Nuttalls Mint Toes
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OXFORD United will be under no pressure when they take on Blackpool tomorrow, says Karl Robinson.
The U’s face a side who finished three places above them in Sky Bet League One in the play-off semi-final first leg at the Kassam Stadium (6pm).
The pair have contrasting records against the other teams who finished in the top six this season: Blackpool claimed six wins and lost once, while United tasted one victory and six defeats.
Neil Critchley’s side took four points off the U’s in the regular season and Robinson suggested they are the team to beat.
“Right now, they’re red-hot favourites,” the U’s head coach said.
“They’ve got the best points tally of any team against the top six, including (champions) Hull.
“They finished third in the league, so we’re playing against the best team in the play-offs.
“They’re playing the worst team in the play-offs.
“We know it’s going to be an extremely difficult challenge.”
United had spent just 72 hours of the season in the top six before the final day, when they leapfrogged Portsmouth to claim the last spot.
The U’s are competing in their second successive play-off campaign, having beaten Pompey over two legs in 2019/20 before losing to Wycombe Wanderers.
It was the first time Robinson had reached a final at the third attempt, having twice missed out with MK Dons.
Of the 20-man squad for the final against Wycombe, 16 are still at the club and the U’s boss believes this could help them.
He said: “We got there at the last minute and we’re calm about the whole situation.
“I’ve lost and won in these situations.
“When you experience losing in these moments you’ve come through the worst case scenario.
“It takes the pressure off.”
The U’s face a side who finished three places above them in Sky Bet League One in the play-off semi-final first leg at the Kassam Stadium (6pm).
The pair have contrasting records against the other teams who finished in the top six this season: Blackpool claimed six wins and lost once, while United tasted one victory and six defeats.
Neil Critchley’s side took four points off the U’s in the regular season and Robinson suggested they are the team to beat.
“Right now, they’re red-hot favourites,” the U’s head coach said.
“They’ve got the best points tally of any team against the top six, including (champions) Hull.
“They finished third in the league, so we’re playing against the best team in the play-offs.
“They’re playing the worst team in the play-offs.
“We know it’s going to be an extremely difficult challenge.”
United had spent just 72 hours of the season in the top six before the final day, when they leapfrogged Portsmouth to claim the last spot.
The U’s are competing in their second successive play-off campaign, having beaten Pompey over two legs in 2019/20 before losing to Wycombe Wanderers.
It was the first time Robinson had reached a final at the third attempt, having twice missed out with MK Dons.
Of the 20-man squad for the final against Wycombe, 16 are still at the club and the U’s boss believes this could help them.
He said: “We got there at the last minute and we’re calm about the whole situation.
“I’ve lost and won in these situations.
“When you experience losing in these moments you’ve come through the worst case scenario.
“It takes the pressure off.”
