Oxford United travel to Blackpool this weekend with both teams looking to continue their hunt for the playoffs.
The U’s have fallen out of the top six in recent weeks while the Seasiders’ home form is edging them closer to the promotion hopefuls.
Battle for the Playoffs as Oxford United Travel to Blackpool
Classic Clash: Oxford United 1-0 Blackpool
It’s not the first time these two sides have been involved in a battle for promotion. Back in the 1995/96 season, Oxford welcomed the high-flying Tangerines to the Manor Ground.
Blackpool arrived in Oxfordshire sitting second in Division Two with the U’s some way behind their opponents.
However, a narrow 1-0 win, courtesy of arguably the greatest goal ever scored at the Manor as Joey Beauchamp volleyed home from the best part of 30 yards, lifted the fourth-placed U’s to ten points behind the opposition.
The Blackpool win may not have been the turning point but it was a key moment in the push for promotion as it pegged back one of their key rivals.
The U’s would go the final six games of the season unbeaten, winning their last four, and finishing one point and one place above the Seasiders. As a result, Oxford claimed the second automatic promotion spot while Blackpool lost out in the playoffs.
This Weekend
Oxford fans would no doubt take the same result when the sides meet on Saturday, given their recent form.
The hosts boast the best home record in the division, winning ten and drawing three from 16 meetings at Bloomfield Road.
As for the U’s, they are currently four games without a win following successive draws against Portsmouth and Reading last week, and will need to stop the rot sooner rather than later.
The two sides played out a 1-1 draw earlier this season. Including the two recent playoff semi-final matches, in which Blackpool progressed, Oxford are without a win in their last five and have failed to win at Bloomfield Road in their last three games.
