This Week's Opposition: Wycombe Wanderers

The Chairboys are picked apart by Jake Smith ahead of this weekend’s FA Cup Third Round meeting with the Blues!

Off the back of defeat to Sunderland on Sunday, it’s time to take a break from the league and enter The FA Cup - Wycombe Wanderers the opponents for Pompey, who enter at Round 3.

MANAGER

The Chairboys are led by one of their former players, Matt Bloomfield.

Bloomfield took over at Adams Park on the 21st of February, 2023 following the departure of long-serving manager Gareth Ainsworth, who took the vacant job at Queens Park Rangers.

The 40-year-old has a win percentage of 47.6 from 107 competitive games in charge.

ONE TO WATCH

Congolese striker Beryly Lubala, who celebrated his 27th birthday on Wednesday, is our one to watch for this FA Cup tie.

The Wycombe forward has bagged 4 goals from 17 league appearances so far this season and has been chosen due to the threat he carries in the form of strength and hold-up play, as well as taking opportunities in front of goal when presented them.

Lubala has found the back of the net 5 times in just 3 EFL Trophy outings this campaign and has also been successful in scoring in The FA Cup too, featuring in both of Wycombe’s games in the run to Round 3.

Should he feature in this cup tie, you’ll need to keep an eye or an ear out for The Chairboys man, who wears the number 30 shirt.

TOP SCORER

With 13 league goals and 16 in all competitions this season, 21-year-old forward Richard Kone is currently Wycombe’s top scorer.

Kone was signed permanently from Essex Senior League outfit Athletic Newham last January after a successful trial with the club.

He is currently 2nd in the League One goalscoring charts and just 2 goals behind leader Louie Barry, who no longer competes in the division after being recalled from his loan at Stockport County by parent club Aston Villa.

In 2019, Kone represented his home nation, the Ivory Coast in the Homeless World Cup.

CURRENT FORM

Although the 2 teams are in different leagues, there’s not an awful lot separating them when you compare their respective positions in the English league pyramid.

21st in the Championship Portsmouth are just 5 places above Wycombe, who occupy 2nd place in League One as things stand.

Matt Bloomfield’s side sit just 2 points behind leaders Birmingham City and have suffered just 4 defeats in 25 since the start of the league campaign.

Prior to a 2-1 loss at Charlton on December 29th, The Chairboys had enjoyed a run of 19 league matches unbeaten - 2 of the other 3 league defeats they’ve suffered this season came in their opening 2 matches of the campaign. The other came as recently as Tuesday night, when Huddersfield came to Adams Park and won by a goal to nil.

To reach this stage of The FA Cup, Wycombe had to overcome non-league opposition twice, beating York City 3-2 at Adams Park in Round 1 before dispatching Wealdstone by 2 goals to nil away from home in Round 2.

Which of these sides will progress to the next round?

Pompey Live returns to bring you full coverage of this FA Cup Third Round tie from 7pm on Friday the 10th of January - Jake Smith, Kevin Stokes and Pepe Lacey will be reporting LIVE from Adams Park.

Kick-off: 7:45pm!