PREVIEW: Exeter City v Wycombe Wanderers

The Grecians make a welcome return to St. James Park for this crunch League 1 clash. With two heavy defeats on the road over the past fortnight, Paul Tisdale will be looking for a result against bottom of the table Wycombe.

The chairboys were promoted with us last season, but they haven;`t had a shappy start to life in the third tier. Many City fans were looking forwards to the prospect of a battle with Peter Taylor in a third different division. However, that isn`t to be, as Taylor was dismissed on the sam day as John Barnes a week last Friday. His replacement, Garry Waddock, is also familiar to us. We were promoted from the Conference alongside his Aldershot side - who clinched automatic promotion a nd the league title after a 1-1 draw at St. James Park.

Steve Tully will make a rare start at right back, replacing the suspended Richard Duffy. First choice keeper Paul Jones will remain sidelined with a knee injury for at least a month. Oscar Jansson could return after a short term injury, and replace Andy Marriott who deputised at Walsall.

Tactically, as with the response to the Huddersfield match, Paul Tisdale has the ability to make numerous changes with such a big squad. However, it is extremely hard to predict what the City boss will change.

Noone is a player that can make a difference like no-one else in the squad. He was out through injury last weekend, and City fans will take his place back in the first eleven this Saturday.

Midfielder John Mousinho should return after missing the last two games with a dead leg. The Chairboys will also welcome back Marlon Pack and Matty Bloomfield to the squad.

It will be interesting to come face-to-face with Zebroski again. I`m sure he won`t enjoy the site of the Grecians though. He of course, missed a penalty in the shootout for Oxford in the Conference Play-off final in 2007. A year later we met again in the playoffs, and this time he was in Torquay colours. Whilst he struck the first flow after scoring the winner in the first leg at St. James Park after a Paul Jones clearance came back off him, City had the last laugh as he conceded the penalty in the second leg which aided City`s path back to Wembley, and ultimately promotion back to the football league. Last season we met over two league games and City took four points off Wycombe. The next instalment should prove intriguing, and takes on a different complexion as both teams are struggling.

The two clubs met last season in League 1. On Boxing Day at Adams Park, Wycombe scored early from the spot, but Manny Panther got a bizarre equaliser for the Grecians in the first half.

The return match at St. James park on Easter Monday was a crunch game for both sides with both sides going for automatic promotion. City managed to achieve a 1-0 victory with a goal from Matthew Gill in one of the great second half displays.

Exeter City 2 Wycombe Wanderers 1

Saturday 31st October (3pm)
Coca Cola League 1
Exeter City v Brentford
St. James Park

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