Oxford frustrated after thinking they'd won a corner through Brandon Barker's persistence down the left but it turns out to be a free-kick for offside.

The hosts in need of a bit of a spark.

Phone a friend time for Karl Robinson in the stands or more likely his assistant Craig Short on the touchline as he tries to work out how his side are 2-0 down after an impressive start.

The 4,000 or so home fans are stunned into sudden silence.

Mark Sykes is penalised for a clumsy, sliding challenge on James Husband.

It's not a yellow though.

Blackpool open Oxford up for the first real time.

Keshi Anderson has his shot saved by Jack Stevens and then the follow up from Elliot Embleton is heading goalward but then there's a block from skipper Elliott Moore.

Great chance for the opener.

Jerry Yates and Ellis Simms being beaten to the 50/50 challenges at present.

Oxford know they will have to try and keep those two as quiet as possible to get through this tie.

Image source, Rex Features

We've not seen a lot from Blackpool so far in this start but remember they come into this tie with the meanest defence in the division.

Chris Maxwell is also level with Man City's Ederson on 25 for most clean sheets in all competitions this season.

After nine minutes pass on the clock, supporters rise to clap for a minute in memory of nine-year-old Jordan Banks.

The Blackpool boy was tragically killed last week after he was struck by lightning while playing football.

The two sides have come together to arrange that tribute using the #RIPLittleMan

Oxford boss Karl Robinson sat in the stands with his assistant Derek Fazackerley.

He'll be liking what he's seen so far even if he is busy scribbling something on a notepad to try and make a point.

Oxford surge forward in numbers again on the break with Brandon Barker who plays a one-two with Elliot Lee but Barker's shot strikes a Blackpool player and then Matty Taylor is flagged offside.

Elliot Lee's free-kick is struck low and is blocked by the Blackpool defensive wall.

First test passed for the visitors but James Husband will be walking a tight rope on that booking for the rest of this first leg.

Mark Sykes with a surging run through the middle for Oxford and he is brought down in the D by James Husband.

Free-kick to the hosts and an early yellow card for Husband.

Oxford the first team to look to mount an attack.

Brandon Barker and Mark Sykes seeing a fair bit of the ball down the left side already.

But Barker's cross on his right sails all the way through the Blackpool box and out for a goal kick.

Bobby Madley is the man in charge of this evening's first leg.

Blackpool in their change strip of white shirts, tangerine shorts and white socks get us started.

Oxford United in yellow!

Image source, Rex Features

Great noise from the 4,000 or so home fans as Oxford United stride out on to the pitch just after the Blackpool starting line-up.

Stage set, we're almost ready to go....

Image source, Rex Features

• This is only Oxford United's second Football League play-off campaign, a year on from their first when they knocked out Portsmouth in the League One semi-finals, before losing 2-1 to Wycombe Wanderers at Wembley.
• Blackpool have reached the play-offs for the ninth time, with only Brentford and Preston North End taking part in more (10 each).
• The Tangerines have been promoted five times via the play-offs, the most by any club, most recently from League Two in 2016-17.
• Oxford United failed to score in both of their league matches against Blackpool in 2020-21 - one of four teams they failed to find the net against.
• Blackpool have kept 28 clean sheets in the 2020-21 season - six more than in any other season in their history.
• Oxford top scorer Matty Taylor has netted 18 league goals - the most by a U's player since Kemar Roofe - of which 14 have come at the Kassam Stadium.
• Blackpool's leading marksman is Jerry Yates with 20 league goals - the first Tangerines player to hit 20 in a league season since Andy Watson in 1993-94.

BBC local radio

While rights restrictions prevent us from being able to stream commentaries of tonight's fixture on the BBC Sport website and app, we can still point you in the direction of the fine coverage provided from our BBC local radio colleagues.

Both BBC Radio Oxford and BBC Radio Lancashire are in situ at the Kassam Stadium and if you check your local listings, you can find where to tune into their programmes.

As ever, we'd love to hear from you throughout this evening's action.

Who are your picks to come through this play-off quartet and gain promotion to the Championship?

Also, which players have impressed you in League One this season and could be in the market for a big summer move?

Let us know using #bbcefl

Image source, PA Media

Blackpool won their last four games in the regular season to sneak above Lincoln City and Sunderland up to third place.

Neil Critchley has masterminded something of a rapid transformation at Bloomfield Road this season after overhauling their playing squad and recovering from a stuttering start to the campaign.

In fact, had the season continued for another month, many pundits feel they would have secured automatic promotion such is the momentum with which they go into this tie.

"Everyone loves the play-offs," Critchley told BBC Radio Lancashire. "They're always packed with drama and excitement.

"It's a new experience for me by but I've been involved in play-off games before, from my time with Crewe, and I've been involved in a lot of end-of-season tournaments. It's a different psychology.

"It's fantastic that it's not just the top three going up, else there'd be nothing to play for. It keeps the season alive."

Image source, Rex Features

It's a case of having to sit back and just trust his players for Oxford United manager Karl Robinson in these play-offs as he continues to serve a four-game touchline ban for violent conduct.

That punishment could extent to the U's returning to Wembley for the final where they will be bidding to go one better than last season when they were beaten 2-1 by Wycombe Wanderers.

"If you've had the experience of losing, you've already come through the worst that can happen and that takes the pressure off," Robinson told BBC Radio Oxford.

"We're fantastically relaxed.

"Blackpool are red-hot favourites. They're the best team in the play-offs and they're playing the worst team."