FA Cup Preview: Facts, stats, brothers and beasts '“ Wycombe visit Town

Saturday's FA Cup tie at the Proact could throw up some mouthwatering clashes as Chesterfield host Wycombe Wanderers.
Adebayo Akinfenwa in action AFC Wimbledon  during their 1-0 loss against Hartlepool.  Picture by FRANK REIDAdebayo Akinfenwa in action AFC Wimbledon  during their 1-0 loss against Hartlepool.  Picture by FRANK REID
Adebayo Akinfenwa in action AFC Wimbledon during their 1-0 loss against Hartlepool. Picture by FRANK REID

It’s a big game for the McGinn family, with Paul’s Spireites taking on brother Stephen’s Wanderers.

But the Chesterfield right-back is still recovering from injury and his elder brother hasn’t been a first choice for Gareth Ainsworth of late.

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A battle more likely to grace the Proact pitch will be the meeting of Town’s defensive colossus Ian Evatt and Wycombe powerhouse Adebayo Akinfenwa.

The ‘Beast’ spearheads the forward threat for an attack minded Wanderers side, according to Bucks Free Press reporter Nick Tunney.

He said: “They’re playing as a team, working hard for each other and they look threatening up top with Adebayo Akinfenwa as a focal point.

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“Wycombe have only conceded one goal in four games and goalkeeper Jamal Blackmann, on loan from Chelsea, has been very good. He made three outstanding saves against Cambridge.

Luke O’Nien in the centre of midfield has a really good engine on him and is two footed.

“They’ve got a bit of everything.”

It was an indifferent start to the season for Wycombe, but they’ve grown in confidence thanks to four league wins in a row.

Tunney said: “They’re on the crest of a wave after an indifferent start to the season.

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“They had a good win at Portsmouth in the last round and will see this as a big chance to get through and play the big boys.”

The man in charge of the fixture is Michael Salisbury, a National League referee last season.

In 2016/17 he’s refereed 15 games, doling out 55 yellow cards and five reds, including a dismissal in an earlier round of the FA Cup when Cheltenham met Crewe.

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Wycombe have taken 43 yellows and one red card in league action this season, compared with the 33 yellows Chesterfield have been shown in League One.

Ainsworth’s men have the fourth worst goalscoring record away from home in their division, whereas Chesterfield have the second worst League One defensive record at home.

Chesterfield have won five of the two sides’ last 10 encounters, drawing one and losing four of the others.

The last time they tasted defeat at the hands of Wycombe at home was in 2008 and they last clashed in the FA Cup in 1998, when they were defeated 1-0.