Wycombe’s mission improbable

PARK LIFE:

Chairboys face huge task to avoId drop 

WYCOMBE face a heck of a job to save themselves from the drop to League Two.

Athletic's 2-0 win over Leyton Orient leaves Wanderers seven points adrift of the safety zone and with only 11 fixtures left in which to prevent an immediate drop back down a division.

Since taking on Athletic at a chilly Adams Park in December — the game finished 2-2, though a hatful of scoring chances went begging for the visitors — Wycombe have won only two out of 13 fixtures in League One.

Boss Garry Waddock, though, can point to the fact that Athletic's own record since that day has been up-and-down.

Since the draw with the Chairboys, Dave Penney's side have won three out of 11, scoring eight goals in the process.

All the signs are that it could be another tense afternoon at Boundary Park on Saturday.

Wycombe are boosted by the fact that veteran winger Gareth Ainsworth — sent off in the 1-0 win over Millwall in February — made a scoring return for the reserves this week and is back in contention for a place in the side after serving a three-match ban.

The two teams last met in an incident-packed clash at Adams Park in December.

John Akinde put the home team a goal up after loan striker Paul Heffernan — who famously hit both posts and the crossbar with one shot in the second half — had seen his penalty saved by goalkeeper Scott Shearer.

Akinde was then dismissed after an off-the-ball spat with Sean Gregan and Athletic equalised shortly before half-time through Danny Whitaker's powerful long-range drive.

Reuben Hazell put Athletic 2-1 ahead and a number of good opportunities went begging against the 10 men of Wanderers, who eventually won a point through Dave Harrold's late penalty.