Wycombe - Rochdale, English League Two
2004-08-21 16.00 CET
Pick: Wycombe
Stake: 3%
Odds: 1,65
Final reasons
Wycombe is one of the favourites to be promoted this year. They have started the new campaign in a promising way and are still unbeaten after three rounds. Rochdale is the reverse; they are one of the favourites to get relegated this year. Wycombe has made some interesting signings and the team plays like promotion candidates. We believe that Wycombe will be a much too tough opponent for Rochdale. However, since it is the beginning of the season we will keep the stake at a medium level, 3%.
General comment about the game
On Saturday the English League Two continues with its fourth round. Our attention is drawn to the game at Causeway Stadium where the home team Wycombe will entertain Rochdale. Wycombe had a bad season last year which got them relegated. In front of this season they were one of the favourites to win promotion and they have fulfilled these hopes by sprint starting the new campaign; they are one of six teams that are still unbeaten after three matches. Manager Tony Adams has added some much needed fresh blood into the squad. From Premier League he has made three loan signings; defenders Mike Williamson (3 apps, 1 goal) from Southampton and Gary Silk (3 apps) from Portsmouth and today he completed a one month contract with Welsh U21 striker Adam Birchall from Arsenal. Neither has made any impact in the Premier League, but is expected to do so in this lower division. Furthermore, Adams has also signed several that is supposed to make an impact; defenders Gus Uhlenbeek (2(1) apps) from Chesterfield and Stuart Nethercott (3 apps) from Millwall and midfielder Clint Easton (3 apps) from Norwich and striker Ian Stonebridge (3 apps, 1 goal) from Plymouth. These new players together with some of the more promising since last year, most noticeable is young striker Nathan Tyson (3 apps, 2 goals), will fight to make a real challenge for the title. After their first two victories this season they played away against big title favourites Northampton last weekend. The new composed Wycombe team made another impressive performance in a match ending 1-1. Wycombe made a very fine first half performance and also scored the opener. However, Northampton equalised in the beginning of the second half and after that the Wycombe players looked more and more tired. In the end it was a fair result. No new injury or suspension worries ahead of Saturdays clash, meaning that they can name the same starting eleven as last.
Rochdale is by many tipped to be in the relegation fight. Also last season they were involved in the relegation battle, in the end they came on 21st place, five points clear. To this season they have not made any new signings until today when they completed a contract with experienced defender Tony Gallimore from Barnsley. With almost the same squad as last season it is hard to see them above the relegation zone. The start of the new season has been mixed; the first two matches were defeats against supposed mid table team Swansea and supposed relegation rivals Scunthorpe. However, last weekend was a fall upwards when they clinched a home victory against another supposed mid table team, Southend. Man of the match was Rochdale’s skipper Gary Jones who scored both goals. The visitors had most of the possession and during spells played some nice attacking football but they were unable to create good goal scoring opportunities. Rochdale got midfielder Leo Bertos (3 apps, 1 goal) sent off in the game and he will start his three match ban on Saturday. Fellow midfielder Pat McCourt (2(1) apps) is rated doubtful for Saturday’s game because of an injury.
Recent games for home team
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2004-08-14 |
Northampton-Wycombe |
1-1 |
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2004-08-10 |
Chester-Wycombe |
0-2 |
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2004-08-07 |
Wycombe-Cambridge |
2-1 |
Recent games for away team
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2004-08-14 |
Rochdale-Southend |
2-0 |
|
2004-08-10 |
Rochdale-Swansea |
0-2 |
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2004-08-07 |
Scunthorpe-Rochdale |
3-1 |
Home table
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Wycombe |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
2-1 |
3 |
Away table
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Rochdale |
1 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1-3 |
0 |
Links for this game
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// SportsObserver 040820
