BLACKPOOL arrive at the Kassam Stadium boasting an impressive defensive record, with only Sunderland conceding less in Sky Bet League One.

The Seasiders have kept 14 clean sheets from their 32 league games, and like Oxford United, the Lancashire outfit will be eyeing up a play-off position at the end of the season.

With up to four games in hand on some of the sides around them, Neil Critchley’s defence could be crucial in getting results.

However, U’s head coach Karl Robinson has warned the visitors also pose a threat further forward.

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“They’ve got one of the best defensive records in the league with a very sound base,” he said.

“In midfield, the pairings in there are very difficult to play against and if CJ Hamilton is fit, he causes you a different problem that nobody in the league can cause you.

“Sullay Kaikai is someone I know very well, and Jerry Yates is a player we looked at in the window – we know how hard he works.

“We’re going to have our work cut out again at the weekend.”

Robinson also praised his counterpart Critchley, who took the reins at Blackpool last March following a spell as the Liverpool Under 23s coach.

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During his time with Liverpool, he took charge of the Reds for games against Aston Villa in the Carabao Cup and Shrewsbury Town in the Emirates FA Cup.

Blackpool however represents the first time he has managed a senior side.

Despite this, Robinson has been impressed by Critchley’s variation in the way he sets his team out to play.

“He’s a good coach and he’s shown that by what he’s changed – a good coach isn’t just playing the same way all the time,” said Robinson.

“Coaching a team with your philosophy, but also having an unpredictability to your set-up and coping with the opposition’s strengths is a better way of winning.

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“There’s an idealistic way we all want to play but League One doesn’t constitute to do that week in, week out.

“You’ve got to have the belief and I know the type of person he is, he will never change that.

“It shows you how much of a good coach he is, that he’s had an ability to change in-season and find a winning formula, and that’s testament to him and his coaching staff.”

Looking at his own squad, Robinson said resting players and bringing others into the team has had an impact on results.

“The rotation of the players is paying even more dividends, and has given us that energy we needed,” he said.