Wycombe Wanderers vs Southend Predictions

Despite starting the campaign as one of the more favoured sides to drop out of the division, Wycombe head into match-day five unbeaten, as they’ve won two and drawn two. After winning each of their first two home matches, Gareth Ainsworth’s men will fancy themselves to get the better of a Southend side that continues to search for a first point of the season.

Wycombe got themselves a hard-fought point on Tuesday night, as they dug their heels in at Highbury Stadium. A good result, though the Chairboys were a tad fortunate. Going forward, they struggled to match the levels of last Saturday’s win, as they posted only 0.91 expected goals for, while they struggled to contain a Fleetwood side that saw almost 70% of the ball and who created 2.14 expected goals for. An expected goal difference of -1.23 suggests that Wycombe deserved to come off second best, though Ainsworth will be pleased that his side held firm and resisted.

On their own patch, it’s been a different story. Naturally, they made light work of beating a Bolton side that is all over the place at present, though they weren’t gifted the win against MK Dons a week ago. On that occasion, Wycombe showed that they can compete offensively, as they scored three goals and registered a pleasing 1.71. However, Ainsworth’s side struggled to contain their visitors, which is slightly worrying. It’s never positive to concede twice at home, and it’s certainly not positive to surrender 3.43 expected goals. They face a struggling Southend side on Saturday, though they’ll still need to tighten up if they’re to make it three wins from three home matches.

It’s been a rough few weeks for Southend, who’re yet to pick up a point after losing four out of four. Sometimes when on a losing run, there are positives for the struggling team to cling to, though there’s been little for Kevin Bond’s men or Shrimpers’ fans to be positive about since the new campaign started.

Just one goal in four matches and an average of 0.74 expected goals for show that Southend are struggling going forward, while an average of 2.5 goals against tell us that they’ve not exactly provided much resistance either. An average of 1.39 expected goals against shows that they’ve been unlucky to concede quite as many as they have, though an average expected goal difference of -0.65 suggests that the Shrimpers have found it tough to create more than their opponents, which is always concerning.

Fortunately, Southend are up against a Wycombe side that has struggled to contain teams over the last few weeks, so there is hope for the visitors.

In the betting, ‘Over 2.5 Goals & Both Teams to Score’ makes plenty of appeal. On their own patch Wycombe have done more than enough to suggest that they can hurt a Southend back-line that has conceded ten goals in four matches. However, for all the Shrimpers have struggled to get going in the final third this term, the Chairboys have been finding it tough to keep teams at bay. After Saturday’s hosts surrendered three goals and a whopping 5.57 expected goals in their last two matches, now is the time for Southend to turn up in an attacking sense.

‘Correct Score’ punters can opt for a 2-2 draw. After a couple of poor defensive showings, Wycombe look a little short, so siding with the visitors to share the spoils of what ought to be a goal-filled game catches the eye at the prices.