Wycombe Wanderers are set to play out their second game since the departure of Gareth Ainsworth at the helm of the club with Exeter City up next for Matt Bloomfield in what will be his first game as manager at Adams Park.
Wycombe were beaten 2-0 in Bloomfield's first game in charge of the club and it never looked good from the off for his side that day. An own goal from Jordan Willis gave Shrewsbury a 1-0 lead after 32 minutes, with Salop scoring agin five minutes from time.
This did also end a winning run of five games towards the end of Ainsworth's 13-year stay as manager of the club, as Wycombe defeated Oxford United, Port Vale, Derby County, Accrington Stanley and Bolton Wanderers to throw the club into the top five of League One. At the same time, with them defeating Peterborough United on New Year's Day, it does mean Sheffield Wednesday are the only club to defeat them in 2023.
After losing to Shrewsbury, however, it means they are just two points behind Wycombe in the table, as Bloomfield's side remain four points adrift of the playoff spots with some sides around them like Barnsley also having games in hand to play. Nevertheless, a spot within the top six is still well on for Bloomfield, but a win here feels like a must because of the form of those around them and to avoid any present doubt of his capabilities as head coach of the club.
Exeter will come into this one off the back of just one win in the past five games. This has seen them defeat Cambridge United last time out, as they also lost to Charlton Athletic 2-1, Burton Albion 1-0 and Port Vale 1-0, while also drawing 0-0 with Shrewsbury. It leaves the club in 12th ahead of this one, although they are just three points off the top 10 - Portsmouth do have two games in hand to play over them, however.
Exeter's own chances to get into the playoffs are not looking great. They sit nine points behind Wycombe in seventh and they are also 14 behind Derby County in sixth. The club come into this one with 11 wins from 33 games and 13 defeats, and what all but sums up their season is how the club sit bang in the middle of the table with almost as many goals scored (44) as they have conceded (43).
