Football Tips: 3 Blackpool v Oxford best bets for Friday’s play-off clash

Blackpool are well in the driving seat and our tipster Colin Harvey assesses whether Oxford have any chance of turning this tie around.

* All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.

Blackpool swept Oxford aside on Tuesday night to firmly plant one foot in the League One playoff final courtesy of an emphatic and fully deserved 3-0 win at the Kassam. An opener from Ollie Turton was quickly followed by Ellis Simms’ first before he added his second, and The Tangerines’ third, on the counter in the 74th minute.

The last was a devastating goal to concede for The U’s as they pushed forward looking to get back into the tie. In the end, they probably blew what chance they had with a scandalously high line which Everton-loanee Simms was more than happy to exploit with his pace and cool finishing.

Friday 7.45pm: Oxford v Blackpool
Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Football

NEW TO PADDY POWER?

It’s a daunting task for Oxford now, who snuck into the playoffs on the final day, against the other in-form team in the division at the end of the regular season. With Blackpool having home advantage, a three-goal lead and supporters driving them on, surely only one team has any chance of progressing on Friday night?

Here are your best bets for the game.

Over 2.5 Goals

Despite this one looking done and dusted as a contest, I think we could be in for some entertaining fare on Friday night. The simple fact is that Oxford are going to have to go for it from the off and Blackpool will be planning to soak up the pressure and strike on the counter.

This is all pointing towards goals for me and, just like on Tuesday, we’re looking for Over 2.5 of them. Overs has landed in just two of Blackpool’s last five but has paid out in all of United’s last 11 games. With United making all the running there’s going to be plenty of goals.

Half With Most Goals: Second Half

I have a feeling Oxford are going to net in the first half and then all hell’s going to break loose in the second 45. The thing is, Oxford are yet to score against Blackpool in three attempts this season so something’s going to have to change for them.

It’s very hard to see them getting the three they need to take this to extra time without shipping at least one. I suspect it’ll be more than one. As the game goes on Oxford are going to get more and more desperate which will either result in them being picked off late on or Karl Robinson’s men finding something magic at the death. I think we can safely expect the Second Half to have to most Goals.

Ellis Simms to Score Anytime

While Jerry Yates has undoubtedly been Blackpool’s star man this season, netting 22 goals and setting up eight, I think he’s going to play the provider role again at some point with Tuesday’s hero Ellis Simms on hand to provide the finishing touch.

That’s not to say Yates won’t score, of course, but you can just picture exactly what Simms’ goal is going to look like and it’s probably going to be a carbon copy of his second from earlier in the week. At bigger odds than Yates I think it’s going to be profitable to back Ellis Simms to Score Anytime and kill off any faint hopes Oxford have of a trip to Wembley.

Blackpool v Oxford tips

Over 2.5 Goals
Half With Most Goals: Second
Ellis Simms to Score Anytime

* All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.

READ MORE

The latest football odds are on PaddyPower.com right now

The Paddy Power Guide To Responsible Gambling – Everything You Need To Know