Oxford United welcome Blackpool on Saturday knowing that three points could lift them into the playoffs.
On Tuesday, the U’s eased past Doncaster Rovers thanks to a Matty Taylor brace and strike from Mide Shodipo to move within two points of the top six, while Blackpool played out a 1-1 draw against a resurgent Burton side.
The draw was the fourth in the last five games for the Seasiders, who are unbeaten in their last eight and have lost just once in their previous 12 league games.
For Oxford, it was the second win in three games and it was also a boost to score three goals, having netted just three in their previous seven.
Although Blackpool are four places behind the U’s, they are just three points worse off. In fact, only six points separate Doncaster in fifth in 13th placed Accrington Stanley.
For Taylor and Shodipo, finding the back of the net was vital. Taylor had gone 14 games without scoring a goal before his brace against Donny while Shodipo hadn’t netted in 11 outings. The duo are the club’s top scorers with 13 and 11 respectively.
Jerry Yates leads the visitor’s goalscoring charts with 14 while Gary Madine has added eight, but will miss out through injury. CJ Hamilton has a foot injury while Kevin Stewart is also at risk of missing the game.
Former U’s left-back Luke Garbutt has also provided four assists for the Seagulls this season. As a team, only three clubs in the league have scored fewer but defensively, Blackpool are strong and only Sunderland have conceded less goals this season.
Oxford can welcome back Sam Winnall from injury while Anthony Forde is also available after missing out during the week for personal reasons.
The reverse fixture ended in a goalless draw but Oxford had won four of the previous five before the meeting in December. The U’s have also won all three encounters between the two sides at the Kassam.
Predicted line-up: Jack Stevens, Josh Ruffels, Rob Atkinson, Elliott Moore, Anthony Forde, Alex Rodriguez Gorrin, Cameron Brannagan, Elliot Lee, Brandon Barker, Mark Sykes, Matty Taylor.
Prediction: Oxford United 1-0 Blackpool
