Struggling Notts County host Wycombe Wanderers in one of Saturday’s League Two clashes.
Notts County are on a horrendous run at the moment having suffered four straight losses in the league, conceding 11 goals during that time. This has led John Sheridan’s side to slip down to 19th and they are just two points away from safety. If they continue this dismal run during the hectic festive period then that gap could shorten very quickly. It would no doubt be a disaster if the world’s oldest professional club found themselves playing in a part-time league next season.
Home form is vital for surviving clubs and, unfortunately for The Magpies, their run at Meadow Lane has been abysmal with just one win all season. This is nothing new for County and this is merely a continuation from the last campaign and in fact, the Nottinghamshire side have won just three league matches on home soil in 2016 in 21 attempts.
It is impossible to pinpoint Notts County’s problems at the moment as they are not scoring enough at one end whilst they are failing to keep them out at the other -a recipe for disaster. There will certainly be some nervous tension at Meadow Lane on Saturday as County welcome one of the division’s most in-form teams.
It has been very much the opposite for Wycombe Wanderers in recent weeks as they have stormed into the play-off spots with four wins on the bounce in the league whilst they have also won their two cup games during that period. The winning habit is certainly present at The Chairboys – not bad for a club with one of the lowest budgets in the league.
Manager Gareth Ainsworth, a former player at the club, will be particularly happy with the defensive work his side are doing as they have conceded just one goal in their last four matches. Overall, Wycombe have the joint-third best defensive record in the league having let in just 22 goals in 19 matches.
Goal-scoring has proved a bit problematic for the Buckinghamshire side but, with such a good defence, that is not too much of an issue.
The Chairboys’ away form has also been pretty tidy with two consecutive victories and no defeats in four. Quite an improvement considering they had not won away in the league since February before their victory over Cambridge United three weeks ago.
Given the above information, I think you certainly have to back Wycombe here at a surprisingly profitable 8/5. With Notts County looking a bit delicate at the moment and Wycombe so full of confidence, it’s too hard to see past an away victory.
See more League Two tips here.