Match Preview: Oxford United v Sunderland

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Oxford United v Sunderland - Sky Bet League One

Kassam Stadium

Kick-Off: 3pm - Saturday 19th September, 2020

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Match Coverage

TV/Stream: Full live match coverage available via www.safc.com

Radio: Full live match commentary available via BBC Newcastle (not online)

Don’t forget to follow the blow-by-blow account of the game on the Roker Report Twitter feed (@RokerReport) and check out the player ratings after the full-time whistle at www.RokerReport.com!

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After a disappointing draw on the opening day of the season against Bristol Rovers, Phil Parkinson finds himself still looking for a first win of the season with a tough trip to Oxford United.

Sunderland’s first away game of the League One campaign is the first of three successive games against opponents who all have expectations of top six finishes this season.

Oxford also come into the game under pressure to gain all three points, especially after last season’s defeated play-off semi-finalists were beaten 2-0 away at Lincoln City on the opening day. Although a good performance against Watford in the League Cup, where they were unlucky to lose on penalties in midweek, will give them confidence.

It all adds up to what will likely be a tense afternoon between two sides desperate for all three points.

Photo by Ian Horrocks/Getty Images

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Sunderland Team News

There is a lot of second guessing when it comes to Sunderland’s line-up this week. Who will replace George Dobson? Will he stick with the same forward line? Will the young lads get a place on the bench? And, will Xhemajli come in for his League One debut?

Knowing Parkinson as we do, I expect Josh Scowen coming in for George Dobson to be our only change from last week’s draw at the Stadium of Light.

Possible XI: Lee Burge, Tom Flanagan, Bailey Wright, Jordan Willis, Luke O’Nien, Josh Scowen, Max Power (c), Denver Hume, Chris Maguire, Aiden O’Brien, Will Grigg

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Oxford United Team News

As the line-up for the midweek League Cup game against Watford proved, Oxford United have a big squad this season and their current injury list will mean it will come in handy.

Injuries to ex-Sunderland player Alex Gorrin, Josh Ruffels, Sam Winnall, Mark Sykes and John Mousinho gives manager Karl Robinson a few headaches leading up to this weekend’s clash.

Possible XI: Eastwood, Long, Moore, Atkinson,Clare,Brannagan, Kelly, McGuane, Agyei, Taylor, Henry

Photo by Ian Horrocks/Sunderland AFC via Getty Images

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Last Time We Met...

Saturday 15th February, 2020: Sky Bet League One

Oxford United 0 - 1 Sunderland (Jordan Willis)

Sunderland: J. McLaughlin, Willis, Ozturk, Flanagan, O’Nien, Dobson, Power, Hume, Maguire (Watmore), Gooch (Semenyo), Wyke (Lafferty) Substitutes not used: Burge, C. McLaughlin, Smith, Scowen

Oxford United: Eastwood, Forde, Ruffels, Dickie, Mousinho, Moore, Henry (Mackie), Brannagan, Taylor, Agyei (Browne), Sykes (Holland) Substitutes not used: Stevens, Long, Thorne, Hanson

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Match Betting

The bookmakers have the home as slight favourites at 6/4 with Sunderland at 9/5 to claim an away win. If you fancy a stalemate this weekend then a draw is 9/5.

Danny Graham is perhaps surprisingly favourite to get the opening goal at 9/2, closely followed by the man of the hour last week, Chris Maguire who is 5/1 to get the opener. For the home side, Matty Taylor is 4/1 to score the first goal.

Photo by Ian Horrocks/Getty Images

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Prediction

Considering the pressure on both sides to get their first win of the season, I fully expect both sides to be so worried about losing that neither side will be fulfilled with a score draw.

Oxford United 1 - 1 Sunderland