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Wycombe Wanderers
League One | Gameweek 3
Aug 24, 2024 at 3pm UK
Adams Park
Rotherham logo

Wycombe
2 - 0
Rotherham

C (70'), Sadlier (87' pen.)
Scowen (8')
FT(HT: 0-0)

McCart (23'), Wilks (25')

Preview: Wycombe Wanderers vs. Rotherham United - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Saturday's League One clash between Wycombe Wanderers and Rotherham United, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Both still in search of a first victory of the League One season, Wycombe Wanderers and Rotherham United will do battle at Adams Park on Saturday.

The hosts are yet to pick up a point this term having lost each of their first two outings, while their visitors opened their account with a draw last weekend.


Match preview

Wycombe Wanderers manager Matt Bloomfield reacts on April 7, 2024© Reuters

Wycombe Wanderers will bid to get off the mark in League One at the third time of asking on Saturday, having endured a slow start to their second full season under the management of Matt Bloomfield.

Following an impressive end to the term, the Chairboys achieved a 10th-placed finish in England's third tier last time around and set out to build on that this time around, but they were unable to get off the mark in their opening trip to newly-promoted Wrexham.

After they fell 2-0 down in that game, Richard Kone halved the deficit around the hour mark, but Steven Fletcher would stretch the hosts' lead again in the 83rd minute, and Sam Vokes's goal came too late to spark a turnaround, seeing the Buckinghamshire outfit leave empty-handed as a result.

Having bounced back from that loss with a 2-0 EFL Cup triumph over Northampton Town, Bloomfield's side faced another tough test at home to promotion-chasing Birmingham City last weekend, and they fell short in another 3-2 defeat, as Vokes again pulled one back in the dying embers having previously led through a Krystian Bielik own goal and fallen 3-1 down at Adams Park.

Now on the back of a disappointing 1-0 midweek EFL Trophy defeat to AFC Wimbledon, Wycombe Wanderers will be desperate to get up and running with a confidence-boosting home victory on Saturday to avoid finding themselves at the wrong end of the division when the table begins to take shape.

Their visitors travel to Buckinghamshire in a similar position, having only managed one point from their first two outings on their return to League One this term.

After their Championship relegation was confirmed, Rotherham United turned to returning boss Steve Evans late last season, and after overseeing a final-day victory over Cardiff City, he was tasked with leading the Millers' bid for an immediate promotion back to England's second tier.

Following a busy summer of squad changes, the Millers began with a trip to Exeter City and succumbed to a disappointing 1-0 defeat following Caleb Watts's goal, before hosting Bristol Rovers and former manager Matt Taylor last weekend on the back of a 2-1 EFL Cup victory over Crewe Alexandra.

The Millers were unable to make their dominance count in that second league outing, eventually opening their account with a point as the contest ended goalless at the New York Stadium.

Now on the back of another cup victory, having beaten Mansfield Town 2-0 in the EFL Trophy group stage in midweek thanks to Jordan Hugill's brace, Rotherham United will be keen to get their promotion bid up and running with a first league triumph of the season when they visit Adams Park on Saturday.

Wycombe Wanderers League One form:
  • L
  • L


Wycombe Wanderers form (all competitions):
  • L
  • W
  • L
  • L


Rotherham United League One form:


Rotherham United form (all competitions):
  • L
  • W
  • D
  • W



Team News

Gillingham manager Steve Evans on December 7, 2021© Reuters

After rotating his squad heavily for their midweek EFL Trophy tie with AFC Wimbledon, Matt Bloomfield should revert to a similar Wycombe Wanderers starting XI from last weekend's narrow defeat to Birmingham City, with Ryan Tafazolli hoping to return in the middle of the defence after picking up a knock in the second half of that game.

If deemed fit, he will rejoin Joe Low at the heart of a back four, while new arrival Cameron Humphreys will compete with Luke Leahy, Josh Scowen, Matt Butcher and Tyreeq Bakinson to feature in the midfield.

Kieran Sadlier and Garath McCleary will both hope to return on the wings, while Sam Vokes, Daniel Udoh and Richard Kone will fight to lead the line, with veteran Vokes having scored off the bench in both of their first two League One outings of the season.

Steve Evans should have a full Rotherham United squad to pick from on Saturday, with Alex MacDonald able to feature despite his red card against Mansfield Town last time out, with the suspension instead carrying over to their next EFL Trophy contest.

He could again line up on the right-hand side of a back four, with Cameron Humphreys, Jamie McCart and Zak Jules competing to feature in the centre, while Cameron Dawson and Dillon Phillips have both laid claims to start between the sticks.

Jordan Hugill should come into the attack from the outset, having netted the decisive brace in midweek after Sam Nombe and Jonson Clarke-Harris were preferred against Bristol Rovers, while Mallik Wilks could offer further support following his loan switch from Sheffield Wednesday and full debut on Tuesday.


Wycombe Wanderers possible starting lineup:
Bishop; Grimmer, Low, Tafazolli, Harvie; Butcher, Scowen, Leahy; McCleary, Kone, Sadlier

Rotherham United possible starting lineup:
Phillips; MacDonald, Humphreys, McCart, Bramall; Tiehi, Odoffin, Powell; Wilks; Clarke-Harris, Hugill


SM words green background

We say: Wycombe Wanderers 1-1 Rotherham United

Both teams possess more quality than their early results suggest, and we anticipate a close encounter on Saturday, which could end in a low-scoring share of the spoils.


For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.


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Written by
Sam Varley

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Game History

How you voted: Wycombe vs Rotherham

Wycombe Wanderers
50.0%
Draw
16.7%
Rotherham United
33.3%
12
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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Wycombe WanderersWycombe20135243222144
2Birmingham CityBirmingham18133234161842
3Wrexham20125330131741
4Huddersfield TownHuddersfield20123534181639
5Stockport CountyStockport21106534221236
6Reading199463028231
7Bolton WanderersBolton199462829-131
8Barnsley208662926330
9Lincoln CityLincoln207762625128
10Blackpool197572931-226
11Mansfield TownMansfield187472222025
12Stevenage187471517-225
13Peterborough UnitedPeterborough2073103837124
14Charlton AthleticCharlton196671819-124
15Exeter CityExeter197391721-424
16Wigan AthleticWigan196581716123
17Rotherham UnitedRotherham186571920-123
18Leyton Orient196491920-122
19Northampton TownNorthampton205692129-821
20Bristol Rovers1963101728-1121
21Crawley TownCrawley1954102032-1219
22Cambridge UnitedCambridge2045112035-1517
23Burton Albion1926111630-1412
24Shrewsbury TownShrewsbury1932141939-2011


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