombe Wanderers possible starting lineup:

Stockdale; Grimmer, Forino-Joseph, Jacobson; McCarthy, Mehmeti, Thompson, Obita; Wing, Vokes, McCleary

Cheltenham Town possible starting lineup:

Evans; Raglan, Pollock, Boyle; Blair, Ramsey, Bonds, Wright, Williams; May, Etete

We say: Wycombe Wanderers 2-0 Cheltenham Town

Wycombe will be wary of the threat that Cheltenham possess, not least because the Robins have stung some of their own promotion rivals in recent weeks.

Yet, with the advantage of playing in front of a home crowd and a near to full-strength side available, expect Wycombe to seal a comfortable win.