It’s been a season full of ups and downs for Wycombe Wanderers so far, with the start under a different manager definitely more of a disappointment, not picking up three points until their seventh league match of the season, quickly finding themselves in for a relegation battle if things didn’t change.
But in September, things did in fact change, with Mike Dodds dismissed and Michael Duff announced as Wycombe’s new head coach, Wanderers quickly began to climb the table as results seemed to be going right, and the team finally seemed to click and perform up to the standard that Dodds could never quite achieve.
A couple of weeks ago, after Wycombe’s 1-0 victory over Barnsley at Oakwell, Wycombe found themselves in the play-off positions for the first time this season and after they had gone 2-0 up over Bolton Wanderers four days later, they were fifth.
But as we all know, it all went very wrong from there, conceding three in less than ten minutes and falling back down the table. While emotions from many were very raw after the game, it seemed as though all hope in achieving play-offs this season was gone.
However, after Wycombe’s victory over Cardiff City on Tuesday, Wanderers now find themselves only two points away from Reading who are currently in sixth, Stevenage losing and Huddersfield Town drawing. It’s definitely not impossible for Wycombe to achieve play-offs for the second season in a row.
Stevenage, who are currently sat in eighth with a total of 57 points, level with Huddersfield, have a game in hand over Wycombe, who as mentioned before, lost yesterday. Meanwhile, Stockport County, who are in fifth, have two games in hand over Wycombe and have picked up a total of 59 points in 36 matches but have lost three of their last five, whereas the Chairboys have won three of their last five, but lost two.
Wycombe are still yet to play Stockport, Bradford City, Huddersfield and Lincoln City, all four currently sat above them in the League One table. Leyton Orient, Port Vale, Blackpool and Rotherham United make up the rest of Wanderers’ final eight.
The first of which will be Orient on Saturday, with last season’s play-off finalists not having a great season, finding themselves only four points off the drop, but have won three of their last five. However, it definitely seems like a game in which any less than a victory would be considered unacceptable.
As per @PPGProphet on X, Wanderers are just below the forecast points total needed to gain a position in the play-offs (72), as they are predicted at the moment to finish on 68 points based on current points per game (1.8). This means, at the moment, Wanderers would need to pick up a total of 16 points in their last eight.
It’s definitely not impossible but by no means easy. They would need to win five or more and avoid a loss by any means. Victories against Leyton Orient, Port Vale, Blackpool and Rotherham should be non-negotiables in this, with the highest of those teams being Orient who are in 16th, with the other three currently facing the drop. That’ll be a very good twelve points on the board and depending on what the other teams around Wycombe do, it could see them edge ever closer to the play-offs, if they aren’t already there by that time.
Reading, Stockport, Plymouth Argyle and Stevenage seem to be Wycombe’s biggest threats at the minute. A win against Stockport on Good Friday would definitely be a welcome one, as the Blues need them to drop points wherever possible while gaining them themselves.
Gaining momentum, especially at this time of the season, so late on, could either make or break Wycombe’s campaign. We saw it go the wrong way last season, losing their last three of the season, falling to fifth and then playing Charlton in the play-off semi-finals and subsequently losing to them too.
Reading have only lost once in their last five played, won three and drawn once. Plymouth are the same in terms of form. Huddersfield have won twice, lost once and drawn twice. While it may not completely be in Wycombe’s hands at the moment, a good run of form in their final few games of the season definitely won’t do the side any harm, it’s just a case of do they believe they can do it? Or will it be a case of just seeing this season out and preparing to go for a bigger
