The first 45 minutes of the game were very frustrating, a lot of last season’s criticisms were once again visible. Wycombe were second to almost every ball, there was a lack of grit and physicality in the middle of the pitch and there was no ariel threat at all. Also frustrating was the fact that Junior didn’t have a place in the starting eleven, especially with no Kone in the squad at all. It was all perhaps a sign that Dodds was and is a ‘safety first’ kind of head coach.

That said, the second half was much better, however Wycombe still didn’t threaten the defenders much with only three attempts on target, especially against a side that only just managed to gain promotion in the later stages of the 24/25 campaign.

Wycombe were still two or three away from competing in their opening fixture, needing a commanding centre-back and a replacement for Josh Scowen. This seems to have been echoed by the club, as they have brought Connor Taylor and George Abbott into the club earlier this week, filling in the gaps that seemed to be present at the Valley Parade.

It will obviously take time but Wycombe can ill afford to write off 10-15 games because of a slow start, and it must improve in Wycombe’s first home fixture against Stockport this weekend.

Credit to Adam Cooper for his thoughts on the game.