So the 'Derby That's Not
Really a Derby' returns this weekend as Wycombe come to town looking to knock their supposed rivals off their perch. We, of
course, are top of the league at this early stage in the season with
a 100% record from our first three league games and looking to make
it four from four. But even a cursory glance at our record at home to
Wycombe in recent years should set off alarm bells, with the yellows
unable to beat Wycombe at the Kassam since 2005. Those Oxford fans
predicting a comfortable home win could be shocked to find the form
book overturned this weekend.
Wycombe's start to the
season has been something of a mixed bag, with a 1-0 opening day victory
at home to Morecambe being followed up by defeats to Wimbledon and
Mansfield. By all accounts the Chairboys' display last weekend was a
real shocker so they could either be drained of confidence ahead of
their visit to Oxford, or (more likely) seeking
a response. Similar to last week's opponents Torquay, Wycombe's
matches have so far been low-scoring affairs, with just three goals
scored in their league matches (and only one of those for Wycombe).
But with United so far having scored nine times and conceded three in
our opening three league games, that record could be about to change.
Wycombe are likely to hand
a debut to 20-year-old midfielder Billy Knott who joined on loan from
Sunderland during the week, while striker Paris Cowan-Hall is likely
to miss out with medial ligament damage sustained last week. Captain
Stuart Lewis is another absentee, currently serving a suspension
after getting sent off in Wycombe's defeat to Wimbledon.
Sean Rigg will be a big
miss for Oxford after tearing his hamstring at Plainmoor last week,
which will keep him out of the side for six
to eight weeks, but we will be boosted by the return of Alfie
Potter and Dave Kitson after the batterings they've received in
recent matches. The absence of Rigg means that Callum O'Dowda could
get a run of games in his place, having impressed hugely during
pre-season. Of course, last
weekend Chris Wilder chose to replace him with Asa Hall and he
got his name on the scoresheet, which certainly provides some food
for thought. Whoever gets the nod against Wycombe would seem most
likely to feature in Wilder's plans over the coming weeks.
As you might expect with
two clubs that are separated by just 30 miles, there are several
familiar faces in the two sides. Foremost among those is Jon-Paul
Pittman, who spent the last two seasons at the Kassam after
joining from...Wycombe. His time at the club was ravaged with injury
and as a result we never saw the best of him and he made just 12
appearances in all competitions during that time. Another name on the
Wycombe teamsheet that will conjure some (mostly negative) memories
for United fans is Dean Morgan. His brief spell on loan at the Kassam
Stadium was characterised mostly by his prima
donna antics and most were relieved to see the back of him when
he finally left the club. Scott Davies also has a Wycombe link; the
Aylesbury-born midfielder was in Wycombe's (now-defunct) Academy
until he was sold to Reading aged 14 and also spent some time on loan
at Adams Park in the 2009-10 and 2010-11 seasons, making a total of
27 appearances in all competitions and scoring six goals.
Wycombe's visit to
Grenoble Road last season is one we'd rather not remember as the
Chairboys ran out comfortable 1-0 winners after an insipid Oxford
performance. In fact, we've only beaten Wycombe once at the Kassam
Stadium when Ramon Diaz oversaw a 2-1 home victory with goals from
Jamie Brooks and Steve Basham. However, it's not all bad. Our last
visit to Wycombe was a very happy one indeed, as United put on an
imperious performance to beat the Chairboys 3-1, having lost the
previous six away league games. Proof indeed that when these two
sides meet, form goes out of the window.
ALSO: Don't forget that
this match is Yellow Army Flag Day! If you own an Oxford United flag
it's your job this weekend to bring it, hang it up at the stadium or
wave it as they players come out. Don't have one? That's no problem!
The Yellow Army will be selling flags outside the 12th Man
Bar tomorrow, or if you have a bit of spare time on your hands, why
not make one?
From the Vaults
Wycombe Wanderers v Oxford United, 11th November 2006
18 matches into our first
season in the Conference and still unbeaten, having just beaten title
rivals Dagenham & Redbridge away in the preceding qualifying
round, optimism was high going into this match. However, it just
wasn't meant to be on the day and after matching Wycombe for much of
the game the higher league side's clinical finishing proved the
difference between the two teams.
You can find this and many other old OUFC matches in our NEW & IMPROVED VIDEO VAULT!
0 comments:
Post a Comment