Two steps forward and one step back: Oxford United lose ground in play-off chase against Blackpool

Only a few weeks ago, we were praising Oxford for their ability to take the points in games despite not playing well. ‘Good teams win games’, we said. Now, the story is the opposite.

The half-time whistle at the Kassam would have been both a relief and a source of anxiety for Oxford’s players. After a high-energy, intense-pressing Blackpool side had taught the U’s a lesson in ‘playing to the occasion’, you couldn’t blame Karl Robinson’s side for firstly, wanting it to end and secondly, being a little apprehensive at what their manager might have in store for them in the dressing room.

Whether Robinson gave his side the hairdryer treatment or not, his half-time team talk didn’t work. Sullay Kaikai had run the show for Blackpool in the first half – his raw power and pace had put Oxford on the back foot from the off as a pivotal part of the away side’s high pressing game – and continued to influence proceedings with noticeable effect after the break.

Oxford continued to fall into the same traps that they had done in the first half. Kaikai was allowed too much space in the final third, Elliot Embleton and Jerry Yates continued to combine well, causing havoc on the edge of the Oxford penalty area, and Grant Ward’s direct thinking only helped matters further.

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Things aren't going well for Oxford here. They're struggling to deal with Blackpool's energy and physicality, once again gifting possession to the away side in midfield.

Real lack of cohesion between the home side at the moment.

?#OUFC 0-1 #UTMP?

— Sam Hudspith (@samhudspith24) March 20, 2021

More so, however, Oxford never found a way to gain control of the match. They played like the away side languishing in mid-table (as Blackpool were at 3pm) rather than a team carrying the momentum of a 3-0 midweek win sitting two points off the play-offs. What Blackpool did well, Oxford did badly.

The Seasiders were cohesive, energetic, and had a clear purpose in their approach. The U’s were disjointed, overwhelmed and going through the motions for much of the first half. Individual errors in the midfield left the game wide open for the likes of Kaikai to exploit – the only difference between the first and second halves was that Blackpool failed to score in the latter. And they should have.

As the chances came and went for Oxford, they became increasingly disheartened. Each breakthrough was quickly followed up by a Blackpool counter attack, tearing Oxford open and leaving the home side looking leggy and desperate. What should, in reality, have been a ‘break into the play-offs’ chance that Oxford grabbed by the scruff of the neck, turned out to be, simply, a pretty terrible performance. Certainly not what pundits nor fans alike would have expected after such a convincing victory in midweek.

The defeat doesn’t mean that Oxford are out of the play-off race by any means, but it does raise some serious questions.

The U’s nine-match winning streak that covered the Christmas period was particularly impressive for one reason: Oxford had become a consistent team after some months of inconsistency. And, not only were they consistent, but they were playing in a manner befitting a top six team, easily.

And, it wasn’t that the winning streak coming to an end had a catastrophic effect. After the U’s lost 3-2 away at Doncaster, they won their next two games. Admittedly, things began to conspire against Oxford after their Papa John’s Trophy semi-final defeat to Tranmere with injuries and a tough run of fixtures coinciding. But this is what makes defeats such as today’s all the more damaging.

Oxford carried themselves well against some of the League’s biggest sides in recent weeks – Ipswich, Peterborough, Portsmouth and Charlton – but passed up a huge opportunity to announce their play-off credentials against Blackpool. In fact, they handed the Seasiders (a play-off rival in themselves) a massive boost. Blackpool did everything that Oxford should have done, putting their foot on the gas and not taking it off until the final whistle was blown, forcing Oxford into mistakes and balancing defensive solidity with attacking fluidity in an exemplary manner.

The Blackpool defeat raises questions over whether this Oxford side have the individual and collective consistency to make the play-offs this season. The win against Doncaster was a huge step forward for the U’s, but that good work has been virtually undone today. And, the most frustrating thing for Oxford staff and fans alike is that, arguably, there isn’t necessarily a crystal-clear reason for the current struggle to generate clear momentum.

Injuries play a part, but Oxford’s squad today was strong. The U’s are a good League One team with good League One players, but the players you’d expect to step up in games such as today’s, didn’t. Teams such as MK Dons, Charlton and Blackpool (the three games in which points were arguably dropped when they shouldn’t have been) are no better than Oxford on paper or, often, in practice.

Perhaps the table makes things seem worse than they are. It’s rare that you’ll find an 11th place side only three points off the play-offs. Similarly, the U’s performance against Blackpool – a real kick in the teeth, and then a Sullay Kaikai-shaped punch in the face – is perhaps ringing more alarm bells than need to be rung. It was so uncharacteristic, but you can’t help but think that there have been hints of such a performance coming in recent weeks.

Speaking to Prost International’s Sam Hudspith, Karl Robinson was keen to stress that the setback was more practical then mental.

‘It’s a practical one…we’re ready for the challenge of the last quarter of the season and we’ve got to find that freshness and buoyancy to our play that teams can’t cope with’.

One thing that is undisputable is that Robinson really ‘gets it’. He always speaks very intelligently about the game, and, as is apparent when interviewing him, really, really cares. Arguably it was a ‘freshness and buoyancy’ that was missing for Oxford today – exactly the traits that Blackpool encapsulated. The home side seemed downtrodden, chasing and completely off the boil.

For Oxford’s sake, it’s hopefully a one off. But cohesiveness – in the midfield especially – is something that Oxford have got to keep working on. The U’s look great when things are going well, but when it breaks down, it seems to  break down badly.

A 2-0 scoreline probably flattered Oxford. Saturday’s tie was a big match for the U’s; there’s no getting away from that. But, Oxford arguably have a more favourable run in to the end of the season than certain other teams. You’d hope that they’ll take full advantage.

For now, though, there’s one thing left to say:

Blackpool manager Neil Critchley’s set up was a tactical masterstroke today. Fair play, Blackpool. A deserved, good win.

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