Wrexham v

Wycombe Wanderers

Saturday 03 February 2007

 

Kick Off @ 15:00



The Match

This was always going to be a crucial week in our season and the late defeat to Stockport leaves Wrexham needing a much needed win from the third game of the week. Wycombe, by contrast, have had midweek off and will be looking for a response from the defeat at promotion rivals Stockport last weekend but their last win at the Racecourse came seven years ago.

The Chairboys

Stockport's win against Wrexham in midweek has left Wycombe in seventh position with a return of 47 points from 30 games. Wycombe have always been vying for one of the automatic promotion places but they have dropped slightly off the pace in recent months - with only 3 wins in the last 14 - but they did reach the the semi final of the Carling Cup before being knocked out by Premiership Champions Chelsea after the first leg ended 1-1.

 

Wycombe are ranked in 10th place overall in the away league with six wins from their 15 games with another one ending in a draw but they have tasted defeat 8 times so far on their travels in the league. They did record a win in their last outing, a 1-0 win at Chester, but this was the first win away from home in the league since Boston at the end of October.

 

Paul LambertTop goal scorer for the Chairboys is Jermaine Easter with 20 goals so far this season and he is supported by the experienced Tommy Mooney who has also bagged 10. Easter joined Wycombe from Stockport 12 months ago and has so far been averaging a goal every other game and his reward for his goal scoring exploits this season has been a call up into the Welsh squad for the friendly in Northern Ireland next week.

 

Wycombe have boosted their striking options after capturing the signature of Scott McGleish for an undisclosed fee. The move came as a surprise as McGleish was the Cobbler's top goal scoring with 13 goals this season.

 

There have been three other arrivals during the transfer window with manager Paul Lambert signing Leon Crooks (MK Dons), Simon Johnson (Darlington) and Folawiyo Onibuje (Swindon). Heading out of Adams Park is Kevin Betsy who has joined Bristol City in a £150,000 move and Jonny Dixon has joined Aldershot for a nominal £6,000 fee.

 

Former Scottish international Paul Lambert took charge of the Chairboys at the start of the season and there cannot be many managers in the lower leagues with a Champions League winners medal to their name after the former Celtic midfielder was part of the Borussia Dortmund team that defeated Juventus in the 1997 final.

Past Encounters

Last 5 Meetings

Aug 06: Wrexham 1 Wycombe 1
Feb 06: Wrexham 2 Wycombe 0
Sep 05: Wycombe 4 Wrexham 1
May 04: Wycombe 1 Wrexham 1
Nov 03: Wrexham 0 Wycombe 0

The club's last met on the opening day of the season with the game ending one each. Tommy Mooney opened the scoring after only six minutes but Mark Jones struck back with a long range effort with half an hour gone.

 

Last season the two games went the way of the home teams with Wrexham running out 2-0 winners at the Racecourse but the Red Dragons were on the wrong end of a 4-1 hammering at Wycombe. Early goals from Dennis Lawrence and on loan Sam Williams were the catalyst for the home win but a Mark Jones strike at Wycombe early in the second half proved only to be a consolation in the away game.

 

The clubs have met on 21 occasions in the league with both teams on 6 wins each and their have been 9 draws.

League Form Guide

Team Last 5 Games League Position Form Position Last Win
Wrexham LLDDL 21st 20th 8 games
Wycombe DDWDL 7th 15th 3 games

Team News

Wrexham Team News: Wrexham hope to have Steve Evans available after the defender missed the midweek defeat against Stockport with a knee injury. Lee McEvilly picked up a foot injury in that game and his chances are rated as 50/50 to face Wycombe. Midfielder Paul Mitchell plays his last game before he returns to his parent club MK Dons and Neil Roberts is included in the squad after playing for an hour in the reserves against Chester on Wednesday night.

Wycombe Team News: Manager Paul Lambert may make changes to the formation following the 2-0 defeat at promotion rivals Stockport last weekend. This could mean new signing Scott McGleish dropping to the bench as Lambert may opt for just Jermain Easter and Tommy Mooney up front. Fola Onibuje is back following a one game ban but Wycombe have doubts over defender Will Antwi who is struggling with a groin strain.

