GARETH Ainsworth is expecting the atmosphere at the Kassam Stadium to crackle when Oxford United host his Wycombe Wanderers side tomorrow.

While United’s arch rivals are at the other end of the A420, there is a growing rivalry with the Chairboys, who treat the meetings as their main derby.

The initial allocation of more than 1,200 tickets sold out earlier this week and high-flying Wycombe will travel with confidence given a very strong record at Oxford.

It took a stoppage time strike from Johnny Mullins last season to salvage a 2-2 draw for the U’s, who have only beaten Wycombe once in nine league games on their own soil.

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Ainsworth is anticipating a great occasion.

He said: “It’s been good, the last couple of years away at Oxford.

“It’s a nice pitch, it’s a great atmosphere in the M40 derby and I know there’s many Wycombe fans making the trip over there, so that’s great.

“There’s a great buzz for these games.

“It’s something you relish as a footballer – 99 per cent of footballers love playing in derby matches.”

Wycombe went to the brink of relegation into non-league last season, but have bounced back impressively.

It means they go into the clash 13 points ahead of United, but Ainsworth thinks there is still every chance Michael Appleton’s men can challenge come the spring.

He said: “It’s no secret they’re a big club with their history and where they have been, but of late they seem to have stuttered a bit and we want to take full advantage of that if we can.

“There’s plenty of twists and turns and there will be a team sitting at the bottom who will make the play-offs.

“We have to make sure they don’t get the points against us to do it.”

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