The Aston Villa roadshow rolls into Wycombe on Tuesday night for a Carabao Cup third round tie with League One’s Wycombe Wanderers. Adams Park will be packed full as Villa look to progress against lower league opposition. The biggest question will be around how many changes will be made to the line up as Villa face their fourth match, in a third competition, in ten days. Surely Unai Emery will take the opportunity to give some players a well-earned rest while providing the opportunity to others to stake a case for first team inclusion.
Having scored his fourth goal from the bench, Jhon Durán will feel like Adams Park is an ideal place to get his first start. Emi Buendia should also be afforded the opportunity to build up his match fitness after two cameo appearances.
Wycombe provide an opportunity to work on the defensive issues that persist. Lamare Bogarde or Kosta Nedeljković should start the game too while Ian Maatsen may well replace Lucas Digne as another Villa player looking for his first start of the season.
Villa’s midfield is so stacked that Emery could pick any combination and it would have pace and passing ability in abundance. It feels as if Youri Tielemans could get a well-earned rest while Ross Barkley steps up to run the show. Leon Bailey could see some time in the game to help with his match fitness after his hamstring injury.
Villa’s opponents are Wycombe Wanderers, and they are currently sitting in ninth place in League One. They come into the tie with a 2-1 win over lowly Cambridge United. Despite 65% of possession, they required a goal in the last five minutes to secure victory. After being beaten in their first two league games, Wycombe are unbeaten since. Both defeats were by a 3-2 scoreline with Wrexham (league leaders) and Birmingham City (2nd) edging out ‘The Chairboys.’
Wycombe have already played two matches in the Carabao Cup. Both ties have been away from Adams Park and were won without conceding a goal. The first round tie was a 2-0 win at fellow League One team, Northampton Town. Dan Udoh opened the scoring before an own goal settled matters. Defender Alex Hartridge was sent off, after two bookable offences, but Wycombe held on. Second round saw Wycombe travel to Championship team Swansea City and Richard Kone’s goal was enough to win the tie.
Wycombe’s main selection issue going into the game is whether Dan Udoh will be fit. If not, ex-Birmingham City player Beryly Lubala could take his place. Garath McCleary’s pace will try to test the Villa backline. Manager Matt Bloomfield will have seen how Wolves closed down Villa’s creativity in the first half on Saturday and Villa should expect to weather an early storm as the home team try to give their fans more reason to make Adams Park noisy.
The game is a potential banana skin for Villa, and defeat would deflate the positive energy around the team at the moment. If Villa stick to their game plan, prevent a repeat of their half-time dressing down from Emery, this game could be put to bed early.
Prediction: 4-1 away win