Promotion chasers Wycombe travel to Crawley for a midweek League 2 fixture on Wednesday night. Wycombe are just outside of the automatic promotion places due to goal difference, and a win will see them leapfrog third place Notts County. Wycombe have been brilliant this term scoring 70 goals, which is good for second most in the league.
Wycombe's leading score Adebayo Akinfenwa has scored 16 goals in 35 appearances. His record has been brilliant as Akinfenwa has scored 23% of Wanderers' goals. Thirteen other Wycombe players have tallied goals this term, and despite Akinfenwa getting the lion's share, Wanderers have got scoring from other areas.
Not only have Wycombe scored goals freely this season, but the team has posted the second-best away points total in League 2. Thirty-two of a possible 54 points have been secured by Wanderers as the team has posted a +8-goal difference.
Perhaps the team's biggest problem, and why they are outside the top three on goal difference, is due to its defence. Wycombe have conceded goals almost as freely as they have scored them. Gareth Ainsworth's team has allowed 52 goals. The good news ahead of Wednesday's match is the last time Wycombe played Crawley, Wanderers shut out their rivals 4-0. The match showcase just how impressive Wycombe's attack can be. Craig Mackail-Smith scored an 11-minute hat-trick in the second half.
Despite a dip in form recently, Crawley are in no danger of relegation. The team is comfortable in mid-table, and unless Crawley begin winning matches week in, week out, the side will miss out on the playoffs. Crawley are seven points back of seventh-place Lincoln for the final League 2 playoff place. The team has picked up just five points from their last 15 possible and thanks to the team's results, Crawley have dropped to 12th. The team's highest table position was ninth, which it achieved just before its recent three-game winless streak.
Crawley are –2 in goals this term as they have scored 44 times. Home hasn't been kind in the goal scoring department for the team. Just 22 goals have been recorded Broadfield Stadium, which is the fifth fewest in the league. In fact, the fans at Broadfield haven't seen many goals fly in, as Crawley's defence have allowed just 17 goals at home. The stadium has been a fortress and Crawley rank as the fourth-best home defence in League 2.
Wednesday's match will see one of the league's best home defences against one of the best away scoring sides. Although Crawley have been good at Broadfield, Wycombe will get the win and continue their push for promotion. The club has been too good to this point and will continue to march on.