Chairboys aim to create history but Us ready to make step up

GARETH Ainsworth says it would be an honour to make history with Wycombe Wanderers as he bids to make it third time lucky at Wembley.

The Chairboys are aiming to reach the second tier for the first time in the club’s 133-year existence when they face Oxford United in tonight’s League One play-off final (7.30pm).

Manager Ainsworth suffered penalty shoot-out heartache with Wanderers on his previous visit to the national stadium in the 2015 League Two play-off final, while he played for Preston North End when they were beaten by his current team at the same stage back in 1994.

“We could be finishing this season off upsetting the record books and, hopefully, rewriting the history books,” said Ainsworth.

“It would be the first time Wycombe are in any sort of level like this and it would be a proud moment for me to lead them there.

“It’s a huge game, the biggest game in the club’s league history, without a shadow of a doubt.

“We want to make sure we take this opportunity and grasp it with both hands.

“Every time I’ve been to Wembley it involves Wycombe Wanderers and this is number three and I’ve lost the other two so I’m hoping it’s third time lucky.”

Ainsworth is currently English football’s longest-serving manager, having taken over at Adams Park in September 2012.

The club almost fell out of the EFL six years ago and would have been facing an uncertain future but for a 3-0 success away against Torquay United on the final day of the season which meant they scraped survival on goal difference.

He admits that tense experience puts the play-off final into perspective.

“There’s nothing to lose because looking back at Torquay away in 2014 we had everything to lose, without a doubt,” said the 47-yearold.

“I had to hang on to something, Wycombe Wanderers’ league history. (Former manager) Martin

There will be no fans at Wembley Stadium for tonight’s League One play-off final. Gareth Ainsworth (top right) is determined to lead Wycombe Wanderers to the Championship but Karl Robinson (below right) is confident his Oxford United side can clinch promotion.

O’neill had provided that league history, he’d got them up.

“And for me to be manager when that day happened, it wasn’t sitting right with me, it was heavy on the shoulders.

“Unlike Bristol Rovers, who went down that year, we’re not a big club like that and that could have been the end of Wycombe Wanderers.”

Oxford have rejected the chance for a Wembley visit ahead of tonight’s final.

Boss Karl Robinson has revealed he asked his players if they wanted a pre-match tour to get their bearings – and they said no.

“It’s something they preferred not to do,” said Robinson, of a possible pre-match Wembley visit.

“I don’t know whether Wycombe are going. If they do they may think we’re being arrogant by not going but that’s certainly not the case.

“I just know that we feel when we turn up on Monday we’ll be ready and that’s the most important thing.

“Wembley is always special and a place that creates memories but the best time to use your phone is after the match.

“And if you don’t get that chance to celebrate and take pictures, then you don’t deserve that chance.

“There’s no right way, there’s no wrong way, this was just the choice of my players.”

Asked if Wembley can retain its magic without the fans, Robinson continued: “It’s Wembley, I’ve cried there, as a fan I’ve enjoyed winning there.

“I’ve been there and won as a coach and I’ve had many, many memories going there for different reasons and it’s always special.

“I’m there three or four times a year, probably, for FA hearings and it’s empty then.

“But even when you park your car before an FA hearing, it’s still wonderful going to Wembley. There’s a buzz about the place.”

As the coronavirus fall-out continues to hit football, Robinson admits Oxford’s only chance of retaining all of their current top talent is to win tonight and secure promotion.

“I’m immensely proud of all my players and they know what they mean to me,” said Robinson.

“They know that I’ll always be there for them now, for the rest of their careers, I’ll always be at the end of a phone.

“This is a group of people I want to keep together for a long time.”