Barnet play Wycombe Wanderers in one of the ties of the FA Cup first round on Saturday. The Bees have made a fantastic start to the league season, winning 42 points from a possible 57, sitting nine points clear at the top of the Conference. The home side have been met with just three defeats so far this season, losing by a single goal to Lincoln City, Wrexham and Macclesfield

Wycombe are on a similar run in League 2. The Chairboys have made an exceptional start, having lost just two of their 16 games so far this season, at home to Tranmere and away at Exeter. Cup luck has not been on their side however, as their Capital One Cup match and Johnstone's Paint Trophy match both ended in a 1-0 defeat. 

The visitors are showing completely different form to last season, in which they survived relegation from the Football League by the skin of their teeth. They come into this game off the back of a 2-1 win at the home of Oxford, their biggest rivals. The game is Wycombe's 19th of the season, and despite hitting a rocky patch, they are still far exceeding expectations in League 2.

Two two sides actually played one another in pre-season, with the Chairboys coming out 1-0 winners, thanks to a stunner from Peter Murphy. In competitve matches, Wycombe have not beaten their opponents since March 2011, when they were last promoted from League 2. The sides have met in the FA Cup five times previously, the most recent being back in 1996, when a replay was needed for Wycombe to progress.

Either side could have players make their full debuts on Saturday. Barnet have recently signed Bernard Mensah on loan from Watford, and the 19-year old could start his first game for the club at the weekend. Wycombe, on the other hand, may feel that the experience of Hogan Eprahim could benefit them in the cup. Eprahim was signed on a short-term deal just over a week ago, and came on as a substitute in their 2-1 win against Oxford.

VAVEL Logo
About the author