Big Match Preview: Wycombe vs Stevenage

8 October 2019

Stevenage travel to Wycombe Wanderers on Tuesday 8th October 2019 for a 7:45pm kick-off in the Leasing.Com Trophy...

Ticket News...

Stevenage supporters are to be reminded that tickets for tonights fixture can be bought direct from Ticket Office Window 1 at Adams Park. Tickets cost just £10 for Adults and £5 for U18s.

Travel...

The Supporters Association Coach will NOT be running for this fixture. Directions to Adams Park can be found below:

If you would prefer to travel by train, the nearest railway station is High Wycombe, which is approximately 2.5 miles from the stadium.

Parking around the ground is available for just £5.

Onto the game...

MK Dons are in command of Southern Group O after two straight wins to start their Leasing.Com Trophy campaign. One such win came against Stevenage in Matchday 1, leaving Boro bottom of the group.

Wycombe are yet to play a match in the competition and therefore have a busy schedule between now and the end of November, when the Group Stage ends.

What they said...

Following defeat at Colchester on Saturday, Mark Sampson says that a victory in the EFL Trophy would do wonders for the team's confidence and mindset.

“We have got a big game on Tuesday night now. We need to go there and win, simple as that, regardless of the competition. This team have got to get the mindset of finding ways to win football matches, that has got to start now for Tuesday night.

“We have to show some leadership now as a group of players and staff and stand up and say I am going to be the person that turns this around. If everyone has that mindset, collectively, we will start to see performances and results go in the direction we want to go.

“It starts with every individual doing that, you have got to look yourselves in the mirror and say it is up to me today to make an impact. That has got to be the mentality.”

Despite going great guns in League One currently, Wycombe boss Gareth Ainsworth says he is desperate for success in the EFL Trophy too.

"With the squad we have at the moment, any sort of change in the starting 11 still leaves us strong. A lot of clubs will change their whole 11, or give the youngsters a go in this competition, but after our exploits three seasons ago, reaching the semi-finals, I would like to see how far we can go again.

"With vital game time for some of our squad, but always with an attitude to win, I’m sure we will see a very competitive game and I’m hoping we can get as many fans as possible down to the stadium.

"Historically this competition hasn’t drawn in the biggest crowds, so that makes coming down even more special, and for those younger players who are involved, it would be great for them to be playing in front of a crowd, at our fabulous stadium, and in the first team. They will know how much it means to put that blue quartered Wycombe shirt on and represent this fantastic football club."

Previous meetings...

The head-to-head standings between the two sides are pretty even, with the Chairboys just edging Boro with 5 wins to 4.

Wycombe did the double over Stevenage during their 2017/18 Sky Bet League Two promotion winning season, including a 1-0 defeat at Adams Park on the final day of the campaign.

Officials...

Referee: Josh Smith

Assistant Referee 1: Ravel Cheosiaua

Assistant Referee 2: Aaron Farmer

Fourth Official: Andrew Williams

Betting...

Stevenage are 5/1 underdogs with league sponsors, Sky Bet whilst there are a whole host of RequestABet options for supporters to browse including Stevenage to win, BTTS, 4+ corners each team and 10+ booking points each team at 40/1 and Stevenage to score 3+ goals, 6+ Stevenage corners and 20+ Wycombe booking pts at 100/1.

If you fancy a flutter this weekend, use our designated link which enables the club to receive a slice of your stake!

Also, don't forget that supporters can now check-in on matchdays, unlock achievements and earn special rewards courtesy of Sky Bet, title sponsors of the EFL. Download the new Sky Bet EFL Rewards app by clicking here.

Online coverage...

Stevenage supporters unable to attend tonight's home match against Northampton Town can stream the action live from wherever they are. All midweek fixtures in 2019/20 are available for domestic streaming with an iFollow Video Match Pass.

Not only will you be able to watch the game live from your laptop, computer, phone or tablet, but streamers will also receive BBC 3CR's commentary for the full immersive experience.

80% of the net revenue gained goes straight into the Club, so click here to order your Video Match Pass now.

Make sure you are following our Twitter account throughout the day as we bring you the very latest from Adams Park.

Match Reports

Report: Wycombe 0-1 Stevenage

8 October 2019

Stevenage secured their first victory of the season in the EFL Trophy on Tuesday night as Jason Cowley’s early header helped his team to a well-deserved three points...

It had been a long time coming for Boro after a nightmare start to the season, but Tuesday’s win over League One high-flyers Wycombe Wanderers may just give Sampson’s side the confidence needed to turn their campaign around.

