Sunderland travel to Oxford in the Championship. Last time out Sunderland lost to Blackburn and Oxford drew with Cardiff. Sunderland lost their third game in a row against a resurgent Blackburn side. The Black Cats started with Watson, Samed, Anderson, Aleksic and Jones as they rested players again. Hume will be available after his suspension and is expected to start. Seelt and Cirkin could be on the bench. However, Mayenda is undergoing concussion protocol until next week. Poveda, Mundle and Alese could return in time for the play-offs. Huggins is back in training but unlikely to feature after his long lay off. Oxford picked up a valuable point at Cardiff with a 1-1 draw. Yousef Salech gave Cardiff a precious second-half lead as he held off two Oxford defenders and headed in superbly from Chris Willock's cross to prompt fervent celebrations among the home crowd. But that jubilation turned to stunned silence when an Oxford free-kick was laid off to Brannagan and, from 35 yards out, the midfielder launched a missile of a strike which whistled into the top corner. For Oxford, whose only shot on target was Brannagan's goal, this draw takes them another step closer to safety, three points clear of the bottom three. Regis le Bris: "The energy was largely positive, the way we played. Disappointing result, positive performance. "The opponent had a specific plan; only two shots and one goal. They were efficient and it wasn't the case for us. "It is now a question of mindset, energy, ambition and desire. "Even with seven changes, the team was fluid. But it is more in the head than tactics. "We weren't smooth in the final third. This part of the pitch is the most difficult to get right." Presser Thursday at 2pm Gary Rowett: "You'd think Oxford fans would have a few more mathematicians among them [singing "we are staying up"]! It certainly doesn't feel we're anywhere near safe. We felt one more big result would be enough but, of course, when everyone else around you wins it means another game. "We knew that with a change in management the atmosphere would be different in the ground and we struggled to match their energy in the first half. The goal kicked us on. "One wonder strike, one moment of brilliance from a player who has done that so many times for this club could have got us an incredibly important point in the grand scheme of things. We needed a moment like that because our performance wasn't good." Form: Match Appointments Referee: TIM ROBINSON Assistant referees: Adrian Holmes & Steven Meredith Fourth official: Jeremy Simpson Team Lineups: Sunderland AFC: (4-2-3-1) Patterson, Hume, O’Nien, Mepham, Browne, Neil, Jobe, Rigg, Roberts, Isidor, Le Fee Subs: Moore, Cirkin, Hjelde, Seelt, Aleksic, Samed, Jones, Watson, Neill. Injured: Danns, Abdullahi, Poveda, Ballard, Huggins, Alese, Mundle, Mayenda. Oxford United: (4-4-2) Cumming, Bennett, Helik, Kioso, Goodrham, Brannagan, Vaulks, Placheta, Bradshaw, Matos. Subs: El Mizouni, Harris, Ingram, Leigh, Mills, Moore, Phillips, Romaniij, Rodrigues. Injured: None Betting Odds: Sunderland 10/4 Oxford 11/4 Draw 17/5 My two pence: A better performance against Blackburn despite another defeat. Hopefully we put in a good performance at Oxford. I am expecting a stronger line up for the last two games, but given our injury record I’d be quite happy to rest a few key players. Oxford had one chance and scored against Cardiff, but so did Blackburn against us, at this stage I’d take a bore draw with no more injuries. I’m going for a 1-1 draw. Live Stream: https://www.safc.com/live Ha’way the Lads
My first away match (excluding Wembley) in about 25 years! Hoping for our best starting lineup and attacking football. Let's give our Playoff opponents something to worry about.
@RTB, just 4 more to do mate, then a well earned break. You've done us proud all season, and your efforts are really appreciated.
Nice one mate, hope you see a cracking day, you'll be in good company. Oxford need the points but we need a boost so it should be a good game of football.
That's a very strong starting 11, I'd be happy to see that at 2pm Saturday. Here we go on the build up to the semi finals. I think we will have too much for them 1-2 Isidor and Jobe
Oxford are quite erratic aren't they. I don't want them to go down but we really need a good win or a very good performance.
Listened to what the falk earlier sounds like they’re down to the bare bones, think we’ll go stronger, similar to the Bristol City line up, if we’re on it we will win, think they’ll come out flying at us, I’m going for 1-1 Roberts to score
Nearly there RTB mate, nearly there... I have been wondering if you are a Durham Cricket fan. May be some way to spend your summer downtime? Dont want you losing your touch Personally now looking for a performance more than result. Next two games are about regaining our measly back 4 (cut out individual mistakes will sort that) and regain a bit of movement in and around the box. Box to box we arent far off, it is the two ends of the pitch we have lost our mojo a bit. The good thing for us is we know we have lads who in the first 2/3 of the season were up there with the top 2. We matched them. The other good thing is we maybe have a wildcard like nobody else in Le Fee. (I still maintain he is yet to really have a significant impact but the talent hits yiu between the eyes). If we land lucky with Cirkin, Mundle and Ballard then we could look quite the squad going into the playoffs. Then it is about finding an intensity to match our talent in thosd high jeopardy games. For this game I like your team RTB. I would play Le Fee in the middle and Watson left personally. I just think if Le Fee is to the difference it has to come from the middle of the pitch. And I think Watson showed something that might also make a difference come the play offs. Just need supporters to put grudges to one side for a month re him. Another short trip for me so am making the trip. No drinking though, there and back in the motor. Hopefully driving back with confidence building. Haway the lads.
