League 1 Playoff: Blackpool vs Oxford United

Oxford usually dominates in Possession and Blackpool only went over 50+ line once in the past 5 games (Season Avg 48.5%). Oxford has one of the highest rates in the league on fancying their chances from outside the box (Averages 5.02 outside the box shots per game) and only 8-11% of their shots are generated from quick breaks. So, expect them to lead the possession and taking the chances from regular plays mainly.

Expect Blackpool to start in a bit of back foot and Oxford being on the front foot from the first min. All opponents in the past few games bar one have seen 9+ GKs taken when Oxford has covered the -3.5 to -5.5% possession handicap (Opponents’ goal kick Number reads as 9,11,13,3,11).

Though Blackpool’s Goal kick avg is significantly shorter (6,6,6,4 when they covered less than 50% possession in last few games) but expect them to shield the box well so we will see Oxford pounding shots wide from all angles.

Blackpool concedes one of the lowest counts of Shots on target by the opposition (Just under 2 SOT on avg past 5 games, 2.7+ SOT avg this season which is the second-lowest this season). Despite this, their opponent shot counts are not that bad having conceded 11,10,11,8,13 shots past few games.

Oxford has been in top form with their shooting boots having taken 11,15,16,21,12,16 shots past few games which accounted for about 24 goals. With all the metrics considered and if Blackpool covers the possession handicap as expected then expect to see tons of Shots flying from a distance by Oxford and raking the Goal kick numbers.

Oxford concedes about 9.82 defensive fouls per game this season where while Blackpool commits about 8.8+ Defensive fouls per game this season. This is just about the defensive fouls that are conceded and committed by both. Overall foul numbers have been heavy for Blackpool lately.  Blackpool’s past few games reads as – 17,13,17,7,17,14,11,13 (Committed overall fouls by Blackpool).

Oxford’s foul conceded numbers do not go much higher, but they have covered 10+ lines quite a few times. In the past two matches alone Oxford has suffered 36 fouls! Obviously with Oxford’s need to go all-in today might see Blackpool raking the high lines easily while K. Stroud is somewhat generous while awarding fouls. Additionally, we are taking the Free kicks line with Bet365 which accounts for the offsides too.