Last-ditch defending is becoming commonplace for Wycombe
For the third game running at Adams Park, Wycombe were thankful for a superb goalline clearance. After Joe Jacobson foiled AFC Wimbledon and then Sunderland with a stunning act of defensive play, it was Ryan Tafazolli’s turn this week when he blocked Nathan Holland’s first-half effort, ultimately resulting in Oxford becoming only the fourth side to fail to score away at Wycombe this season.
A stat from Opta prior to the game revealed that Wanderers goalkeeper David Stockdale’s 88 saves was the joint second highest in the EFL thus far this season. Lee Nichols at Huddersfield was the only goalkeeper in the top seven playing for a side not in the bottom half of their respective division.
It’s no cause for concern, but the fact that Wycombe are relying on the last line of defence more often than they might is something Gareth Ainsworth will want to keep his eye on.
Adams Park saw its best attendance of the season. Photo: Nick Slevin
But they’re very much in the promotion hunt
2022 has seen Wycombe pick up ten points from twelve thus far, scoring eight goals and keeping three clean sheets. They are showing no signs of letting up and hit the League One summit.
The talk of them being bad to watch time-wasters will persist, but they once again scored two excellent goals with the home fans lapping up the passes in the final few minutes. Gareth Ainsworth appears to be more than happy for opposing fans, journalists and teams to have a blinkered view of his side who are doing their talking on the pitch. A play-off place would have perhaps been a decent finish on their return to League One but the top two is now very much in the equation.
Oxford’s automatic hopes could be over
There is a case for arguing that the first lockdown in 2020 and the subsequent shutdown of football hurt Oxford the most in the long run. The PPG formula put them in the play-offs but they ultimately had the shortest pre-season of any side before the 2020-21 and the lack of preparation time could have been a key factor in their slow start to that campaign. Hopes and expectations were high this time around but the defeat at Wycombe puts them out of the play-off zone and eight points off the top two. D3D4 head honcho James Richards stated last week that they need a ‘plan-b’ and it was certainly the case against Wanderers. They took the game to Wycombe from the start but after failing to break through, they dropped off after Wycombe took the lead and never really threatened in the final half-hour, despite having the lion’s share of possession. A third successive play-off place is far from out of the question – they are a decent side with some excellent players, but with no wins this year thus far, there is undeniably room for improvement.
Unsavoury incidents marred the afternoon
Early in the second half, David Stockdale took time out to speak to the referee, Anthony Backhouse who then proceeded to summon the stadium manager before a tannoy announcement went out stating that homophobic abuse will not be tolerated. Who said what and when is unknown, and whether anything further will come of it remains to be seen. David Stockdale was right to call this out and players must be encouraged to report any form of prejudice they either hear or suspect. Ryan Allsop did the same when playing in goal for Wycombe at Tranmere back in 2019 but the fallout contained whataboutery, the deflecting of attention and saw fans, unequipped with the full facts having arguments across the tribalistic divides that exist in football. I have already seen murmurings of the same thing happening with this more recent incident and it simply has to stop. How the hell is football meant to properly unite against any form of prejudice if fans use these occurrences to either mock supporters of other teams or try and deflect or excuse them away so as not to be associated with it themselves? The facts need to be established and appropriate action taken without anyone, no matter their allegiance, resorting to any sort of name-calling. Otherwise, we’re just going to go round in circles.
Meanwhile, the individual who ran onto the pitch to attack some Oxford players before goading the travelling faithful was soon apprehended and removed from the stadium – hopefully never to return.
Today was about one special lady
Alana Hurford was a popular Wycombe fan who had a great love for her club. She tragically died on New Year’s Eve at the age of just 29 and today was her day. A flag with ‘Forever a Chairgirl’ was on display whilst her shirt was held aloft by Gareth Ainsworth, ever a man of the people, after Wycombe’s second goal. The most poignant moment though came in the 29th minute when the stadium rose as one for a minute’s applause. The Oxford fans showed joined in but whilst I have seen opposition fans do such a thing on many occasions before, the decision by referee Backhouse to delay a throw-in to enable the players and officials to partake, was unique.
Gareth Ainsworth clutches Alana’s shirt as he applauds the fans.
For everyone in that ground at that moment to understand the sincerity and sentiment behind such a tribute was a beautiful thing. A minute’s applause will not fix any hurt and loss felt by Alana’s nearest and dearest but it demonstrates that community is at the heart of all football clubs of any size and in any division, and Alana will live on at Adams Park in the memory of those that knew and loved her. It’s moments like this that demonstrate why football really doesn’t matter. And also why it really does.
WYCOMBE WANDERERS 2 (Thomson 33, Hanlan 60)
OXFORD UNITED 0
ATT: 8,005 (Away 1,808)
words Phil Slatter, D3D4 Chairboys writer