Michael Duff's message to Wycombe's supports for MK clash

 <i>(Image: Mike Egerton)</i>
(Image: Mike Egerton)
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Michael Duff says it is up to his Wycombe Wanderers players to get supporters "out of their seats" ahead of Saturday's Buckinghamshire derby against Milton Keynes.

The Chairboys and their county rivals are still searching for their first League One win of the season.

Wycombe go into the contest bottom of the League One table with two points from their opening four games, while MK site one place above.

Despite the lowly position, Duff was encouraged by his side's response in Tuesday night's 2-1 defeat to Sheffield Wednesday after a disappointing performance at Stockport County, which saw the Chairboys lose 5-1 at Edgeley Park

He believes fans saw a team willing to fight for the shirt again and wants that reaction to continue at Adams Park this weekend.

Speaking to the press ahead of the derby, Duff said: "The players recognised they let themselves and the supporters down on Saturday, but they gave a reaction.

"The positives were the performance from the players, the reaction from the players and the reaction from the supporters."

The Wanderers boss felt there was a noticeable connection between team and crowd despite the defeat.

"I think there's a clear sense of, yeah, this is what we want it to look like a little bit more from a supporter's point of view and a player and staff point of view," he said.

Duff insists supporters will play a key role throughout the season, but says the responsibility currently lies with his players.

"Our job is to get the supporters going.

"It's not the supporters' job.

“We haven't won a game.

“We must get the supporters off the seats.

"We did that in the first half on Tuesday night, and they came with us and were really, really good."

With MK Dons visiting Adams Park for a fierce local derby, Duff is hoping another energetic display will help Wanderers secure their first league victory of the campaign.

Since the two meeting between the clubs in December 2006, there have been 19 matches.

Wycombe have tasted victory on six occasions, MK nine, with there being six draws.

During the 2021/22 season, the fixture was played five times in all competitions.

Wycombe lost four of those matches, but the one they were victorious in was the first leg of the League One play-off semi-final.

A header each from Ryan Tafazolli and Sam Vokes gave Gareth Ainsworth’s team an all and important 2-0 win at a jam-packed Adams Park.

The Chairboys lost the second leg in North Buckinghamshire 1-0 but secured their place in the Wembley showdown due to a 2-1 aggregate victory.

They would eventually lose the final 2-0 to Sunderland, who are now in the Premier League.

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