Wycombe’s stuttering start to the season must be a concern to manager Matt Bloomfield ahead of their next challenge, the visit to Bristol Rovers on Saturday, August 26.

The new-look Wanderers team has struggled to find consistency in their opening four games in league and cup which have been a classic case of taking one step forward followed by one step backwards.

They followed victory against Leyton Orient with an impressive start against bottom-of-the-table Burton Albion last week, but their second half performance was disappointing against a team who had lost their first three games.

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An improvement will be needed to take anything from the trip to Bristol Rovers who are notoriously difficult to beat at home.

Although near neighbours Oxford United and MK Dons are the closest Wycombe get to local derbies, Wanderers fans are more passionate about rivalries with clubs based many miles from the town.

Colchester United were regarded as the main foe in the early 1990s when the clubs were neck-and-neck in the race to win a place in the Football League.

In recent years Peterborough United took over as public enemy number one after their criticism of how Wycombe won a play-off place ahead of them in the lockdown season of 2019/20.

We can now add Bristol Rovers to the list, mainly because of the comments of their manager Joey Barton.

READ MORE: Bristol Rovers' Joey Barton slams Wycombe's style of play

When Wanderers beat his team 2-1 at Adams Park on Boxing Day last year, Barton made derogatory comments about the home team’s style of play and even criticised Gareth Ainsworth’s dress sense.

He claimed that Rovers were fitter, better footballers and that he wouldn’t swap any of his players for any of Wycombe’s.

Fast forward to March of this year and more sour grapes from Barton after Wanderers deservedly earned a 2-0 win at the Memorial Stadium and went on to finish nine places and 16 points above his ‘fitter, better footballing team.’

READ MORE: Joey Barton insults Wycombe striker and ex-Rovers player

If Wycombe win at Rovers on Saturday, we can no doubt look forward to more gems from Mr. Barton as he has now completed a stadium ban for his behaviour after losing at home to Sheffield Wednesday last season.