Blackpool 0-0 Oxford United: CJ Hamilton frustrated by the woodwork as Seasiders are held to goalless draw

The Seasiders were the dominant side throughout and were deserving of the three points, but they couldn’t make the breakthrough their display fully warranted.

CJ Hamilton came closest, clattering the post at the end of the first-half before seeing a rasping drive deflect onto the crossbar in the second period.

Oxford, last season’s beaten play-off finalists, rarely threatened and will be grateful for the point that takes them out of the League One relegation zone.

Neil Critchley opted to make two changes to the side that beat Fylde Coast rivals Fleetwood Town 1-0 in the league last weekend.

Ollie Turton dropped down to the bench and was replaced by Jordan Gabriel at right-back, while Ben Woodburn was brought into the side against his former team in place of Jerry Yates.

Dan Ballard was the only injury absentee, the defender missing out after picking up a hamstring knock following the recent win against Portsmouth. Matty Virtue was named among the substitutes after making his return from injury in the EFL Trophy in midweek.

The likes of Teddy Howe, Jordan Thorniley, Demetri Mitchell, MJ Williams, Ethan Robson, Bez Lubala and Oliver Sarkic were all left out of the 18.

Blackpool made the stronger start, posing a threat down the right thanks to the frightening pace of CJ Hamilton, who had the beating of left-back Josh Ruffels in the early stages.

The first opening of the game fell to Hamilton, the winger bobbling wide following Sullay Kaikai’s pullback - when Kaikai probably ought to have shot himself earlier in the move.

Oxford threatened for the first time on 18 minutes, the unmarked Marcus McGuane slicing over the bar from a good position after meeting James Henry’s right-wing cross.

The game entered into a lull, with both sides cancelling each other out in a scrappy encounter. The only half chance of note came the way of Blackpool from Kaikai’s corner, but the away side survived a goalmouth scramble.

From this point onwards, Critchley’s side burst into life and were unfortunate not to edge their noses in front before half-time.

The clear-cut chance Blackpool had been waiting for came seven minutes before the interval, but they weren’t able to capitalise.

Hamilton beat Ruffels for pace once again down the right, pulling it back into the path of Kaikai who slipped at the vital moment - with the chance going begging.

Three minutes later, the Seasiders went even closer when Hamilton clattered the post with a rasping drive from the edge of the box.

It came after a partially cleared throw fell kindly for Hamilton, who decided to take the effort first time and beat the keeper all ends up, only for the woodwork to come to Oxford’s rescue.

On the stroke of half-time, James Husband was set free down the left thanks to Kenny Dougall’s clever pass, but with the keeper rushing out of his goal, Husband overhit his cross with Gary Madine waiting to tap home into the empty net.

Blackpool began the second-half in the same mould, looking to force the issue against an Oxford side who were solid if unspectacular.

Kaikai played in Jordan Gabriel down the right but the full-back’s cross let him down, before Hamilton’s backheel into Kaikai was cleared just as the Blackpool man looked set to give the home side the lead.

Hamilton was denied by the woodwork for a second time 20 minutes into the second period as he cut inside from the right.

The winger unleashed a powerful effort which took a deflection off an Oxford defender which took it onto the crossbar.

Blackpool maintained their dominance, but despite getting into some good areas on a regular basis nothing seemed to be falling in their favour.

Having earlier brought on Keshi ANderson, Critchley made a triple change on 78 minutes, bringing Matty Virtue, Dan Kemp and Jerry Yates into the fold.

Having been the second best for much of the game, Oxford almost stole it seven minutes from time when substitute Olamide Shodipo cut inside from the right before shooting straight at Chris Maxwell.

Oxford almost stole the points in the third minute of six added on at the end of the 90, only to be thwarted by a stunning Maxwell save.

The Blackpool keeper somehow flew across goal to tip John Mousinho’s header onto the post when the defender’s effort appeared destined for the bottom corner.

TEAMS

Blackpool: Maxwell, Gabriel, Ekpiteta, Gretarsson, Husband, Dougall, Ward (Virtue), Hamilton, Kaikai (Kemp), Woodburn (Anderson), Madine (Yates)

Subs not used: Sims, Garbutt, Turton

Oxford: Stevens, Ruffels, Atkinson (Mousinho), Moore, Gorrin, Long, McGuane (Shodipo), Kelly (Hanson), Henry (Hall), Obita (Agyei), Godden

Subs not used: Eastwood, Forde

Referee: Martin Coy

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