With all the drama of deadline day now dying down, it’s back to Sky Bet League Two action for the Blues.
With United unbeaten in their last three league games, there is hope that Keith Curle’s side can mount a successful play-off bid.
But they will face a tough test of their credentials against a strong Wycombe side this weekend.
We put Wycombe under the spotlight ahead of our visit to Adams Park:
Pushing for Promotion
Having regularly finished in the top half of League Two for the last few seasons, many tipped Gareth Ainsworth’s men for success this season after the former QPR man kept most of last season’s squad intact while adding some real quality.
And they have lived up to that billing, with Wanderers currently sitting second in the league having lost only seven games all season.
Indeed, Wycombe have lost only one of their last six league outings - and that was to promotion rivals Mansfield Town.
A fine win against league leaders Luton Town in midweek handed Ainsworth’s men a big boost in their fight for promotion, with a Nathan Tyson brace and a strike from Paris Cowan-Hall securing a 3-2 win.
Goals, Goals, Goals
A key to Wycombe’s success this season has been their prolific nature in front of goal - Ainsworth’s side have netted 55 goals so far this season, with only Luton (66) scoring more.
In their last three games alone, Wycombe have netted nine and are currently averaging just shy of two goals per game across the league season.
With a range of attacking talent at their disposal - including Paris Cowan-Hall, Scott Kashket, Adebayo Akinfenwa, Nathan Tyson and Craig Mackail-Smitg - it’s perhaps no surprise that Wanderers have had such striking success so far.
What Does History Tell Us?
Carlisle and Wycombe only met for the first time in 1993, but have gone on to become regular foes over recent years.
And it’s Wycombe who have had the best of the 21 meetings between the two sides having claimed seven victories compared to Carlisle’s five.
A draw is the most popular result between the two, with nine games seeing the points shared.
Recent form has been slightly more favourable towards the Cumbrians, who are unbeaten in the last five meetings with the Wanderers having claimed victory in both league meetings last season.
Watch the highlights of the 3-3 draw from October this season here:
There’s Usually Goals
Only two of the nine draws between these two sides have been goalless, and the fixture does tend to produce plenty of goals.
Carlisle have stuck four past the Wanderers on two occasions, with Wycombe returning the favour once in 1996.
With an average of 2.6 goals per game between these two sides, could we be set for similar attacking entertainment on Saturday?
Ones to Watch
+ Dan Scarr – Handed his first Football League opportunity at Adams Park after joining on loan from Birmingham, centre back Scarr quickly impressed. His half-season loan was recently extended until the end of 2017/18 and the ex-Stourbridge man has become a key component at the heart of Wanderers’ defence. Calm and composed on the ball, he’s a real asset.
+ Luke O’Nien - Formerly of Watford, O’Nien joined Wycombe after a successful trial at the club in 2015. In his first season at the club he scooped the Young Player of the Year award and has continued to go from strength to strength. A box-to-box midfielder, O’Nien chips in with plenty of goals and assists and has found the net twice already this season.
+ Nathan Tyson – The prolific frontman rejoined the club that launched his career during the summer after a successful trial spell. Having initially joined the Chairboys in 2004, Tyson’s goalscoring exploits caught the eye of Nottingham Forest and later Derby and Doncaster. Now back at Adams Park, Tyson is rediscovering his old form and netted a brace in the midweek win over Luton Town.
