OXFORD United fans are gearing up for the first league game against local rivals Reading in more than 20 years.
The clubs haven’t met since a Carling Cup clash in August 2004, however it was April 2001 when they last did battle in the league.
The Royals were relegated from the Sky Bet Championship last season, meaning that when the League One fixtures were released in June, it was the game many supporters on both sides looked to first.
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Initially pencilled in for October, the match was postponed due to international call-ups, however the rescheduled encounter has now come around and supporters have mixed feelings heading into it.
Oxford United Supporters’ Panel secretary Janine Bailey said: “A month ago, we were hoping it would be a nice night out and we’d be hammering Reading, but there’s now a bit more on it than there might’ve been before.
“When the fixtures came out, it was the first one I looked for. I don’t feel the same as I do for the A420 derby, but I looked for it though and the original date before the international postponement would’ve been a great time to play them.
“Their defensive stats are terrible and they have one of the worst records in the league, but we’re not scoring goals, so it could well be 0-0.
“I don’t know where the goals are coming from, but if we can score against anyone, then it’s Reading.
“I hope we’ll win, but I’m not fully confident we will, as they’ll be up for it.”
OxVox chair Paul Peros added: “It’s not Swindon and never will be, but it’s bigger than all the others that people try and call derbies.
“The fact they’ve been sitting above us for some time and it having been so long, has raised the stakes a little bit.”
United head coach Des Buckingham was born in Oxford, something Peros hopes the team can use to their advantage.
“He understands the history, but you don’t want any of his decisions to be informed by that,” said Peros.
“We should go out there to try and win, and with him being from Oxford, he’ll know what this means.”
Reading have been deducted four points this season, after failing to pay player wages on time, with the club’s supporters protesting against owner Dai Yongge.
Peros said: “It’s a chance for them, and if you beat your rivals, it can turn a season and take away the pain.
“We want to keep up the pressure at the top of the table though, so it makes it important for both teams, for different reasons.
“We had a bad game at Peterborough, but hopefully with some players fit and firing, we can do it and win 3-1.”
Fellow OxVox member Simon Hathaway added: “I’m nervous after the last few results. Because it’s been such a long time, absence does make the heart grow fonder, and inflates things a little bit.
“None of the players will have experienced this before, and a whole generation of fans too, so the atmosphere will be fantastic.
“I hate making predictions, but I’d be half happy with a draw, so that we can move on from the weekend.”
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