On Monday evening, Wembley hosts the M40 Derby, as Wycombe Wanderers take on Oxford United. Two teams separated by just 25 miles and 90 minutes of football, in order to claim championship status for the 2020/21 season.
Wycombe had been one of the teams destined for relegation before the season started.
However, the Chairboy’s were in eighth place pre lockdown with their rivals situated in third, just one point behind Rotherham.
In Contrast to above, unlike the Championship and Premier League, League one was not resumed, the final standings were formulised on a points per game ratio. This lifted Wycombe into third, knocking their counterparts down a place to fourth.
The U’s were on a formidable run of form before league suspension, as they had won 5 of their last 6 matches. Meanwhile, Ainsworths team had won three and lost three.
Wycombe:
Wycombe are hoping to make history for their club, by achieving promotion to the Championship for the first time.
The chairman’s cruised to victory in the semi-final, beating Joey Barton’s Fleetwood Town 6-3 on aggregate.
They ran out 1-4 winners in the first leg, which saw two red cards for the hosts. Meanwhile, the sides played out a 2-2 draw at Adams park, a much less eventful game compared to that of the first leg.
Oxford:
The U’s had a much more nail biting semi final encounter against Portsmouth. The teams couldn’t be separated over the two legs. Both playing out 1-1 ties.
Oxford took the Pompey’s all the way through to penalties. Which is where heroes are made! Oxford’s keeper Simon Eastwood saved the spot kick from Cameron McGeehan.
Whilst, Cameron Brannagan then fired Oxford to the playoff final via his spot kick.
Cameron Brannagan of Oxford United during the Sky Bet League 1 match between Sunderland and Oxford United at the Stadium Of Light, Sunderland on Saturday 3rd August 2019. (Photo by Iam Burn/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Head to Head:
This season they had only played each other once due to the league suspension. Oxford ran out 1-0 victors at the Kassam Stadium. A game that saw eight yellows, and even a red.
In their last 5 encounters Wycombe have failed to win, (L4 D1). Where they have failed to score in 4 of those fixtures.
Prediction:
I can this Wembley final be a scrappy 90 minutes, but I think Oxford will take victory over their rivals by a 1-0 score line. This would see Oxford progress to the Championship for the first time since 1999.