Despite only playing each other three times in their history, it’s fair to say that the relationship between Wycombe Wanderers and Derby County is somewhat strained.
During the 2020/21 Championship season, the Chairboys were relegated by a single point, whilst the Rams avoided the drop by the same margin.
However, after it was revealed that Derby had been guilty of breaching numerous financial rules, the EFL issued a collective 21-point deduction which came into play at the start of the 2021/22 season.
Who is Wycombe's key man?
— RamsTalk Podcast 🐏 (@RamsTalkPod) February 10, 2023
According to @bluntphil, Josh Scowen is their difference maker, and will look to shut down Derby's midfield.
He's nicknamed "the mop", because his kit is never clean 😂
Listen in full below! 🐏 #DCFC
🔗 https://t.co/pcdIclScHG pic.twitter.com/KBpC58OvUN
READ MORE: 'It’s been great so far' - Wycombe's new GK coach on moving to Adams Park
Feeling aggrieved, Wanderers' owners, the Couhig family, sued the club for an alleged loss of earnings, claiming that the penalty should have taken place in the year the revelation came to light.
So with Saturday's match being the first time County are visiting Adams Park with fans, it will no doubt be a fiery occasion come 3pm on February 11.
History of the two clubs
Since their formation in 1884, Derby have spent 65 seasons in the top flight which includes seven years in the Premier League across two spells.
READ MORE: 'Being selfish is not an option' - Jason McCarthy's on Wycombe's play-off push
📽️ This one was hard to take.
— Wycombe Wanderers (@wwfcofficial) February 7, 2023
Derby's only previous visit to Adams Park came in February 2021, with the Rams netting a last-minute winner.#WYCvDER pic.twitter.com/z7SOjIF7VR
Wanderers on the other hand have spent a large chunk of their history in the Non League, but have been an ever-present side in the Football League since their promotion to the fourth tier in 1993.
Current Form and Background on Derby
Following the Rams’ relegation from the Championship last spring, this is Derby’s first season back in the third tier of English football since 1985/86.
Hoping for an immediate return to the second tier, they currently sit fourth, just eight points off the automatic places.
And following the appointment of Paul Warne in September, the club has gone from strength to strength.
Gareth Ainsworth: ‘Derby are too big of a club to be in League One, and I honestly believe they can sneak second place.’ #Chairboys #DCFC
— James Richings (@James_BFP) February 9, 2023
READ MORE: Alan Parry's Previews - Derby could be Wycombe's toughest game of the season
Enjoying a 15-game unbeaten run, the club have won their last six matches and have not tasted defeat since the back end of October when they lost 1-0 away at Ipswich Town.
They sit on top of the form table (from 10 games) picking up 24 points from their last 30, whilst their man of the moment is former Nottingham Forest striker, David McGoldrick.
The 35-year-old has scored eight times in the last seven games and has bagged three hat-tricks this season.
Current Form and Background on Wanderers
After a shaky start to the season, Wycombe have really turned a corner and are hoping to finish in the League One play-off places for the third time in four seasons.
Gareth Ainsworth: ‘I don’t want to give much away and I know the Wycombe fans don’t like it, but Taff is ok and everyone is in contention.
— James Richings (@James_BFP) February 9, 2023
‘I don’t want to give any opposition managers the edge on my squad selection.’#Chairboys #DCFC
As it stands, the Chairboys have only conceded just six goals in their last 12 games, whilst keeping seven clean sheets in the last 11 fixtures.
READ MORE: 'They are too big to be in League One' - Wycombe boss Gareth Ainsworth on Derby
Only Derby (six) and Sheffield Wednesday (four) have conceded fewer goals than any other team in the league in the last 12 matches, with goalkeeper Max Stryjek keeping 11 shutouts this season.
He is joint third in the clean sheet standings with former Wanderers keeper David Stockdale (Sheffield Wednesday) and Michael Cooper (Plymouth).
Previous Meetings
- 2022/23: Derby County 2-1 Wycombe Wanderers
- 2020/21: Derby County 1-1 Wycombe Wanderers
- 2020/21: Wycombe Wanderers 1-2 Derby County
Miscellaneous
- No clean sheets have been kept in the previous three matches between the two.
- Wycombe have only scored 14 goals in the second half of league matches this season, which is the third lowest in the division.
- Only Lincoln City (13) and Cheltenham Town, Cambridge United (12) and Forest Green Rovers (12) have scored less this campaign.
- At least one clean sheet has been kept in the five matches Gareth Ainsworth and Paul Warne have faced each other in.
Gareth Ainsworth vs Paul Warne Managerial Record
Games: Five
Ainsworth wins: Two
Draws: Two
Ainsworth losses: One
Matches between Gareth Ainsworth and Paul Warne as managers
2021/22: Wycombe Wanderers 0-0 Rotherham United
2021/22: Rotherham United 0-0 Wycombe Wanderers
2020/21: Rotherham United 0-3 Wycombe Wanderers
2020/21: Wycombe Wanderers 0-1 Rotherham United
2019/20: Rotherham United 0-1 Wycombe Wanderers
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