Chairboys boss Gareth Ainsworth believes the Oxford United/Wycombe Wanderers derby has been ‘established’ over the last few seasons due to the recent successes of both teams.

Both Thames Valley sides have either reached a competitive final or achieved promotion out of Leagues Two and One since 2015, with the two teams battling it out for a place in the Championship since 2020.

Wanderers defeated the Us in the aforementioned year’s League One play-off final to secure their spot in the second tier of English football for the first time, whilst Wycombe lost this year’s final against Sunderland.

Bucks Free Press: Joe Jacobson scored the winning goal that secured Wycombe's place in the Championship in 2020 (PA)Joe Jacobson scored the winning goal that secured Wycombe's place in the Championship in 2020 (PA) (Image: PA)

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Wanderers also achieved an automatic promotion into League One in 2018, whilst losing the 2015 League Two play-off final.

Oxford has also enjoyed similar successes in that time frame.

The club, under the stewardship of former boss Michael Appleton, reached the 2016 and 2017 Football League Trophy finals at Wembley Stadium but were defeated by Barnsley and Coventry City respectively.

In the league however, they achieved promotion to League One in May 2016 after a 15-year absence.

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Coincidentally, a 3-0 victory on the final day of that season against Gareth Ainsworth’s Wanderers at the Kassam Stadium was the crowning moment that secured Oxford’s place in the third tier.

Since then, they have been a League One regular finishing in the top half of the table in five of the last six seasons which has included two play-off campaigns.

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They have also finished in eighth place on two occasions.

Speaking ahead of Saturday’s match, Ainsworth said: “The derby has established itself over the last few years and I’m really proud of that.

“I think Karl [Robinson] should be proud of what he’s done as well because when both clubs went through their tough times, Wycombe were considered a small club, not a rival to anyone, and just a walkover or a pushover.

“And Oxford dropped into the Non League [in 2006] and they were considered not the giants that they were once were.

“Now though, credit has to go to both clubs and it’s a great derby, of course it is.

“Both similar size clubs, I think Oxford average around 7,000 and we get around 5,000, their history is bigger than ours as they go a long way so it’s a real good derby.

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Bucks Free Press: Chey Dunkley (centre) puts Oxford United 1-0 up against Wycombe Wanderers in May 2016. The Us won 3-0 which secured promotion into League One (PA)Chey Dunkley (centre) puts Oxford United 1-0 up against Wycombe Wanderers in May 2016. The Us won 3-0 which secured promotion into League One (PA) (Image: PA)

“And I know that the Oxford fans won’t really consider this to be a derby, but, I think over the years we have deserved to be worthy opponents for Oxford and I think we can be worthy opponents on Saturday.”

Wycombe are expected to sell out their allocation at the Kassam Stadium.