Other Games

League 2 Fixtures:

Accrington Stanley v Chester
Boston United v Grimsby
Bristol Rovers v Peterborough
Bury v Milton Keynes Dons
Hereford v Stockport
Macclesfield v Darlington
Mansfield v Shrewsbury
Notts County v Lincoln City
Swindon v Hartlepool
Torquay v Barnet
Walsall v Rochdale
Wrexham v Wycombe

Second bottom Grimsby travel to Boston as they look to jump out of the final relegation spot they occupied following the defeat at bottom placed Torquay last weekend.

Torquay themselves entertain mid table Barnet and third bottom Macclesfield also have a home game against Darlington.

Accrington are one place above us in the table and they also face a home game against Chester.

 

Venue Guide

Address: Racecourse Ground, Mold Road, Wrexham, LL11 2AH

Telephone Number: 01978 262129

Fax Number: 01978 357821

Web Site: www.wrexhamafc.co.uk

Wycombe Websites

How to get there?

By Car: Leave the M6 at Junction 10a to join the M54 and continue on this road as it becomes the A5 past Shrewsbury and Oswestry. When you reach Oswestry turn right at the roundabout (An ESSO Service Station will be on your left), staying on the A5. Continue straight through the series of roundabouts to join the A483 and leave this road at junction A541. At the roundabout turn right towards Wrexham and after going straight over the next roundabout the ground is ahead of you on your left.

By Train: Wrexham General is next to the ground and there is a service every two hours between Chester and Shrewsbury. There is also an hourly service between Wrexham and Liverpool. Click here for the Rail Track Online Timetable or call national enquiries on 08457 484950.

When you are there
Car Parking: NEWI College just before the ground and a local car park just before the Shell Garage on the opposite side of the road and both cost around £2.00. Free parking is available on the retail parks by turning left at the second roundabout but do not park in ALDI or you will get clamped! Avoid B&Q as they have a maximum stay of two hours and issue parking tickets for £125 and the new Central Retail park just passed the train station operates a time restriction policy.

Beer and Grub: The Turf is right next to the Kop but it gets very busy in the hour leading up to kick off, so arrive early. The Official Supporters Club has use of the Centenary Club on matchdays and this is located behind the Sainsburys Stand with the entrance off the club car park. The Plas Coch Retail Park has a pub and is normally a favourite for away supporters. The Railway is located down the side road along the Remploy factory at the opposite end of Crispin Lane to the ground. There are plenty of pubs in the town centre and the closet to the ground is a Wetherspoons Pub by following Mold Road into the town centre and is found on your left hand side. If you continue into the town centre McDonalds will be on your left and the next pub you reach is The Horse and Jockey and opposite that under the archway is a good chip shop. There are more pubs on High Street and to find them continue pass the Horse and Jockey, passing Burger King on your left, and High Street is the junction with Burtons.

Cash Machines: The Shell Garage on Mold Road with further machines at Sainsburys and Boots on the Plas Coch Retail Park. If you are heading into the town centre you will pass a number of banks on your way to the pubs.

How much to get in?

Stand Adults Senior/YP Juniors
Kop £14 £7 £5
Sainsburys £16 £10 £5
Mold Road £17 £10 £10
Away Stand £16 £10 £5

Family Tickets:

1 Adult & 1 Children: £21 all areas

1 Adult & 2 Children: £26 all areas

2 adults & 2 Children: £42 all areas

Must be purchased in advance from the ticket office

Young Persons: Only available to members and tickets must be purchased in advance from the ticket office.

Disabled Facilities

Wrexham have 45 disabled places available at the front of the Pryce Griffiths Stand. There are 22 parking spaces and two disabled toilets with dedicated refreshment kiosks. Admission is £10 for the disabled supporter (£5 concessions) with the helper admitted free. Please contact Tony Millington at The Racecourse on 01978 262129.

Weather Forecast

Sunny intervals with temperatures reaching 6 degrees Celsius and a 1 mph north easterly wind.