Just a few days ago the two clubs faced each other at Oxford United’s Kassam Stadium, and on Friday evening the semi-final second leg will be played at Blackpool FC’s Bloomfield Road. The hosts already have one leg in the play-off final at Wembley, after all Blackpool won the first leg 3-0 in Oxford.
Given the Seasiders’ home form in the League One regular season, it would be surprising if head coach Neil Critchley’s side were to miss out on a place in the promotion play-offs. In 23 home games in League One 2020/21, Blackpool have lost just four, conceding more than one goal in only one home defeat.
If you still want to bet on the visitors, you will be rewarded with odds of 3.25 on tip 2 for Blackpool against Oxford United.
Prediction & Live Odds for Blackpool vs. Oxford
Blackpool FC could not have been in a better position for the semi-final second leg of the promotion play-offs. Because the Seasiders won the first leg 3-0 in Oxford, the third-placed team in the regular season can still qualify for the promotion final at Wembley even with a defeat.
As can be seen from the odds of the betting sites with a licence, Blackpool FC are the clear favourites to reach the final. It is quite possible that the club from the coastal town will also prevail in the second leg against the Yellows. After all, there has only been one defeat in the last 21 home games at Bloomfield Road.
The comparatively high odds for a home win for the Seasiders are therefore all the more surprising. At the latest in the course of the second half, when Oxford United have to risk more, Blackpool FC should bag the home win and thus move into the promotion final.
Our betting odds for Blackpool against Oxford are on the Seasiders home win. The best odds are currently offered by 22bet:
Blackpool – Statistics & Current Form
After relegation from the Championship in the 2014/15 season, Blackpool FC also bowed out of League One a year later. Although they were subsequently promoted again, the Seasiders have been languishing in the third division ever since. For the first time since promotion to League One in 2016/17, there is now a realistic chance of promotion to the Championship.
This season, the club from the English coastal city was one of the three best teams in League One. In the regular season, Blackpool FC picked up a total of 80 points in 46 games, with the Seasiders’ defensive fortress being a decisive factor. Only 37 goals were conceded by head coach Critchley’s side.
By comparison, League One champions Hull City conceded a total of 38 goals in 46 games. The strength of the Coastal side’s defence was already evident in the first leg against semi-final opponents Oxford United. They did not concede a single goal against the third strongest attack in League One and thus kept a clean sheet for the fourth time in the last five matches.
Will Blackpool FC build on their strong home record?
In the regular season, the Seasiders posted a record of 12-7-4 at home to Bloomfield Road, making them the fourth-best home team in League One. Across the competition, Blackpool FC have lost just one home game in their last 21 home matches. If recent form at Bloomfield Road continues, a prediction on the home side in Blackpool v Oxford is also close.
Head coach Neil Critchley will have no absentees compared to the last squad. After the strong performance in Oxford, the Seasiders are not expected to make any changes to their starting eleven in the second leg.
Jerry Yates will continue to be the main man on the offensive line. The attacking star was one of the most prolific players in League One during the regular season, scoring a total of 20 goals and setting up five others for his team-mates. The youngster also added his side’s third goal in the first leg.
Blackpool’s likely line-up:
Maxwell – Turton, Ballard, Thorniley, Husband – Embleton, Stewart, Dougall – Yates, Simms, Anderson
Oxford – Statistics & Current Form
Oxford United have their backs to the wall and will probably miss the play-off final at Wembley. After the bitter home defeat in the first leg, the Yellows will need a minor miracle in the second leg at Bloomfield Road to still be able to dream of promotion. After all, Oxford must score at least three goals at defensively strong Blackpool FC.
Against the defensive fortress of the Seasiders, the otherwise so strong attack – the third strongest attacking department in the league, mind you – cut its teeth. Only one of eleven shot attempts went on the goal of the semi-final opponent. All in all, it was a comparatively weak performance by the attack, which ultimately got its due.
Because Oxford United scored a total of 77 goals in 46 games during the regular season, we by no means rule out a show of defiance on Friday night. Still, three goals will be hard to come by against the strong defence of their semi-final opponents.
No win against Blackpool again?
Oxford United haven’t won a competitive game against Friday’s opponents since February 2020, meanwhile the Yellows have gone winless against Blackpool FC for three games in a row. Most recently, there were even two defeats in a row against the Seasiders. The last time Oxford won an away game at Bloomfield Road was in February 2019.
It is quite possible that the away misery will continue in the coastal city. Oxford have lost four of their last six away games, only beating Shrewsbury Town and Crewe Alexandra. The latter even saw off Oxford 6-0 on home soil.
Robinson will only have to do without McGuane on Friday night due to injury. There are no other absentees for the visitors from Oxford. If the Yellows win the second leg, odds of 3.25 on Blackpool vs. Oxford for tip 2 are available from Bet365, the bookmaker tested by Wettbasis.
Oxford’s likely line-up:
Stevens – Hanson, Moore, Atkinson, Ruffels – Henry, Brannagan, Sykes – Lee, Taylor, Shodipo