Blackpool travel to the Kassam Stadium to face Oxford United in a game that could have a big effect at the top of the table. With both sides in the top seven, three points could see them either go top of the table or within the Play-offs.
Oxford United currently sit second in League One after 11 games. The U’s have nine wins and two losses, leaving them on 27 points, just one point off of the top of the table, with a game in hand.
In their last five games in all competitions, Oxford have four wins and one loss. In the Football League Trophy, Oxford faced MK Dons. Jack Payne’s penalty was the only goal of the game in the second half, giving MK Dons the 1 - 0 win. However, Oxford bounced back in the league against Exeter City. Ruben Rodrigues opened the scoring in the eighth minute, and then in the second half Cameron Brannagan scored a brace of penalties late in the game to give Oxford the 3 - 0 win.
Jamie Reid opened the scoring for Stevenage in the 15th minute, but this lead was short-lived as Greg Leigh levelled the score going into halftime. Leigh scored again in the second half along with Elliott Moore to give Oxford the 3 - 1 win. Fin Stevens. Ciaron Brown and Leigh all scored in the 3 - 0 win against ten-man Shrewsbury, who had Joe Anderson sent off early in the second half.
The last time out for Oxford was a fiery affair against Bristol Rovers. Billy Bodin and Sam Long both scored in the 2 - 1 win for Oxford, with Aaron Collins scoring for Rovers. However, Oisin Smyth and Stanley Mills were sent off in extra time after Jevani Brown was sent off for Rovers in the 63rd minute.
Blackpool, on the other hand, sit seventh in League One. In 12 games, Blackpool have five wins, four draws and three losses, leaving them on 19 points, just one point behind Bolton in the final Play-off place.
In their last five games in all competitions, Blackpool have three wins, a draw and a loss. Jordan Rhodes’ penalty in the 24th minute was the only goal of the game in Blackpool’s 1 - 0 win over Barnsley, where Barnsley couldn’t register a single shot on target. The loss came against Derby County. Korey Smith, James Collins and Martyn Waghorn all scored in the 3 - 1 win for Derby, with Kenny Dougall on the scoresheet for Blackpool.
The draw came next against Charlton. Rhodes and Karamoko Dembele both scored for Blackpool to give them a 2 - 0 lead. However, Alfie May and Corey Blackett-Taylor both scored late on as the game finished 2 - 2. In the Football League Trophy, Blackpool faced Liverpool’s U21 team. Albie Morgan and Andy Lyons both scored and along with a hat-trick from Kylian Kouassi gave Blackpool the 5 - 2 win.
The most recent outing was against Stevenage. Rhodes, Owen Dale and CJ Hamilton all scored in the 3 - 0 win for Blackpool.
Oxford and Blackpool have met 37 times in their histories, with the first meeting coming back in 1968. Blackpool have the better record in the fixture with 17 wins in comparison to Oxford’s 11 wins, with the other nine meetings ending in a draw.