Wycombe’s first home game of the new year presents arguably the toughest test of their promotion credentials when they host a Sheffield Wednesday team that won more points in the calendar year 2022 than any of the 72 clubs in the EFL.

Wednesday arrive at Adams Park on Saturday, January 14, with a formidable record over the last two campaigns.

Like Wycombe, they reached the playoffs last season, losing in the semi-finals to Sunderland, and they look bang on course for automatic promotion this season.

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They boast one of the best away records in League One with seven wins from 12 games, and their defensive record is second to none, conceding just seven goals on their travels.

Wednesday is a club steeped in history, formed 156 years ago they are one of the oldest football clubs in the world.

In the past they have won four top division titles and appeared in nine FA Cup finals, winning the trophy three times.

They have spent most of their history in England’s top division and were founder members of the Premier League spending eight seasons there until relegation in 2000.

With a distinguished history and huge support, the Owls are a Championship club in the making and they had a decade in the second tier before dropping into League One two seasons ago.

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The Owls are managed by Darren Moore, one of the game’s true gentlemen, a description rarely used about the last manager to bring his team to Adams Park.

The comments made by Joey Barton after Bristol Rovers lost to Wanderers in their last home game were typical of a man who has a chequered history both on and off the field.

Criticism of Wycombe’s team – ‘I would not swap for any of their players. I would not swap for their style of football’ - and suggestions that Gareth Ainsworth has failed to get a job with a bigger club because of his dress sense – ‘red skin boots and leather jacket’ – were uncalled for.

He might not like Ainsworth’s team or his clothes, but he could learn a lot from the Wycombe boss when it comes to showing class and dignity in defeat.