KEEPING a cool head will be key if Oxford United are going to beat fierce rivals Swindon Town tonight, according to skipper Jake Wright.

A crowd in the region of 9,000 is expected at the Kassam Stadium for the first derby in three years, when United won 1-0 in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy.

Wright is the only survivor from those who featured for either side in September 2012, and so has a clear view on what it will take to come out on top in the second round this evening.

The centre back knows the occasion cannot be ignored, but believes the side which best controls their emotions will claim the bragging rights.

He said: “I think that’s the message the gaffer and myself will try and say – keep your heads, don’t try to play to the fans, play your normal game.

“I think it’s impossible to block it out if the crowd is big and the atmosphere is really good.

“You’ve just got to use it as a positive.

“You try to lift the fans as early as possible and get them behind you, because their fans will be loud.

“Similar to the Portsmouth game we’ll try to get the fans behind us and keep them there.

“It gives you that extra five per cent when you’re struggling or tired and keeps you going for the 90 minutes.”

Wright also played in the 2-1 win at the County Ground in 2011 but missed the return game, a 2-0 victory for United, later in the season due to injury.

The 29-year-old has started more than 250 games for the club, but the derby games are among his favourites.

“I’ve been here nearly six years now and the Swindon games are definitely in my top ten,” he said.

“There’s extra excitement around and fans seem to speak to you a lot more when you’re playing Swindon.

“As a fan I totally understand what they’re saying.

“They want it so bad and everyone will give 100 per cent, so I’m not worried about that, but I do understand them thinking we need to beat them more than any other game.”

While United are a division below the Robins, the home side are in much better form after back-to-back victories at York City and Accrington Stanley.

And Wright believes the decision to stay in the north between the games last week has helped preparation for tonight.

He said: “We’ve done everything as well as we can do and are feeling really good.”