Oxford United v Blackpool: Tangerines can dream of final spot with result at Kassam

Oxford United v Blackpool
Tuesday 18th May, kick-off 18:00
Live on Sky Sports Football

Robinson says the pressure is off

Some 4,000 fans will be allowed back into watch football at the Kassam, so for that, we should all be thankful. The supporters could make the difference of course and Oxford will feel like they have nothing to lose having scraped into the final play-off spot at the expense of Charlton on a superior goal difference.

U's boss Karl Robinson has said that the pressure is off them, which is correct, and it's a different scenario to last term's final loss to Wycombe, although 16 of the 20 players that were in the squad back then still remain.

United ended the season with three straight victories against Burton, Plymouth and Shrewsbury.

Critchley should be voted league's best

Having written off Neil Critchley's chances at Blackpool very early in the season, the project turned into a triumphant success as the Tangerines ended up just seven points behind Peterborough. Eighty points in all surpassed anyone's expectations, and Critchley surely must be in line for manager of the year considering the budgets of the two top teams.

The season saw the Seasiders collect an astonishing 28 clean sheets - six more than any other season in their entire history, and this will be their ninth play-off campaign.

Fitting that the game at the Kassam this term ended in a 0-0.

In-form Blackpool can avoid defeat

The market has the hosts installed as the 2.588/5 favourites against Blackpool's 3.1511/5, and there's an argument to say that both prices represent a fair bet. Oxford usually go off a bit shorter at home, and they have won 13 at the Kassam this season.

We saw in the two legs with Portsmouth 12 months ago that teams can soak up Oxford's ball retention style, and this pits a good attack against the league's best defence. Matty Taylor is excellent, but he can become isolated somewhat and the Tangerines are masters at soaking up pressure. It worked with the 0-0 during the regular season, and there's no reason not to have a trade on the 0-0 Correct Score for Tuesday night.

Although at 6.411/2, that is a lot shorter than you would normally expect. There's still a chance to trade though.

In terms of the strongest selection, Blackpool on the Draw No Bet or Double Chance will do. They ended the season with real momentum and hit four successive victories. And with Oxford failing to score in both of their matches against Blackpool (seven shots without scoring), it looks the sensible backing option at around the 1.84/5 mark.

Yates gets the nod over Taylor

I've mentioned Taylor for the hosts, and his 18 goals this season was another fine return. Backing him at the Kassam has been profitable as 14 of his 18 have all come at home. Blackpool's Jerry Yates hit 20 in 44 games - and became the first player since Andy Watson in 1994 to hit 20 in a season.

Yates would appeal more in the To Score market at around 3.02/1.

Using the Bet Builder, backing Yates to score at anytime and the draw pays out nearly 10/1.

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Betfair has joined forces with the Not The Top 20 Podcast ahead of the playoffs and their preview of all of the semi-finals, and suggested 20/1 acca is here.