Following their 6-1 away defeat at Manchester City in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday night, Wycombe Wanderers are hoping to put the thrashing behind them, as they take on MK Dons this weekend in the league.

Both sides are currently occupying play-off places as MK are third, whilst Wanderers are fifth, and with the fixture taking place one day after Wycombe’s 134th birthday, along with the ninth anniversary of Gareth Ainsworth’s managerial appointment, the Chairboys will be hoping to make it a week to remember in the Buckinghamshire derby.

However, it has been over a decade since Wanderers last won a league fixture away in Milton Keynes (April 2010), and under their new manager, Liam Manning, Dons are currently unbeaten in their last seven matches in all competitions.

So, to get ourselves ready for the North/South battle, we spoke to Joe Friess from the MK1 Podcast to get his views for Saturday’s match.

How happy have you been with the start of the season?

JF: “Really happy given that Russell Martin left six days before the first league game.

“It has brought the group together and our only defeat being Sunderland, which is no disgrace at all.

“A lot of the draws we were left wanting more also.”

How impressed have you been with Liam Manning’s work so far?

JF: “Really impressed with Manning.

“He had a really solid base to work from given the good work Russell Martin put in, but he has continued the process and put his own spin on things.

“We will still have a lot of possession, but a lot more purpose and we are happy to sit back if needed.”

Were you expecting the season to start off so well for MK?

JF: “I thought we had a shot of top the six, we have a quality squad, but there are so many young players, so it is all about rising to the challenge, which we are capable of.

“Early days, but not too bad so far.”

Who are the players Wycombe need to be on the lookout for?

JF: “Scott Twine is a magician who is a set-piece and long-range threat but also a real creative livewire.

“Matt O'Riley must be up there for one of the best players in the league, he can run games at this level and if he continues to add goals and assists to his game then I think we will have a job on our hands to keep hold of him.

“Harry Darling has been very solid for us since coming in from Cambridge last January, loves to roam forward too.”

What does the Bucks derby mean for MK Dons?

JF: “Not too much for me personally.

“I was born in Milton Keynes but have not lived around the area since I was two-years-old.

“Maybe you would get a different answer from a resident of MK, but I would say AFC Wimbledon & Northampton are definitely ahead of Wycombe in terms of derbies.”

How do you see it going on Saturday?

JF: “A very tight game, we will have to match the very big physical threat Wycombe will pose, I fancy Wycombe for a play-off push at least again. 2-1 Dons, we have goals in our team and I fancy us against anyone.”

My prediction: Milton Keynes Dons 2-2 Wycombe Wanderers