Oxford United welcome Sunderland to the Kassam Stadium this weekend with both sides in differing forms since the turn of the new year.
Oxford have picked up just six points from a possible 21 – which has seen them drop from the top two down to 10th and five points off the playoffs – while the Black Cats have won seven from their last ten, losing just once.
Since Sunderland’s relegation to League One, the sides have met four times with each match finishing 1-1. The two sides met on the opening day of the new season where Tariqe Fosu opened the scoring on his debut before a controversial penalty was tucked away by Lynden Gooch for the hosts.
The two sides also met in the Carabao Cup this season. Rob Hall opened the scoring for the U’s but they were pegged back before progressing to the next round with victory in the penalty shootout.
So how will this weekend turn out? During the week, we spoke to lifelong Black Cats fans and writer for Last Word on Football, Barry Dixon, and he has kindly answered some of our questions ahead of Saturday’s encounter.
When did you start supporting the Black Cats?
I’ve been a Sunderland supporter all my life. I went to my first game at Roker Park in 1987 against Barnsley and even though we let a two-goal lead slip and got beat, I was hooked.
As we headed into the new 2019/2020 season, where did you expect to finish the campaign?
We came so close to going up last season, both automatically and via the play-offs, that the hope was we would kick on and make sure of automatic promotion.
Oxford and Sunderland drew 1-1 on the opening day of the season, do you think it was a fair result?
It was probably a fair result, a classic game of two halves. You were the better in the first and we edged it in the second. It was probably little surprise that we drew seeing as we were the League’s draw specialists the previous season.
We also met in the Carabao Cup – which also finished 1-1 – with the U’s progressing on penalties, thoughts on that game?
When Sunderland are in a penalty shootout, there’s usually only one way it’s going to end; defeat. 1-1 after 90 minutes was a fair result. Oxford took the lead and had chances to extend that lead. We hit the woodwork a couple of times and pressure paid off when we got the equaliser. Unbeknownst to us, we were at the start of a run which would see just one win in 12 games.
Change of manager. Was it the right timing and did you think Phil Parkinson was the right choice?
Sacking Jack Ross was the right call. We were picking up points but something just wasn’t right. Performances were in decline and he was looking a little lost on the touchline. He never seemed to get over the last-minute defeat in the playoff final and the pressure of taking us up was telling on him.
Parkinson appeared to be a good choice. Plenty of experience and had got Bolton promoted from League One. However, his first two months in charge were a disaster and many fans quite rightly were believing that a huge mistake had been made in appointing him.
At Christmas, it’s probably fair to say that you weren’t sitting in a league position many fans would have expected but you’ve had a decent run since. Could you see it coming?
The Boxing Day draw at home to Bolton saw us drop to our lowest ever league position. The almost 34,000 in attendance were understandably not happy. We thought we would be pushing for promotion; however, at this stage, a relegation fight looked more likely.
Credit to Parkinson, his staff and the players as since then, performances and, more importantly results, have picked up almost beyond belief. We look solid in defence and a constant threat in attack.
Who is your favourite current Sunderland player?
Favourite current player has to be a player well known to Oxford fans. Chris “The King” Maguire.
Favourite memory of supporting Sunderland?
There’s been many in this long and often heated love affair. Beating Newcastle any time is great and I’ll never forget my first time going to Roker Park, but taking my daughter to her first game was pretty special.
Worst memory of Supporting Sunderland?
Where to start? Penalty shootouts, two relegations to League One, a 5-1 defeat at the hands of Newcastle. Hard to pick just one.
What are your thoughts on Oxford United?
Oxford appear to have the ability to beat anyone in this division; however, you also seem to be quite inconsistent. Some excellent wins and performances are matched by some frustrating defeats and draws. You had the whole of Sunderland cheering you on against Newcastle (FA Cup fourth round replay) the other week. From what I’ve seen, you definitely have a good chance of getting into the playoffs.
Are there any Oxford players that you would like to see at your club?
Before he left for Brentford in January I would probably have said Tariqe Fosu. Now, it would be our former youth and your current player of the month Alex Rodriguez Gorrin. He’s developed into a good solid midfielder with some exceptional interception stats.
Sunderland players to keep an eye on this weekend?
Chris Maguire is in excellent form and appears to be loving his football. Lynden Gooch is also in superb form. Both players with their skill and goalscoring ability could cause you a lot of problems.
Prediction for Saturday’s game?
Oxford 1-2 Sunderland
Away from Oxford and Sunderland, who do you think will get promoted from League One?
Sunderland and Peterborough automatic. Coventry or Portsmouth in the playoffs. Sorry, Oxford.
Who do you think will get relegated from League One?
I think the current bottom three will go down (Bolton, Southend and Tranmere.)
