Walsall vs Wycombe Wanderers
Banks's Stadium, Monday 5th April, 3pm
Wycombe head up the M40 to Walsall on Easter Monday for the second match of the double-header weekend, knowing that only a win will keep them within touching distance of League One safety.
Saturday's 2-1 reverse at home to Huddersfield leaves the Blues nine points adrift with seven games remaining, and manager Gary Waddock has now labelled the trip to the Banks's Stadium as a "must-win" affair if his side are to harbour realistic hopes of beating the drop.
However, it could be a good time to face the Saddlers given their own recent run of disappointing form, which has seen them win just one of their last eight matches.
Successive defeats to relegation candidates Southend and Exeter generated some ill feeling around the West Midlands club, and their cause wasn't helped by a below-par display in the 1-1 draw with Stockport on Saturday.
To make life worse, top scorer Troy Deeney received his second red card of the campaign at Edgeley Park and will miss Monday's encounter, in which Wycombe will be hoping to avenge the 3-2 defeat to Chris Hutchings' men at Adams Park in October.
On that day, Wanderers raced into a two-goal lead courtesy of two Scott Davies strikes and appeared to be coasting for victory, before the visitors somehow clawed their way back into the game and snatched an unlikely three points.
Defender Chris Westwood was an unused substitute for that fixture but is set to start for the Blues on Easter Monday against a club with whom he spent two successful years from 2005 to 2007, and the centre-back is relishing his return:
"It would be as sweet as anything to get a win there and I would take great pride in it," he told Chairboys Player. "We've just got to get that win by hook or by crook, because in the last ten games we've played really well at times and only got a draw, so it's all about getting those three points.
"Walsall aren't in the best form themselves and it's a good chance for us get three points. If we get on top early doors, the crowd are likely to turn on the players and have a go at them, and that can bring its own pressure."
Please note that tickets can only be purchased on the day at the Banks's Stadium - click here for more details.
Opposition View
Chris Hutchings, speaking to the Press Association:
"We've another game on Monday now; we've picked up a few knocks but we just have to get on with it. We've got to pick ourselves up and go again."
Team News
Wycombe: Loanees Julian Kelly and Alan Bennett have been ruled out for the rest of the season with hamstring and ankle injuries respectively, while it is not currently known whether Craig Woodman will feature after missing Saturday's game to be at the birth of his third child.
Kevin McLeod and Kevin Betsy are on stand-by to cover in the full-back slots, while manager Gary Waddock may shuffle his pack to cope with the demands of a second fixture in three games.
Walsall: Former Wanderers loanee Sam Parkin could deputise up-front in place of the suspended Troy Deeney, but there are not thought to be any fresh injury worries for manager Chris Hutchings.
Officials
Referee: Mr G HEGLEY
Assistant: Mr P DERMOTT
Assistant: Mr S IHRINGOVA
Fourth Official: Mr M PERRY
The experienced Grant Hegley has only produced a total of three yellow cards in his last seven fixtures featuring either Walsall or Wycombe.
Away Guide
Click
here for your comprehensive guide for the trip to the Banks's Stadium.
Tickets
Tickets can only be purchased on the day from the Banks's Stadium - prices are as follows:
Adults: £20
Seniors (60+): £14
Juniors (Under 18): £14
Listen At Home
Ben Campbell and Matt Cecil will be the men behind the microphones from start to finish on
Chairboys Player, providing uninterrupted commentary of the fixture from 2.55pm. Click
here to sign up to the service.
To contact the media team throughout the game and have your views broadcast on air, simply email
media@wwfc.com.
Meanwhile, you can also receive text updates straight to your phone by sending CLUB WYCW GOLD to 88442, and you'll be updated with team news and goal flashes as they happen. Messages cost 25p each, and the service can be cancelled at any time by sending STOP to the same number.
