Wycombe Wanderers 1–2 Stevenage | Carabao Cup | 7 August 2026

Result Summary

Stevenage secured a hard-fought Carabao Cup victory at Adams Park, edging out Wycombe Wanderers 2–1 in a fiercely contested first-round tie. Daniel Kemp's opener and a dramatic Josh Magennis header deep into stoppage time proved the difference, overturning Ewan Henderson's equaliser and sending Alex Revell's side through to the next round.

Match Analysis

Wycombe, under Michael Duff, were the dominant side in terms of possession and territorial control — holding 59% of the ball and generating 114 attacks to Stevenage's 72, with 59 dangerous attacks compared to the visitors' 35. On paper, those numbers paint a picture of a home side in control, yet the reality was a clinical Stevenage outfit that consistently threatened when it mattered most.

Stevenage drew first blood in the 27th minute when Daniel Kemp converted with a right-foot shot, capping a swift attacking move. Kemp had already been cautioned in the 35th minute for time wasting, suggesting the visitors were not always comfortable — but their defensive organisation held firm for long stretches. The booking of Jordan Roberts in the 22nd minute for a foul and Luther Wildin in the 42nd minute underlined the physical edge Stevenage brought to the contest, with the visitors accumulating 12 fouls overall to Wycombe's eight.

Wycombe's response was immediate and composed. Ewan Henderson levelled in the 39th minute with a right-foot finish, assisted by Silko Thomas, bringing the home faithful back into the game and setting up what looked like an intriguing second half. Henderson's booking in the 79th minute was a slight blemish on an otherwise productive evening for the midfielder.

Despite Wycombe's superior ball retention — an 82% successful pass rate compared to Stevenage's 75% — the home side struggled to convert their dominance into genuine goalscoring opportunities. Their five shots on target conceded to Stevenage's three shots on target allowed tells its own story: the visitors were simply more ruthless in the final third.

Carl Piergianni's yellow card in the 69th minute arrived during a period of growing Wycombe pressure, but Alex Revell's tactical substitutions changed the complexion of the tie. The introduction of Josh Magennis in the 75th minute proved decisive. Five minutes into stoppage time, Magennis powered home a header assisted by Phoenix Patterson, silencing the home crowd and confirming Stevenage's passage.

Wycombe's own substitutions, including Emre Tezgel for Cauley Woodrow in the 64th minute and Caolan Boyd Munce and Armando Quitirna arriving later, could not shift the momentum back in their favour.

Prediction Review

Our pre-match analysis forecast a 1–1 draw, with a moderate confidence rating of 51/100. The prediction correctly anticipated a competitive, closely fought encounter — and the scoreline was level heading into the final moments — but it ultimately fell short, with Magennis' injury-time header delivering the win to Stevenage. The 30% probability assigned to an away victory proved to be the correct outcome, albeit one decided by the finest of margins.

Key Takeaways

• Stevenage's clinical edge was the defining factor, converting their opportunities more efficiently despite lower possession and fewer attacking actions.
• Wycombe's dominance in the ball did not translate to dominance in front of goal — a recurring concern Michael Duff will need to address.
• Josh Magennis' impact as a substitute underscored the value of Revell's bench depth, with the late header encapsulating Stevenage's determined, never-say-die character.
• A stoppage-time winner made the difference — and sends Stevenage into the next round of the Carabao Cup.