Sunderland had to settle for a point against Oxford on Saturday at the SOL after throwing away an early lead. The lads drew 1 – 1 with Karl Robinson's side after Leon Dajaku opened the scoring with a well taken goal before Oxford equalised through Matty Taylor. Lee Johnson’s side piled on the pressure in the second half in search of a winner what would have seen his side draw level on points with the league leaders but it wasn’t to be.
Before the game Lee Johnson revealed that there were a couple of new additions to an already lengthy injury list but he wouldn’t say who ahead of the visit of Oxford. The visitors headed to Wearside just outside the playoffs spots with their manager Karl Robinson moaning that Oxford hadn’t had an apology after tempers flared in the clash at the SOL last season.
Robinson claimed that his goalkeeper was head butted at half time in Sunderland's 3 -1 win on Good Friday before he himself was sent off in the feisty encounter. Robinson then said bizarrely said he was going to phone the police about the shenanigans so with the addition of fans in the stadium this season it promised to be another spicy affair.
Despite the new injuries the gaffer named an unchanged side from the win at Cambridge.
We had an early chance when Lynden Gooch found space on the right but the keeper just managed to grab his cross ahead of Ross Stewart. After five minutes the ref awarded Sunderland a free kick on the edge of their own box after Cameron Brannagan dove on the edge of the box and was booked for simulation.
Sunderland took the lead after seven minutes through Leon Dajuka who burst into the box down the left hand side. He rode a challenge before firing the lads ahead with a low left footed shot past the keeper with a fine finish.
A few minutes later there was a skirmish in front of the dugouts involving Bailey Wright and the Oxford forward and the ref booked both players after consulting the fourth official. The visitors had a chance after 18 minutes from a corner which Moore rose highest to but his header was blocked.
Ten minutes before the break Oxford equalised through Matty Taylor who hit a left footed shot across Hoffman into the bottom right hand corner. Lynden Gooch appeared to be fouled on the left hand side of the box by Nathan Holland but the ref allowed play to continue and for Holland to slide the ball into Taylor.
This incensed Sunderland who were further aggrieved a minute later when the officials also waved away a penalty shout when Gooch's cross appeared to be handled in the box and the first half ended level.
Neither side made a change at the break and we had a chance five minutes into the restart but Broadhead’s left footed shot was blocked. We went close a couple of minutes later when Ross Stewart hit the bar after being found by Dajaku. The loose ball eventually fell to Carl Winchester but he curled a shot just wide of the post.
Sunderland were putting pressure on Oxford and had a host of chances but couldn’t quite find the finish. First Stewart went close again but his header was saved by the keeper before the striker went close again firing wide after being found by Broadhead. Lee Johnson made his first change of the afternoon with 65 minutes played with Elliot Embleton replacing Leon Dajuka.
We had a few more efforts with Pritchard seeing a shot blocked before Gooch fired a free kick over from the left hand side of the box. At the other end Oxford had a rare venture forward and went close when Daniel Agyei found space in the box but Hoffman saved his left footed effort.
With ten minutes remaining Sunderland almost retook the lead but for the second time of the afternoon they were denied by the woodwork. Alex Pritchard crossed from the left for Broadhead and he crashed a shot past the keeper and off the outside of the right hand post. Five minutes before full time we forced a corner after a good run by Embleton but the corner was cleared.
Lee Johnson made his second change of the afternoon for the final stages of the game with Aiden O’Brien replacing Alex Pritchard. However Sunderland couldn’t muster the elusive goal to take the three points having to settle for a share of the spoils.
Final Score: Sunderland 1 Oxford United 1
ALS Man of the Match: Alex Pritchard
