Wigan Athletic v Wycombe
FA Cup 2nd Round replay
Tuesday 30th Noevmber 1999

Wigan and Wycombe clash for the third time in November, with Wigan having triumphed in the league match at the JJB Stadium and gained a 2-2 draw in the FA Cup second round at Adams Park. Keith Ryan's last minute equaliser for the Chairboys capped a game that saw the return to action of Wycombe legend Dave Carroll. The 33-year-old is a vital cog in the Wanderers midfield and has been since the 1980s.

Wigan's Ian Kilford has been a Latic for less time but is still the longest serving player at the club, having signed in the summer of 1994. And he has enjoyed one of his best spells this season, his creativity helping Wigan to the top of the league. Dave Carroll is similarly blessed and Wycombe's current poor form can be linked to his recent groin injury.

Kilford has four goal assists while Carroll has half that amount, with the Athletic man having an impressive 73 per cent pass completion rate. Where the Wycombe man has been good is down the wing. He has delivered 68 crosses with 28 per cent of them finding a blue-quartered shirt.

Both men have been willing to help their defences and they have good tackle success rates considering that they are both craftsmen rather than midfield bruisers. But perhaps Kilford needs to sharpen up his technique because he has already picked up four bookings, while the narrow-legged Wycombe playmaker has a clean slate. 



Statistics courtesy of Carling Opta