Chairboys looking to get back on play-off track with victory over mid-table Cambridge United

Wycombe Wanderers have seen their play-off hopes slip away from them in a winless run spanning seven games, so could the visit of a Cambridge United side with nothing to play for be the perfect game to get themselves back on track, or is it another banana skin?

Gareth Ainsworth’s side have, at times, found life back in England’s third tier difficult this season, but managed to head into 2022 on a positive run of one defeat in 10 matches that would see them gatecrash the play-off party.

The key aspect of Ainsworth’s success has been his ability to keep a core of his squad together whilst making shrewd additions along the way. In the 2020/2021 season, Sam Vokes lost his place at Stoke City side and didn’t score a single goal.

At 31, many may have believed his career was over, but Ainsworth picked up Vokes in the summer transfer market on an initial one year deal, and the Welshman has gone on to make 15 goal contributions in League One, scoring 11.

Under Mark Bonner, Cambridge United have been a surprise package in League One this season. Tipped as one of the relegation favourites, the U’s have consistently picked up results and have now moved into a position of relative comfort in mid-table.

This came after an impressive Papa John’s Trophy run to the Quarter-Finals, as well as a famous FA Cup campaign that saw Cambridge reach the Fourth Round, picking up a historic 1-0 win against Newcastle United at St James’ Park along the way.

On a limited budget, Bonner has built a side that has the perfect blend of youth and experience, and has reaped the rewards for a number of players making the step up to League One, be it part of the Cambridge side that got promoted or signings from the leagues below.

It is fair to say Wycombe play a progressive style of football, one which has resulted in their games featuring 101 goals this season. This is one of the highest totals in the league, with a goal difference of just +9, it is clear that the Chairboys can be the architects of their own downfall at time with their style of play.

Perhaps this trait was epitomised by a singular game when Wycombe came from behind once and led by two goals twice in a staggering 5-5 draw with Cheltenham Town at Adams Park. As such, it is clear that they are still scoring goals in their winless run, but have been edged out in a number of games and have lost out with an aggregate score of 16-13 across all of the matches.

Cambridge meanwhile arrive at this junction in form typically reminiscent of a mid-table side. In their last five games, the U’s have two wins, two losses and a draw. Recent back-to-back home victories over Accrington Stanley and Plymouth Argyle ensured that the U’s were hauled away from any lingering relegation doubts, and have now as good as secured League One football for a second consecutive season.

Wycombe will hope to continue their goalscoring form and utilise the presence that Sam Vokes brings against a young centre-back partnership of Sam Sherring and Jubril Okedina. Cambridge have scored goals of their own, finding the back of the net twice in each of their last four matches, and as such Gareth Ainsworth will know his side have to be more defensively solid if they are going to get back on the postseason track.

There have been multiple switches between a back four and back three, so it is vital that the management team can find a settled formation that makes Wycombe tougher to break down in games to come.

Of course, Cambridge will look to seize the opportunity to break down a brittle Chairboys back line, with Sam Smith in good form and a returning Shilow Tracey a bonus. Cambridge have a very settled 4-2-3-1 formation, with a clear system that players can be interchanged in and out of. As the visitors to a side who still have attacking potency, whether that be Paul Digby alongside Adam May or Liam O’Neil, could be pivotal to Bonner’s men getting a result.

The two sides are yet to meet this season after their Boxing Day clash at Adams Park was postponed due to a Covid-19 outbreak, while the reverse fixture at The Abbey had to be rescheduled due to Cambridge’s progression in the FA Cup. As a result, Wycombe will face the U’s twice in the space of a month, but with both games now being on Tuesday nights, Wes Hoolahan won’t be available.

At 39-years-old, the former Republic of Ireland international isn’t able to play midweek games if he plays the previous Saturday, meaning that Bonner will have to reshuffle his already thin squad to adjust to his absence. However, with a number of key players set to return from injury, the U’s will be confident going into their trip to Buckinghamshire.

Victory for the Chairboys could see them rise back into the play-offs should results go their way, whilst a victory for Cambridge may see them break an impressive barrier of heading into the top half of the table.

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