Wycombe v Bristol Rovers preview
Thursday 16 August 2018 16:34, UK
Wycombe manager Gareth Ainsworth is likely to make a number of changes when the Wanderers resume League One business against Bristol Rovers on Saturday.
And points are essential at Adams Park following a poor start to the league campaign that produced a 0-0 draw against Blackpool followed by a 3-0 loss to Doncaster. There were opportunities for the likes of Jason McCarthy, who joined Wycombe on a permanent deal last week, and goalkeeper Yves Ma-Kalambay in a midweek penalty shoot-out victory over Carabao Cup opponents Northampton.
Ma-Kalambay's decisive penalty save underlined the strength in depth Ainsworth has in that position, but his concerns are the lack of goals, with Wycombe yet to score in league action this season.
Rovers' midweek Carabao Cup victory over Crawley - their first win of the season - might have given manager Darrell Clarke food for thought. Clarke saw his team suffer league defeats against Peterborough and Accrington, then made four changes for the Crawley game and they had the desired result.
The Rovers manager must now decide whether or not to say same-again, having been impressed by Sam Matthews on his first start for the club, while Chris Lines, Daniel Leadbitter and goalkeeper Adam Smith also featured. Those who made way on Tuesday were Ed Upson, Liam Sercombe, Tom Broadbent and Sam Slocombe.
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Wycombe will face Bristol Rovers in a third tier clash for the first time since the 2009-10 campaign, when the Chairboys managed to league double over the Pirates.
There hasn't been a draw between Wycombe and Bristol Rovers at Adams Park in any competition since November 1999 (1-1), with the Pirates winning eight of the last 13 meetings (five wins for Wycombe).
Wycombe have failed to score in their opening two league games this season - they last went three games without scoring in August 2016.
Bristol Rovers are looking to avoid losing each of their first three games of a league season for the first time since 1961-62.
After scoring in 10 successive league games at home, Wycombe have failed to find the back of the net in four of the last seven home matches.
