OXFORD United could not maintain their midweek intensity as they were beaten by a watertight Blackpool side.

The U’s took the handbrake off to devastating effect against Doncaster Rovers on Tuesday, but a visiting team with the second-best defensive record in Sky Bet League One proved too tough to break down.

Blackpool did the damage from a pair of first-half corners, as Kenny Dougall’s close-range finish and Dan Ballard’s header gave United a mountain to climb.

And a team now nine games unbeaten never looked like they would lose their advantage, with Mark Sykes firing United’s best chance wide just after the hour mark.

The U’s are still only three points shy of the play-offs, but they fall three places to 11th in the table – and behind their opponents on goal difference.

United’s line-up showed just one change to the side that cruised past Doncaster, with Mark Sykes in for Mide Shodipo on the right wing.

Anthony Forde was back on the bench after missing the midweek win to attend a family funeral, while Sam Winnall was among the substitutes after recovering from an ankle injury.

Blackpool’s defensive record meant a cagey opening was no surprise and the first spell of pressure took 15 minutes to arrive.

Ballard saw his header from a corner cleared off the line by Mark Sykes, but just 60 seconds later the visitors were ahead.

Former U’s left back Luke Garbutt swung in another corner which the hosts failed to clear and Dougall was in the right place to touch over Jack Stevens from six yards.

Brandon Barker carried United’s main threat for much of the first half with a couple of dangerous bursts forward, before Sykes fizzed an effort wide of the far post 27 minutes in.

Blackpool managed to keep the U’s at arm’s length, though, and Sulley Kaikai almost curled home their second from 20 yards after Alex Gorrin’s loose pass handed possession to the visitors.

United could not find the rhythm they had against Doncaster and went two goals down three minutes before the break.

The impressive Kaikai curled another corner underneath the crossbar and Ballard jumped highest to crash his header home from inside the six-yard box.

The U’s needed a big improvement in the second half and Karl Robinson brought on Forde and Shodipo for the disappointing Liam Kelly and Gorrin.

It saw Cameron Brannagan drop into the deeper midfield role behind Sykes and Forde, while Shodipo went to the right wing.

Blackpool remained dangerous on the flanks and Kaikai fired a cross into the goalmouth moments after the restart, with Rob Atkinson forced to sit on the ball until Stevens could gather.

The game began to open up and Ballard did well to block Shodipo’s shot following a positive run from Barker, before Stevens thwarted Kaikai on the hour after the winger was played in by Jerry Yates.

That was a good chance, but United really should have been level four minutes later.

The U’s moved the ball quickly from right to left and Josh Ruffels swung in a cross that fell to Sykes six yards out, but the midfielder could only fire wide on the turn.

Robinson brought on Dan Agyei and Winnall for Taylor and Sykes with 19 minutes remaining, seconds before Stevens touched Elliot Embleton’s fierce effort onto the bar.

Both substitutes forced Maxwell to turn efforts behind as United threw everyone forward, but Blackpool reclaimed their grip on the game and looked more likely to score in the closing stages.

Jordan Gabriel shot wildly over after intercepting inside the U’s box in the penultimate minute of normal time as the visitors closed the game out.

Oxford United (4-3-3): Stevens, Hanson, Moore, Atkinson, Ruffels, Kelly (Shodipo 46), Gorrin (Forde 46), Brannagan, Sykes (Agyei 71), Taylor (Winnall 71), Barker.

Unused subs: Eastwood, Grayson, Hall.

Booked: Brannagan.

Blackpool (4-2-3-1): Maxwell, Turton, Ballard, Thorniley, Garbutt, Virtue (Gabriel 70), Dougall, Ward, Embleton (Robson 81), Kaikai (Mitchell 90+2), Yates (Simms 90+2).

Unused subs: Antwi, Moore, Holmes.

Booked: Garbutt, Yates.

Referee: Peter Wright (Merseyside).