Oxford United look to capitalise on midweek win over Doncaster against Blackpool on Saturday

The U’s are very much back in the Play-Off race, but face a stern test at home to a well organised Blackpool side who have conceded only three goals in their last eight games.

‘Tight’ is the best way to describe the League One table.

In fact, you could go as far to argue that the Play-Off race extends to 13th place – Accrington Stanley currently occupy this spot, but sit only five points off Charlton Athletic in sixth. As such, it’s not surprising that consistency has been a commodity hard to come by for many a team in the third tier. The League One table chops and changes more than Chelsea do managers.

Oxford United and Blackpool come into Saturday’s fixture at the Kassam as teams looking to push on towards the Play-Offs. Oxford are better placed to do this, sitting eighth and only two points off Charlton in sixth. But Blackpool won’t lay down lightly. A victory for the Seasiders could see them leapfrog Oxford and move into eighth, but require a two goal winning margin to do so.

Oxford, meanwhile, could move up to sixth with a victory should Charlton and seventh place Ipswich Town lose on Saturday. Coming off the back of a vital 3-0 victory over Doncaster, the U’s must capitalise on Tuesday night’s win to announce themselves as serious Play-Off contenders and maintain pressure on the top six.

A win would go a long way for both sides, but Oxford don’t score many and Blackpool don’t concede many.

Oxford currently rank joint-second bottom out of top-ten sides for goals scored. And, Blackpool rank joint-second bottom out of top-12 sides for goals conceded. Naturally, the latter is a more positive statistic than the former, but Saturday’s tie is set up perfectly for a 0-0 draw, theoretically.

The attacking potency that saw Oxford enjoy a nine match winning streak between December 2020 and January of the New Year has undoubtedly been impacted by injuries, as well as top-scorer Matty Taylor’s sudden goalscoring drought.

Oxford’s number nine hadn’t scored since January before bagging a brace against Doncaster, but the home side will be counting on Taylor’s fox-in-the-box prowess to break down Blackpool’s sturdy defence.

Saturday’s fixture may well be a case of Blackpool sitting back and absorbing Oxford’s pressure – although the away side will do well to suppress the sort of frantic intensity that the U’s showed against Doncaster – before trying to catch the home side on the break.

Three of Blackpool’s four wins in their last eight games have ended in 1-0 scorelines. Neil Critchley’s side’s compact 4-4-2 lends itself to solidity in the defence and midfield, and Oxford will do well to break it down. Kenny Dougall and Matty Virtue compliment each other well in midfield, with the combination of Luke Garbutt and Sulay Kaikai on the left wing usually productive.

Oxford manager Karl Robinson cited his side’s ‘aggressiveness’ as a key factor in their win over Doncaster – something they’ll want to demonstrate against a resolute Blackpool side.

Speaking to Oxford United after their win against Donny, Robinson also praised his side’s naturality.

“We looked like we were playing just for the love of playing football. We were relaxed but we were also aggressive in wanting to win the game as well”

Meanwhile, Blackpool’s goalscorer in their 1-1 draw at home to Burton last time out, Luke Garbutt, has spoken of his side’s desire to turn draws into wins.

“There’s a little bit of frustration in the camp, especially with the draws at home recently. We want to be getting maximum points from those games, and I think in a lot of them we’ve deserved to get the three points. It’s just that extra little bit of drive and determination to put the ball in the back of the net that is going to obviously help us move up the table and achieve things this season.”

Saturday’s clash comes amid Oxford owner Surmith Thanakarnjanasuth’s (affectionately known as ‘Tiger’) recent declaration of the strong place that Oxford as a club are in, describing how “we [Oxford] are in such a positive position, on and off the pitch. I don’t have to put out a big message asking fans to get behind their club: they always do that anyway.”

A positive position Oxford are indeed in. But it will look a whole lot better with a Play-Off spot potentially occupied come 5pm on Saturday.

Team News:

Oxford will be missing Marcus McGuane, who is out for the season. Sam Long, James Henry and Sam Winnall are also likely to be out against Blackpool.

The away side will be missing midfielder Kevin Stewart, Gary Madine, CJ Hamiton and Marvin Ekpiteta.

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