The Caretaker Mananger named three changes to the side that lost out at Colchester on Saturday as Jamie Fielding, Arthur Iontton and Tyler Denton all returned to the team in place of Tom Soares, Ben Nugent and Ben Kennedy.

Boro got off to a bright start and had an opportunity to take the lead inside the opening minute. Jason Cowley digging out a cross for his strike partner Kurtis Guthrie, but his header flew over the bar and into the Terrace behind the goal.

Minutes later, Guthrie returned the favour as he swung in a cross for Cowley but this time, the young striker made it three goals in three starts with a brilliant header that gave goalkeeper Yates no chance to stop.

Stevenage continued their bright start throughout the first half and would dominate proceedings, pressing for a second goal and creating a number of clear-cut chances during the process.

On 25 minutes, Cowley looked to break clear for his second but decided to take his shot early from the edge of the box, which sailed high into the Wycombe stands.

10 minutes later, Parker had one of Wycombe’s best sights of goal but couldn’t get a shot away after the Chairboys loaded the box, with Boro Captain Scott Cuthbert in the right place at the right time to clear the ball from danger.

Oforborh then created another good opening, driving to the left-hand by-line before drilling a pass across the six-yard box, which flew past untouched, much to the relief of Sampson’s side.

Then, in the three minutes of added time, Stevenage would have two superb opportunities to extend their lead. First up, Boro had a goal disallowed after a perfectly placed free kick caused chaos inside the Wycombe area before being poked over the line. Unfortunately for Boro, the referee spotted an infringement which caused the decision to be overturned.

Then, a minute later, Guthrie was through one-on-one with the goalkeeper but saw his strike saved by Yates who got one quickly to smother the shot.

Having gone into half-time with a 1-0 lead in each of the past three games, it would have been understandable if the players came out cautiously from the break but on this occasion, it was different.

Cowley had a golden opportunity to score his second of the match minutes after the restart. A nice Stevenage move opened up Denton’s cross for Guthrie, whose header back across goal was met by Cowley, but his off-balance hit was wide of the mark.

The former Sporting Bromsgrove man had his hands all over tonight’s contest and could have had his hat-trick on 56 minutes. Another Stevenage set piece sent panic into the Wycombe back-line which lead to Cowley stabbing at goal from a few yards out, only to see his effort stopped on the line.

El-Abd and Nugent came on for Iontton and Stokes during the second half and just moments after entering the fray, Nugent could have put clear daylight between the two sides with a golden opportunity from the back-post after a recycled corner fell to him kindly. Unfortunately for him and his teammates, the centre-back failed to direct his shot on target and instead, played it across and at the goalkeeper

Paul Taylor replaced Jason Cowley with 15 minutes to go as Wycombe began to apply some sustained pressure onto the Stevenage defence for the first time in the contest. Despite that, the Chairboys mainly resorted to diagonal balls into Akinfenwa which Boro did brilliantly well to thwart, holding the home side to almost nothing in terms of opportunities in-front of goal.

That was until the final couple of minutes of added time, when Wheeler saw his header cleared off the line following a Chairboys corner before Ofoborh blazed over once it was headed back into play.

In the end, Stevenage got the monkey off their back to record a first win of the campaign, moving them into second place in Group O of the EFL Trophy, ahead of Saturday’s home match against Grimsby Town in Sky Bet League Two.

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Ticket News

Tickets & Travel: Wycombe Wanderers

7 October 2019

Stevenage supporters are to be reminded that tickets for the Club's upcoming EFL Trophy fixture at Wycombe Wanderers is Pay on the Day only...

Boro take on the Chairboys at Adams Park on Tuesday 8th October 2019 at 7:45pm in Group G of the 2019/20 EFL Trophy.

Ticket prices are set at just £10 for Adults and £5 for U18s. Fans can buy direct from Ticket Office Window 1 on the day of the match.

Travel...

The Supporters Association Coach will NOT be running for this fixture. Directions to Adams Park can be found below:

If you would prefer to travel by train, the nearest railway station is High Wycombe, which is approximately 2.5 miles from the stadium.

There are limited parking facilities at the ground and access before and after the game is often busy.

Upper tier parking in official club car park at £5 and parking behind the JFC building on Hillbottom Road is also priced at £5.

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Stevenage FC

Standings

Big Match Preview: Wycombe vs Stevenage

Report: Wycombe 0-1 Stevenage

Tickets & Travel: Wycombe Wanderers

Tickets & Travel: Wycombe Wanderers