This Week's Opposition: Wycombe Wanderers

After coming back from a goal down yet again to win 2-1 at the DW Stadium on Saturday, The Blues are looking comfortable so far this campaign. Now back to Fratton Park for a midweek fixture under the lights - The next opponent is Wycombe Wanderers.

The Blues remain top of the table after their away win against Wigan at the weekend, a result which also extended their unbeaten run to 21 league games.

Now let's take a closer look at Wycombe, the team that are travelling down South to take on the Blues.

MANAGER

Former midfielder Matthew Bloomfield is at the helm for The Chairboys.

Bloomfield started his career as a trainee with Ipswich Town and was scouted by Newcastle United before going on to represent England at Under-18, Under-19 and Under-20 levels.

However, after only appearing once for Ipswich’s first team, Bloomfield made his senior debut in 2003 when he joined Wycombe Wanderers on a free transfer. 

The now 39-year-old spent 19 years with Wycombe playing for the club in League One, League Two and Championship. At the start of the 2021/22 season, Bloomfield’s final one with the club as a player, he was given additional responsibility of first team coach.

Bloomfield was appointed head coach of League Two outfit Colchester United last September with the side struggling at the foot of the division. He was soon given the League Two Manager of the Month award after he oversaw Colchester gain 13 points from 6 matches.

Following the departure of long-term manager Gareth Ainsworth to Queens Park Rangers, Bloomfield returned to Wycombe and was appointed manager in February of this year.

ONE TO WATCH

Our one to watch this time around is Luke Leahy.

Leahy, who plays as a defender or midfielder for Wycombe, signed a 3-year contract with the club in July.

The Chairboys’ number 10 has previously played for Bristol Rovers, where he made 70 appearances over 2 years and scored 8 goals, as well as Shrewsbury Town, with whom he made 101 appearances and scored 21 goals.

Leahy has so far been in the starting 11 for all 9 league games played by Wycombe so far this season, scoring 1 goal and assisting 3 others in the process.

TOP SCORER

The Chairboys’ top goalscorer is centre-back and Wales Under-21 international Joe Low.

The 21-year-old, who wears the number 17 shirt, started his professional career at Bristol City but only made one first team appearance for The Robins before being shipped out on loan.

Across his loan spells at Dorchester Town, Frome Town, Yate Town, Eastleigh and Walsall he made a total of 42 senior appearances, scoring 3 goals.

Low joined Wycombe for an undisclosed fee in 2023, making his debut in a Carabao Cup First Round win against MK Dons. He scored his first 2 goals for the club in August in their 3-2 win away at Leyton Orient.

CURRENT FORM

Wycombe currently sit 9th in the table on 16 points, having played 9 games - The Chairboys have a game in hand on most sides around them.

They started this campaign off with a 3-0 defeat at Adams Park against Exeter City on the opening day.

Since then, The Chairboys have won 5 games including a recent 2-1 victory over 10-men Carlisle United. They have also drawn 1 and been defeated 3 times.

Wycombe and Portsmouth have met 18 times in the past. The Blues have won 6, lost 5 and drawn 7 of those encounters.

The last time these sides met the scoreline ended 2-2 at Fratton Park in what was billed as a crucial game for both sides in their respective attempts to reach last season’s Play-Offs.

In 2022/23, the Blues finished 1 point ahead of Wycombe, who finished on 69 points and 9th in the League One table.

So can the Blues create a gap at the top of the division and secure another 3 points from this league game?

Pompey Live returns with full coverage of Portsmouth vs Wycombe Wanderers from 7pm on Tuesday, the 3rd of October!

(Kick-off at Fratton Park: 7:45pm)