The Game
Argyle v Wycombe Wanderers. Monday, 29 December. 7.45pm. Sky Bet League One.
The Opposition
Wycombe picked up just two points from their opening six games of the season, getting their first win at attempt number seven, when they beat Mansfield Town 2-0. Wanderers still lost two of their next three, but improvement came in the form of a seven-match unbeaten run which pulled them up the table.
Argyle ended that run with a 1-0 win at Adams Park, and since then Wycombe have been inconsistent, drawing 0-0 at Burton Albion, winning 2-1 at home to Bolton Wanderers, and then losing 4-0 on Boxing Day at Luton Town.
The Gaffer
Michael Duff was a defender who played for just two league teams – Cheltenham Town and Burnley – playing more than 300 games for each. He also played 24 times for Northern Ireland.
Duff’s first managerial job was at Cheltenham, having spent time coaching in Burnley’s academy. After four years at the helm, he had taken Cheltenham into League One, and achieved their highest-ever finish.
This led to a role at Barnsley, where in his one season he got to a League One play-off final, but lost to Sheffield Wednesday.
In the summer of 2023, he joined Swansea City, in the Championship, but he was sacked before the year’s end. His next job was with Huddersfield Town, in League, but was dismissed by the Terriers after nine months, with Huddersfield in mid-table.
The Squad
Luke Leahy (below) has played all 21 of Wycombe’s league games this season. He is yet to score this term, but he does have 69 career goals to his name, as an expert free-kick and penalty taker. The 33-year-old has represented Falkirk, Walsall, Bristol Rovers, Shrewsbury Town and now Wycombe, who he joined in July 2023.
Club captain Jack Grimmer, 31, is the other ever-present in the Chairboys’ squad. He has played almost 250 games for the club, having joined from Coventry City in 2019. The defender, who has played at both right-back and central defence this season, began his football career with hometown side Aberdeen, before moving south to Fulham. Following loans at Port Vale and Shrewsbury, Grimmer moved to Coventry, where he played 66 times.
Goalkeeper Will Norris joined Wycombe at the end of the transfer window last year, and was their number one for the rest of the campaign. This year, he found himself behind Mikki van Sas in the pecking order, but regained his position at the start of October, and has played all 11 games since. The 32-year-old stopper has also played for Cambridge United, Peterborough United and Portsmouth, among others.
Previous Meetings
Argyle have already played Wycombe twice this season, both times away from home. In the Emirates FA Cup, Wycombe won 2-0 thanks to two goals from Cauley Woodrow, but Argyle responded and won the league game five weeks later, with a goal from Owen Oseni.
Argyle TV
Argyle TV’s coverage will begin the Pre-Match Show, from 7.15pm, with Erin Black joined by Katie Middleton, before commentary of the game comes from Charlie Price and Brian McGlinchey.
Match passes to watch this game are available overseas. CLICK HERE for more information.
