PREVIEW Blackpool v Oxford United

A full guide to Saturday's Sky Bet League 1 game at Bloomfield Road

9 February 2024

Oxford United travel to Blackpool on Saturday in Sky Bet League 1 (3pm)

TEAM NEWS
United's lengthy injury list has eased this week and they welcome back Jamie Cumming, Sam Long, Billy Bodin and Josh Murphy while new arrival Will Goodwin is in the squad for the first time.

Owen Dale won't be available against his former club but Jay Matete and Tyler Burey, who also joined in the January Window, are included in the squad.

See a full interview with Ruben Rodrigues on the effect that competition for places can have, plus a longer version of the Des Buckingham interview below, all in iFollow.

THE OPPOSITION
Sheffield Wednesday loanee George Byers could make his debut as boss Neil Critchley looks for his side to gather momentum in a busy part of the season

"We’ve got a lot of games coming up and there’s genuine competition for places in each area of the pitch” he said. “Everyone has an opinion on the team that you pick both rightly and wrongly, but they don’t get to see what I see on a daily basis or have the information that I do from the staff around me. I’m sure the team we pick against Oxford will look different to the one against Leyton Orient at the end of the month.”

Striker Jordan Rhodes, who started his senior career with a loan at Oxford, is a major doubt.

TICKETS
While the online ticket service is temporarily unavailable tickets are still available to purchase over the telephone (01865 337533). We have an initial allocation of 1,197 tickets located in the East Stand.

Tickets will be available on the day from the white booth adjacent to the Away turnstiles from 1.30pm (subject to availability) where matchday collections can also be made from the same time.

The Ticket Office is open from 10:00-17:00 on Friday.

Prices

Adult	£25
Senior (65+)	£21
Young Person 18-21	£21
U18	£11
U12	£7

Proof of age may be required on entry for concessionary tickets.

7 pairs of wheelchair and carer tickets are available. Please contact the Ticket Office by telephone to purchase. Wheelchair users with a 2023/24 Season Ticket and Yellows Account will also be able to book online for this fixture.

Disabled fans pay the relevant price class and are entitled to a carer free of charge.

London Road Club Travel
Kassam Stadium pick up: 8.30am
Kidlington Sainsbury's pick up: 8:45am

Prices:

Adult LRC member	£35
Adult	£38
U18 LRC member	£33
U18	£36

Visit oufctickets.co.uk or call 01865 337533 to book

Under 14s must be accompanied by an adult and no alcohol is permitted on the coaches

COVERAGE

iFollow
You can hear the whole game live in iFollow in the UK or see it if you are overseas. CLICK HERE to buy a Match Pass

Follow the game on @OUFCOfficial on X and we will have a full report and gallery right here on the final whistle.

Match Reports

REPORT Blackpool 1 Oxford United 1

Harris goal earns United a point at Bloomfield Road. Full time report

10 February 2024

Oxford United drew their third game in a row when a Mark Harris goal earned them a point in an evenly matched game at Blackpool.

Set pieces proved key as a Matt Pennington opener was quickly cancelled out by Harris's close-range finish to leave two play-off chasing sides locked at 1-1.

The early exchanges saw the lively Karamoko Dembele curl a shot wide after 12 minutes and the excellent Ciaron Brown have to make an important challenge as Shayne Lavery advanced into the box. However, we didn’t have to wait too long before corners at both ends produced a goal apiece.

Blackpool’s was delivered to the back post by Albie Morgan, the ball was volleyed back across the face of goal by captain Ollie Nortburn and Pennington nodded it beyond the grasp of the stranded Jamie Cumming to make it 1-0.

Need an immediate response? Call Mark Harris. A corner by Cameron Brannagan was met by the centre of the returning Sam Long's bandaged forehead and Harris seized on the dropping ball to level at 1-1. Thirteen goals for the Welsh striker this season, seven in the last nine games since the turn of the year.

harris goal 1 (1).jpg

Only a miraculous block by former Oxford youth team defender Marvin Ekpiteta prevented Harris from putting his side ahead after 33 minutes as a magnificent pass from Ruben Rodrigues sprung the team forward and Marcus McGuane squared the ball, only for Harris’s effort to be cleared off the line by Ekpiteta’s face.

Josh Murphy made his return at the break, a straight swap for Tyler Burey on the right wing, and Will Goodwin was given half an hour as a debut up front as United signalled their attacking intent and the game became very end to end very early.

Jamie Cumming made an astonishing save on his return to the side to claw away a Pennington header and then clutched three more straightforward efforts to his chest, while Cameron Brannagan was off target with a long-range effort before sub Billy Bodin had the perfect chance to win it, stooping to head at an unguarded goal but only able to guide the dipping ball onto the post.

Fine margins once again, but a useful point on the road plus cameos from Goodwin, Murphy, Bodin and Jay Matete. So, take those positives and move forward to a home game against Wigan on Tuesday.

See you there.

Att: 10,485 including 1,024 away

Report by Chris Williams, pictures Steve Edmunds and Darrell Fisher

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Standings

Blackpool vs Oxford United - Replay - Sat 10th February 2024

Blackpool vs Oxford United - Highlights - Sat 10th February 2024

Blackpool vs Oxford United - Extended highlights - Sat 10th February 2024