Oxford United recorded their first win of 2020 as a Marcus Browne brace saw off Blackpool at the Kassam Stadium.
Despite falling behind after ten minutes, the U’s bounced back with comfort and despite a nervy end, deserved the win.
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— Oxford Mail OUFC (@OxfordMailOUFC) February 1, 2020
Karl Robinson made four changes from the U’s last game – a goalless draw at Newcastle United in the fourth round of the FA Cup – with Cameron Brannagan and James Henry returning from injury, while John Mousinho replaced Elliott Moore in defence and Nathan Holland come in on the left.
Shandon Baptiste and Tariqe Fosu left the club on deadline day, while Moore and Jamie Mackie dropped to the bench.
Simon Eastwood started in goal behind a back four of Josh Ruffels, Moore, Rob Dickie and Sam Long.
Alex Rodriguez Gorrin sat in midfield behind Brannagan and Henry, with Holland and Mark Sykes as the wingers while Browne led the line.
Oxford started brightly and Browne was looking to use his pace to cause problems for the Blackpool backline early doors, and he won the home side an early free-kick. Henry delivered the deal ball but the Tangerines cleared for a corner.
From the resulting corner, Mousinho was unable to meet Henry’s delivery, but it was a quickfire start for Robinson’s side.
Blackpool slowly started to get into the game and they found the opener against the run of play after just ten minutes. Mousinho and Ruffels both went for the same ball which allowed Gary Madine to pick up the ball, before turning Dickie and firing past Eastwood.
Blackpool, who won the reverse fixture 2-1, had their tails up, but Oxford then found the equaliser when they were on the back foot. Browne dropped deep before finding Long whose cross found Ruffels and the left-back teed up Browne who smashed home.
Both sides looked keen. Dickie cleared a dangerous looking free-kick before Oxford broke down the left and won a corner.
Dickie won a free-kick after a surge through the Blackpool midfield, and from the resulting dead ball, should have taken the lead. Dickie saw his header sail just off target, but the hosts didn’t have to wait long.
Just three minutes later, Browne had his second when Henry’s free-kick found the on-loan Middlesbrough midfielder to fire home.
Three minutes before the break, the U’s had a strong penalty shout waved away after Long went down before Holland saw a late effort saved by the Blackpool goalkeeper.
In the second half, Blackpool came out of the blocks a lot quicker. Jay Spearing tried his luck from range but it sailed wide before Oliver Turton tried his luck but the outcome was the same.
Gorrin then fouled Armand Gnanduillet and picked up his ninth yellow card of the league season, but Ruffels headed the free-kick clear.
At the other end, Browne found Holland who should have scored his first U’s goal but the youngster fired wide from twelve yards out.
Blackpool then won successive corners. Eastwood palmed the first behind before Henry cleared the second effort off the line.
Dickie then found Sykes in space with a terrific pass. He found Browne who saw his shot blocked, before Brannagan’s effort was easily saved.
Browne, Holland and Brannagan were linking up well and the former saw his effort saved but both sides were looking for the games next goal.
With ten minutes remaining, James Henry was subbed off and replaced by Liam Kelly to make his Oxford debut.
But the last five minutes saw Oxford almost hanging on. Blackpool saw a number of corners cleared away by a resilient U’s defence.
Robinson brought on Mackie and George Thorne as they looked to see the game out, which in the end they deservedly did, despite Ruffels presenting Madine with a golden chance in the 95th minute following a poor back pass, but the striker struck the post.
