Summary

  • Blackpool reach League One play-off final after 6-3 aggregate win over Oxford United

  • Second leg at Bloomfield Road ends in 3-3 draw

  • Taylor gave Oxford early lead, but Blackpool hit back to lead twice before Shodipo levelled on night

  • Seasiders won 3-0 at Kassam Stadium in first leg on Tuesday

  • Blackpool will play either Lincoln or Sunderland in play-off final at Wembley on 30 May

  • Lincoln lead Sunderland 2-0 after their first leg

  • Get involved at #bbcefl

Live Reporting

Matt Newsum

  1. Will the underdogs bark loudest?

    Blackpool v Oxford (19:45 BST)

    Oxford argue with the referee in the first-legGetty Images

    As a big Liverpool fan, Karl Robinson knows all about comebacks. He was there in Istanbul back in 2005 when the Redmen fought back from 3-0 down to win the Champions League on penalties against AC Milan.

    His side will have been given every hope, every belief that they can come up with a result in Blackpool tonight.

    Omens don't read too well for the U's though, as they have failed to score a single goal against the Seasiders in 2020-21, and have never won a Football League play-off game.

    Can they deliver an upset tonight?

  2. Tangerine Dream

    Blackpool v Oxford (19:45 BST)

    Blackpool celebrateGetty Images

    Not even Edgar Froese and his German synthmeisters Tangerine Dream could have come up with a soundscape so dreamlike and ethereal as Blackpool's rise to the League One play-offs this season under Neil Critchley.

    The start to the season was fairly low-key, if not disappointing with one win in the first 10 games. But then something clicked and they would only lose seven of the next 38 games to finish third behind Hull City and Peterborough - the only two teams to win more than their 23 games.

    Underpinning that run has been a watertight defence with 29 clean sheets, and conceding just 37 goals.

    Jerry Yates has weighed in with the goals - 22 in total, while Ellis Simms has been a useful loan pick-up from Everton and scored two priceless efforts in the first leg.

  3. LINE-UPS

    Blackpool v Oxford (19:45 BST)

    Blackpool make one change, with Demetri Mitchell replacing Elliott Embleton in the starting line-up within the engine room of central midfield.

    One change too for Oxford, as Anthony Forde is preferred on the right of the defence for Jamie Hanson, who moves to the bench.

    Blackpool: Maxwell, Turton, Ballard, Husband, Garbutt, Stewart, Dougall, Mitchell, Embleton, Simms, Yates

    Subs: Moore, Gabriel, Thorniley, Ekpiteta, Robson, Anderson, Madine

    Oxford: Stevens, Forde, Moore, Atkinson, Ruffels, Brannagan, Sykes, Henry, Lee, Barker, Taylor

    Subs: Eastwood, McNally, Gorrin, Hall, Agyei, Hanson, Shodipo

  4. Hello

    Blackpool v Oxford (19:45 BST)

    So half-time in essence tonight, as Blackpool can finish the job they quite ruthlessly started in their 3-0 first leg win at Oxford.

    Fans back in at Bloomfield Road too. A special night perhaps in waiting for then? Or can Oxford poop the party in some style?

    Let's crack on.

  5. Never say never

    Blackpool v Oxford (19:45 BST)

    Fabian De FreitasGetty Images

    There might not be much of an appetite for Oxford fans to get involved with tonight's game given the 3-0 first-leg scoreline.

    Blackpool were outstanding in the first leg at the Kassam Stadium, a result which delivered their fifth win in a row, but if the play-offs have taught us anything over the years - never say never.

    Remember Bolton overhauling Reading in 1995's Division One play-off final? Fabian De Freitas' supersub cameo.

    Just ask the Man City fans who tried to scramble back into Wembley in 1999 after two last-minute goals cancelled out a 2-0 deficit against Gillingham in a game they ended up winning on penalties.

    Don't give up hope just yet. Blackpool are in pole position, but it's not insurmountable.