Wycombe and Tranmere go head-to-head tonight at Adams Park with both teams desperate for a morale-boosting victory to kick-start their seasons after a difficult opening to the 2009/10 campaign.
The two sides sit in 22nd and 23rd place respectively in League One and both go into tonight's clash on the back of respectable draws at the weekend, with the Blues snatching a point late on at Swindon Town and John Barnes' men halting a run of defeats courtesy of a 1-1 draw at home to Colchester.
Tranmere's struggle in the opening weeks follows a summer of budget-slashing at Prenton Park which saw top scorer Chris Greenacre, young starlet Steve Jennings and club captain Antony Kay all depart the north-west, and new boss Barnes had little time to assemble a squad before the opening game.
Early victories over Gillingham and Grimsby Town (in the Carling Cup) showed signs of promise but, like the Wanderers, they were unable to collect any points against promotion favourites Charlton, Leeds and MK Dons, and find themselves in need of a winning streak to lift them away from the danger zone.
For the home side, tonight's game represents a chance to end September on a high note and kick off the new month at home to Leyton Orient on Saturday with confidence running through the team.
Ahead of the game, Peter Taylor told
Chairboys Player: "Any supporter that comes to the games wants to see some passion and fire in the players' bellies and that's what I want to see.
"Tranmere play good football but, like ourselves, are not in top form and the players are not 100% confident. I'm looking for a good start and a home win."
Kick-off at Adams Park tonight is at 7.45pm.
Team News:
Wycombe: Matt Harrold could again be missing with the hip injury that kept him out of Saturday's draw at Swindon Town, while Lewis Hunt is expected to continue at right-back after making his first appearance of the campaign on Saturday. Tommy Doherty and Matt Bloomfield are still ruled out.
Tranmere: Former Wanderer Bas Savage is Rovers' only confirmed absentee and John Barnes is likely to keep faith with the side that performed well in their draw with Colchester at the weekend.
Opposition View:
"Now it is up to them to grab that performance with both hands, go on and apply themselves in the same manner at Wycombe - and for the rest of the season. We are not looking at anything to do with the league table at the moment. We did not once say to the lads last week that Colchester are in third place in the table.
"We will just concentrate on what we have to do at Wycombe and deal with whatever is put in front of us, no matter where they are in the league."
- Assistant manager Jason McAteer, talking to the Liverpool Daily Post
Officials:
Referee: Mr F GRAHAM
Assistants: Mr D BUSHELL and Mr M THOMPSON
Fourth Official: Mr G MUGE
Mr Graham has not officiated in a Wycombe match since December 2006, when Tommy Mooney's header earned a 1-1 draw at home to Barnet in a game with five yellow cards shown.
Vital Info:
Scores Bar: Open from 5pm
Vere Suite: Open from 6pm. Entry: Members - Free; Non-Members - £2. Normal Season Pass - £40. Season Ticket Holder Season Pass - £15. For more information ring 01494 455703.
Woodlands Lounge: Open from 6pm. Entry: Members - Free; Non-Members - £2. Normal Season Pass - £40. Season Ticket Holder Season Pass - £15. For more information ring 01494 455703.
'First Stop' Food Van: Open from 5pm.
Ticket Offices: Open from 9.15am.
For info on how being a Blues Card member
click here.
Park and Ride information
click here.
Live Commentary:Chairboys Player will, as always, be providing live commentary from the League One clash with Bill Turnbull and Ben Campbell reporting from Adams Park throughout the game. To sign up for the service, click
here.
You can also receive text updates straight to your mobile phone by sending CLUB WYCW GOLD to 88442 and you'll receive team news, goal updates and scores around the division at a cost of 25p per message. To cancel the service at any time, just send STOP to the same number.
BBC Three Counties Radio (98FM) will be providing pre-match, half-time and full-time reports from the game and finally, don't forget to check
wwfc.com after the game for a full report and reaction from the Wycombe camp.
