Oxford v Wycombe – I Walk on Gilded Splinters

A tasty ‘derby’ fixture tomorrow for yours truly.
Okay, so Oxford fans will see Swindon as the big derby game, but they will have to wait until next season – at the earliest – before that one comes around and so the Chairboys are probably the next best thing.

As usual I’ll have blisters in my bum from sitting on the fence for this one as I wish both sides well.

With six games to go Wycombe must fancy their chances of automatic promotion as they currently sit second in the table, although they can’t afford to get over-excited as the gap between them and the play-off places is only three points and the end-of-season knock out fixtures are a real lottery.

I’ve detected a little bit of negativity creeping in from some of my Oxford supporting friends, but it’s still possible for the Us to make the play-offs themselves. A decent run from now until the end of the season and they could still be heading to Old Trafford in May.

I’ll admit though that defeat would pretty much kill off any lingering hopes they still have. While defeat for Wycombe is something they can still bounce back from.

You often hear the cliché: “Anyone could beat anyone in this league” trotted out by players, but in League Two it really is the case. Oxford can’t afford to underestimate any of the sides they have yet to play, but as far as I can see Chesterfield at home is the only really dangerous looking fixture.

Chris Wilder has done a great job this season and fans shouldn’t forget what he did last season (and also the state of the club before he arrived). Sadly, when your team drops out of the football league, there is diminishing interest shown in it by the media the longer you’re out in the wilderness. This was the case with Oxford before Wilder got hold of them.

The manager will have learned lessons this season in much the same way as the players and, if Oxford stick with him, I believe the club will be in pole position for promotion this time next year if they don’t manage it this season.

On the other hand, if they dump Wilder they may well slip back into the turmoil that took them out of the league several years ago.

Wycombe’s talisman is evergreen, long haired skipper Gareth Ainsworth one of the few players widely respected by fans of most clubs – just because they’d love to have someone of his work rate and vision in their own side. Gareth is now 37 years old, but without him it’s arguable that they wouldn’t be sitting where they are in the league.

Ainsworth has weighed in with nine league goals this season, but it’s the work he does for his team mates that impresses. I’d love to hear what Oxford fans think on Monday morning.

From what I’ve seen of Oxford this season, an Ainsworth type figure is just what they’ve been missing. Who knows though, if Wycombe gain promotion and dump him at the end of the season, maybe Oxford could pick use him next term as I know for a fact that he wants to keep playing.

Wycombe haven’t lost in their last four away games and are undefeated in five.

Oxford, meanwhile, have won three and lost three of their last six matches, but have also won the last two at the Kassam.

So who do I think will win? Excuse me while I remove this large shard of timber.