GARETH Ainsworth is hoping the Manager of the Month curse strikes against his friend Graham Alexander as Wanderers again go in search of a long-awaited home win tonight.

Alexander, a former team mate of the Blues boss at Preston North End, received the January award after guiding Wycombe's opponents Fleetwood Town to three wins and a draw during the month.

The gong is traditionally associated with an immediate downturn in fortune for the recipient, and although Alexander only received the award last week Fleetwood had lost the first two games they played in February.

And Ainsworth is hoping that slump continues as Wanderers go in search of a first home win since October - and a first goal in five matches.

He said: "Graham just got Manager of the Month so hopefully the curse can follow him down. He hasn't had a game since - his last game [away to Newport on Friday] got called off, which we were going to go to.

"He's a good friend of mine but there will be no love lost on the touchline. We'll both be after the three points. We need to start winning our home games and it'll be an ideal opportunity.

"They must have three times the budget we've got and they seem to be showing it in the last few months with the amount of players they have signed.

"It will be interesting pitting ourselves against one of the strongest teams in the league."

Tonight's game is a rearranged fixture after December's original tie was infamously called off due to a frozen pitch just 20 minutes before kick off.