Stevenage will have to ‘be clever’ to blunt Wycombe Wanderers’ attack, says Wilkinson

Adebayo Akinfenwa (Image: Archant)

Boro go into Saturday’s game on the back of two victories in League Two while last time out at home, against Grimsby, they kept their first league clean sheet at the Lamex of the season.

And if they want to do that again this weekend then keeping the powerful Akinfenwa, who has 11 goals in all competitions, in addition to top scorer Scott Kashket, who has 15, quiet will have to be a big part of Boro’s gameplan.

“It took us a lot longer than I thought it would [to get a home clean sheet], but we’ve got there and hopefully we can keep another one on Saturday,” Wilkinson said.

“He’s a big bloke and very strong and sometimes you just have to be clever and sometimes let him have the ball when his back’s facing the goal.

“In the box you have try to mark him the best you can. You’re never going to win a fight with him because he’ll just throw you on the floor. You have to give yourself at least a yard because if he gets his arm on you he may knock you off balance. If you play clever you’ve got more of a chance.

“But they’ve got other good players in the team, it’s not just him. Kashket, who has scored goals for them, [Paul] Hayes, [Garry] Thompson.”

Gareth Ainsworth’s men have lost just once in their last 10 league games, but they will be smarting following their EFL Trophy semi-final defeat to Coventry City midweek.

“From the message we’ve got they’re quite direct and they like to get the ball forward early,” Wilkinson added.

“They’re on a great run of form at the minute in the league. Hopefully we can put that to an end this weekend.

“It was a chance to get to Wembley and they just missed out on it, but they’ll be concentrating on the league now.”

Wycombe are in sixth place in the table, while Boro are 13th and just six points off the play-offs.

“There’s so much to play for and we’re not out of anything,” Wilkinson added.

“I think it was York City a couple of seasons ago who had a late run and sneaked into the play-offs. Nobody would have through they’d get into the play-offs. It shows you what you can do with a run of wins and hopefully we can do that this season.”