Wycombe Wanderers v Oxford United
Football: England: League Two 2010/2011
Saturday 21st August 2010 – Kickoff 3pm

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Recently relegated from League One, Wycombe entertain League Two newboys Oxford United who have re-gained league status this season following a successful Conference campaign last season.

Adams Park is the scene, and the home side will be keen to make a swift return to League One football, and will be eyeing this fixture as a potential for all three points (as well as early season good odds – see later).

Wycombe Wanderers (3rd)

Chairboys manager Gary Waddock has made a couple of decent signings in the close season, with former Brentford pair, striker Ben Strevens and defender Alan Bennett adding to the squad. Also up front they have signed Scott Rendell who was Torquay United’s leading scorer (12 goals) last term, along with young forward Jon-Paul Pittman who is keen to press on this season and earn regular starts.

Wycombe started off with a solid 2-0 win over Morecambe, then lost narrowly to newly promoted Championship side Millwall 1-2 (after extra time) in the carling Cup – incidentally, Millwall have won two out of two in the Championship so far, and are in red-hot form. The Chairboys then carved out a 0-0 draw at Stockport County.

Not an overly impressive start, but as the squad gets used to each other’s play I think they stand a good chance of at least a play-off place if not more as the season progresses.

Oxford United (19th)

Onto their opponents, and Oxford United are back in the big-time of league football but have found life a bit tough so far in the step up.

A 0-0 draw away to Burton Albion wasn’t a bad result, indeed they backed this up with a 6-1 thrashing of League One side Bristol Rovers in the Carling Cup, but just bear in mind that Rovers blooded debutant keeper Mike Green (who made his first ever appearance) and this should put it into context. Not taking anything away from the U’s either.

A home loss 1-2 to Bury brought them back down to earth though, as they surrendered home advantage to last season 9th placed Bury who just missed out on a play-off place last term.

Last season’s prolific leading scorer James Constable bagged a tremendous 28 goals in the Conference, but can he now make that step-up into League Two and make as big an impression? Time will tell, but the chances will be severely reduced in this league.

The Betting verdict :

I think Oxford United will hold their own against the mid-table pedigree sides in League Two, but face an uphill struggle against sides like a strong Wycombe outfit, who surely are too good for this division and should be candidates for an automatic return to League One.

FIXED ODDS BETTING :

Pick: Take Wycombe Wanderers to win at a must-take price of 2.00+