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

Wycombe Wanderers will be looking to claim their first victory in November when they welcome Portsmouth to Adams Park for their League One encounter on Saturday afternoon.

The Chairboys have won only one of their last six matches across all competitions, while the visitors are unbeaten in each of their last five games.

Match preview

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Wycombe Wanderers remain one of the strong contenders to secure promotion to the Championship this season, with just three points separating them from League One leaders Wigan Athletic.

Gareth Ainsworth – who has been nominated for October's Manager of the Month award – will have been pleased with his side's start to life back in the third tier, though their form across all competitions in November has left a little to be desired.

A disappointing 4-1 loss at home against Ipswich Town in the league was followed by a 2-2 draw in the FA Cup against League Two outfit Hartlepool United last weekend, before the Chairboys suffered a heavy 5-0 defeat at home against Burton Albion in the EFL Trophy on Tuesday, albeit with a much-rotated side.

Nevertheless, Wycombe can be confident of success heading into Saturday's encounter against Portsmouth as they have a decent home record against them, having lost only one of their five meetings at Adams Park.

With both Wigan and Rotherham United not playing this weekend – after their fixtures were postponed due to the international break – the Chairboys could climb to the top of League One with a victory against Pompey, if Plymouth Argyle in second were to lose their clash against Accrington Stanley.

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Currently sitting in 14th place and a third of the way through the campaign, Portsmouth fans would have hoped for their club to be much higher in the League One standings than where they are now.

Pompey were eight points better off and nine places higher at this stage of last season, however five wins, five draws and six defeats so far this campaign sees them placed just five points above the relegation zone and seven behind the playoffs.

Portsmouth's erratic October form – which included an impressive 4-0 win against Sunderland before losing 4-1 and 4-0 to Rotherham United and Ipswich respectively – seems to have come to an end in November, with three victories and one draw from their four matches across all competitions.

Danny Cowley's side have progressed in two different cup competitions within the last week; a slender 1-0 win in the FA Cup at home against seventh-tier side Harrow Borough was followed by a 3-0 triumph against Crystal Palace Under-21s in the group stages of the EFL Trophy on Tuesday.

Portsmouth will hope to continue their five-game unbeaten run across all competitions with a positive result on Saturday, though they head to Adams Park after failing to win any of their last nine matches on the road. They are also up against tough opponents this weekend as they face a Wycombe side who have won six of their seven home games in the league this season.

Team News

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After resting a plethora of players in midweek, Ainsworth is set to recall several first-team members to his starting lineup on Saturday.

Having played with a back four in each of the last three meetings against Portsmouth, Wycombe are expected to set up with the same system once again, with defensive quartet Jack Grimmer, Anthony Stewart, Ryan Tafazolli and Joe Jacobson all likely to start, shielding goalkeeper David Stockdale.

Josh Scowen, Curtis Thompson and Dominic Gape could all operate in central midfield, while Sam Vokes and Brandon Hanlan are set to partner each other up front.

The hosts will be without Tjay De Barr, Sullay Kaikai and Daryl Horgan, who are all away on international duty for their respective nations, while top goalscorer Gareth McCleary remains a doubt with a shoulder injury.

As for Portsmouth, they are also set to make several chances to their starting lineup from midweek, though Manchester City loanee and goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu as well as midfielder Joe Morrell are unavailable as they are both away on international duty.

Club captain Clark Robertson is a doubt with a hip problem, while Ellis Harrison and Jayden Reid remain unavailable due to respective ankle and knee injuries.

Attacking trio Marcus Harness, Ronan Curtis and John Marquis, who were all rested in midweek, are expected to return to the first XI on Saturday.

Wycombe Wanderers possible starting lineup:

Stockdale; Grimmer, Stewart, Tafazolli, Jacobson; Gape, Thompson, Scowen; Mehmeti; Hanlan, Vokes

Portsmouth possible starting lineup:

Bass; Romeo, Raggett, Ogilvie, Brown; Tunnicliffe, Williams; Harness, Hackett-Fairchild, Curtis; Marquis

We say: Wycombe Wanderers 2-1 Portsmouth

The contrasting form in recent weeks of Wycombe and Portsmouth suggests that Saturday's encounter is now set to be a much closer affair.

There is little to separate these two teams, though we feel the Chairboys can return to winning ways and edge out their opponents at Adams Park.