Sunderland welcome Oxford United to the Stadium of Light in the Championship. Last time out Sunderland beat Luton and Oxford drew with Derby. Sunderland made one change with Browne replacing Roberts in the starting 11 as the Black Cats fought hard for a 2-1 win at Luton with goals from Rigg and Mundle. Ballard & Mayenda could be back in contention for this game However, Huggins, Seelt, Samed, Poveda & Abdullahi remain injured. Oxford continued their good start to the season with a draw against fellow promoted side Derby County. Tottenham loanee, Dane Scarlett scored with a low shot into the corner of the goal after ten minutes and Méndez-Laing equalised for Derby in the second half. The U’s manager Des Buckingham was taken ill during the game and was ordered home straight after the final whistle but is expected to take training as per usual today (Thursday) Play maker Cameron Brannagan is out with an knee injury but striker Mark Harris could return to the starting 11. Regis le Bris: "We played an opponent that played very well with direct play and counter-pressing after the first contact. "It's very difficult against this kind of team to play under pressure and to escape the press. But in that kind of scenario, we know they are on the edge so if they make a mistake, we would have a huge space. "We had two opportunities early in the game, we didn't score, but we felt it was possible. We changed two or three details to adjust our pressing, and when we had the opportunities to score, we did it." "I don't care about the table at the moment, the season is so long. I'm just focused on the improvement of the team." Press conference: Des Buckingham: (Craig Short) Des started to feel unwell with about half an hour to go, the club doctor’s been checking him over and he’s still not right so we got him to leave the stadium and get himself home as quickly as possible. "I thought we played some excellent football. In the first half today we looked very controlled, but the last half hour became a bit of a fight game and a bit more chaotic. "There were some good performances and the positive side is we go into November with an unbeaten home record, we want to start picking up wins though going forward and that is definitely the goal." Form: Match Appointments Referee: OLIVER LANGFORD Assistant Referees: Mark Stephens & Mark Dwyer Fourth Official: Thomas Parsons Team Lineups: Sunderland AFC: (4-3-3) Patterson, Cirkin, Mepham, O’Nien, Hume, Rigg, Neil, Jobe, Mundle, Isidor, Roberts Subs: Moore, Hjelde, Johnson, Browne, Aleksic, Aouchiche, Connolly, Rusyn, Watson. Injured: Huggins, Seelt, Alese, Samed, Abdullahi. Oxford (4-1-4-1) Cumming, Brown, Nelson, Moore, Kioso, Vaulks, Dembele, Mizouni, Rodrigues, Goodrham, Scarlett. Subs: Dale, Harris, Ingram, Leigh, Long, McEachran, Ebiowei, Sibley, H.ter Avest Injured: Placheta, Brannigan, Phillips, Bennett. Betting Odds: Sunderland 11/20 Oxford 9/2 Draw 3/1 Prutton Predicts: meh My two pence: A great win at Luton moved us 3 points clear at the top. Having watched Oxford a few times this season, they play a decent game, they like to keep possession, playout from the back and have some skillful players. However we’re very confident after 2 away wins, we are at home and want to stay top of the league. The last time Oxford visited Sunderland in a second tier league match was in September 1998, losing 7-0 with three different Black Cats player scoring a brace in the game (Bridges, Dichio, Rae). I’m going for a 2-0 home win Live Stream: https://www.safc.com/live (Overseas fans only) Ha’way the Lads
Another great thread RTB, I'm hoping that last night hasn't took that much out of us. If Oxford play a more possession based game, I think we can go back to a more forceful pressing game and get after them. I don't like doing this cos I don't want to jinx it but I'm going for a 2-0 home win
Might see some rotation here maybe not from the start but some earlier subs, can imagine there’s some sore bodies today, looking forward to it, hard team to beat Oxford but it’s just another test for our lads to hopefully pass
Cheers RTB. Wonder who is more tired, you or the players! I am heading up for this one. Got some family stuff around the game too. Looking forward a great atmosphere after a couple of major efforts on the road. Interested to see how Oxford play. They seem to be doing ok for a promoted team. I am really interested to watch their coach as well. I like his route to getting here. Being picked up by the City group is not a bad line on the CV. He seems to have set records in some far flung places, before landing back at his home town club. As for the match. I just think it is another match for the squad to look forward to. They will be chomping at the bit to get back on the pitch together. They look like a squad that will go to the ends of the earth for each other right now and there isnt a passenger among them. No doubt Oxford will bring challenges, but in Regis and our players I think we have the skills to overcome. Certainly they keep proving to us they do.
I reckon he will being Roberts back in for this one and I also think we finally see Aleksic get some minutes. Solid 2-0
They get a days extra rest on us, could that be an issue? They like a draw but if we're on it then it's a home win for me. Be nice to be comfortable for the last quarter but we'll have to see. There's no easy games in this league. HTL Top thread again RTB.
Lovely thread as usual RTB. Gutted I’m missing this one as I’m back on call this weekend but will be watching. Shame because the atmosphere should be bouncing after last night. Going for 3-1 home win. Isidor, Mundle and Connolly off the bench
I remember that 7-0 game for all the wrong reasons. I had backed us 6-0 I think I was the only Sunderland fan not celebrating the 7th.
Hopefully last night game has zapped our energy levels too much. It's a potential banana skin fixture but we should be looking to win it.
Surprisingly for me I remember that game quite well. I had travelled up for the game with 2 oxford fans and 1 lads fan. Both Phillips and Quinn were out but we were on quite a good run. I was actually quite a fan of Dichio so was looking forward to watching him. He had a cracking game as well. The Oxford side werent too bad at the time. Remember Joey Beuchamp - talented lad but never wanted to leave Oxford. Windass up front I think. Also, a certain Martin Gray was playing for them anr he got a canny reception. On Michael Bridges always felt he left us too soon. Or we cashed in too soon. He was a superb young talent, a bit of an oddity from our academy at the time. I know he ended up with injuries, but I would have loved to have seen him stick around for a bit.
Ive probably posted before but I was in corporate that day being fed and watered by a mag. Lovely summers day, I think Gray scored early on and goals just went in at regular intervals. To be fair to him when the 5th went in even he stood up and cheered and said this is fkn tremendous. Superb day.
Once again no silly predictions just win please. Even a nervy 1-0 will suffice. Hoping its a nice relaxed 20 mins at the end tho where RLB can make some subs and give lads game time. The lads will so confident but their will be a few aches and pains amongst them today. Still there is lads on the bench who I have every confidence in if they need to step up.
We all go when we can, doesn't make you a bad supporter. I work 2 weekends out of 4, if I didn't do that I would have a season ticket
