Match Day Thread Oxford United v Sunderland - Saturday 19th September - KO 15:00

Last time out Sunderland drew with Bristol Rovers and Oxford lost a penalty shoot-out against Watford in the Carabao cup.
Sunderland travel to the Kassam Stadium to face Oxford United in League One looking to repeat the 1-0 victory from last season.
George Dobson is suspended for three games after his straight red card in the opening game of the season. He could be replaced by Josh Scowen or Grant Leadbitter.
The Oxford squad has been depleted in the past week, losing Alex Gorrin and Josh Ruffels until October with ankle and shoulder problems respectively. John Mousinho’s knee issue, which forced him off against Watford on Tuesday, should be known later today (Thursday).
Phil Parkinson:
“Oxford will be frustrated with the defeat at Lincoln.”
“They are a team that did well last year, ended up in the play-offs but didn’t cross the finishing line and we know that they’ve got some decent players – but we went there last season and got a victory and if we can take a lot of the positive elements of our display from the weekend and add to that, we have a good chance.”
“The start of the season, the first four, five or six games are very important, and I want to make sure that we are right up there at the top of the table, and Saturday is very important – yeah!”
“Grant Leadbitter picked up a dead leg earlier in the week, but he should be okay.
“Josh Scowen has not been with us today, he’s had a family bereavement and is at a funeral, but everybody else has been fine, which is good.”
"Elliot is making progress and hopefully he’ll be in training next week, but he’s going to need a few under-23s games before he’s up for selection because he hasn’t played for a long time. He’s getting closer, but we just want to make sure that he’s right.”
Karl Robinson:
"Josh Ruffels, now we have the results of his scan back, will be out for a couple of weeks at least and Jamie Hanson will be out for a similar time still.
"Alex Gorrin is still struggling and Matty Taylor and Mark Sykes are both doubtful for Tuesday while Sam Winnall is still regaining his full fitness. We will take a look at who is available but I was always planning to make changes for this game anyway. We did the same in the first rounds last year and we need to make sure that we have players fresh for Saturday when we play Sunderland at home in the league.
“I am pleased with the mentality of the players today. They listened and they took on board what we were saying about Saturday and about Watford. That’s what we are all about: developing and improving as a team and they certainly did that today.”

Prutton predicts: meh
Match Appointments:
Referee: DARREN DRYSDALE
Assistant Referees: Robert Dabbs and Daniel Flynn
Fourth Official: Andrew Laver

Team Line ups
Sunderland: Burge, O’Nien, Willis, Wright, Xhemajli, Hume, Scowen, Power, Maguire, O’Brien, Grigg

Subs:Matthews, Feeney, Leadbitter, Diamond, Wyke, Graham, Gooch
Injured: McGeady
Suspended: Dobson


Oxford United:Stevens, Clare, Moore, Lofthouse, Long, Brannagan, Forde, Hall, Agyei, Osei, Cooper.
Subs: Eastwood, Jones, Lofthouse, Asonganyi, Napa, Kelly, McGuane.
Injured: Mousinho, Gorrin, Ruffels, Hanson, Winnall


Betting Odds:
Home 6/4 Away 13/8 Draw 23/10

My two pence:
I've just about recovered from the disappointment of last weeks opening game, and having watched the highlights we did have some good chances to win it despite the poor start and all the time wasting from Rovers.
Oxford have had a poor start so far, but this game should give us a good indication of how good (or bad) our squad is this season.
Looking at the form table I’m going for a 1-1 draw.

Live stream £10
https://www.safc.com/news/team-news/live-video

Ha’way the Lads

 

Great Match preview thread RTB, 0-2 for me, Gooch and Maguire.
Ha'Way The Lads
FTM

 

would really like to put down for a win but the way Parky has us playing we will be lucky for a draw, its like the worst part of last season all over again, The only bright side is SD can't afford not to go up and will dump him if he continues to pick negative players and team

 

glad to see your confident mate, i'm trying to find my old helmet from me kit bag before Saturday..

 

hope your well mate and all is good with you

 

It's more hope that expectation.

 

Thanks Roger, hope you're doing canny too.

 

I'll be getting the stream and hoping we win but I can't see it this week unfortunately. Last week has flattened my expectations a bit. Hope we do win obviously but I'd be happy with a point and a MUCH better performance. Scowen must come in for Dobson, questions will be asked if Leadbitter gets the nod.

 

As usual, great match thread RTB.

I've gone the same as you, a 1-1 draw.

 

still see there is only 1 for a win what happened to all the optimism pre season oh yes that's right Parky jinxed it for me

 

Cracking thread as normal mate. Hope it's Scowen and not Leadbitter to replace Dobson. 3 hard games coming up, Parkinson needs to prove he's got what it takes to get us in the mix early. Not optimistic for Saturday but on our day should be capable of beating anyone at this level.

 

...and me, from the first moment i saw team selection and dwindled further throughout the game at the distinct lack of a plan B, hoping this game gets it back but not holding much hope right now.

 

Great thread RTB. A confident 2-1 win methinks

 

HA'WAY THE LADS

MACKEMS ATTACKEM


I'm a bit flat after last weeks result but it's one game in and not a loss.
Building up hope again,
Hopefully not let down.

Cooooomon.

 

The optimist hat is still on!!

0-2 to the lads! It’ll not be pretty tho, so patience will be a virtue!!

Bart

 

...and me

 

Great Post (as per usual).. its quality is not unfortunately reflected in our team... a draw us the best result for us i fear... i cannot see that we have goals in the team!

 

1-3 (Griggx2, O'Brien)

 

1-1 as ****.

 

Got my voucher today finally and i can watch home games this season not away games but will pay £10 to watch the lads tomorrow, will watch on my p c cos my phone 'sticks' They have injuries, Eastwood their best player but we have to start well for a change that starting line up from RTB (exellent match day thread as well, thanks) is the team i would pick, still not sure about Flannagan, but would bring back Mcgeady and Benji.