The U's Matchzone

Preview: Carabao Cup – Oxford United vs Sunderland

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Oxford United welcome Sunderland on Tuesday night as the two sides from League One go head to head in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup.

The U’s are currently on a ten-game unbeaten run in all competitions, which includes the 4-0 victory over West Ham United in the previous round.

Since the appointment of Phil Parkinson as the new Sunderland manager, the Black Cats have lost both of their away games 1-0 at Wycombe and Shrewsbury respectively but hammered Tranmere Rovers 5-0 at the Stadium of Light.

The last three meetings between these sides have all come in League One and have all ended 1-1, including the draw on the road on the opening day of the season.

Tariqe Fosu netted the U’s goal in that game, and the winger has gone on to score eight goals this season after scoring Oxford’s second in a 3-0 win at home to Rochdale on Saturday.

Oxford have fresh injury concerns after both Cameron Brannagan and Chris Cadden were replaced during the Rochdale match, while Malachi Napa, Ben Woodburn and George Thorne remain sidelined.

Lee Burge picked up a thigh strain for Sunderland in their defeat at Shrewsbury, and you could expect Parkinson to rotate his side as looks for his best eleven.

Oxford will go into the game as favourites given their recent form and home advantage and will look to reach the fifth round for the first time since 1988.

Sunderland last advanced to the quarter-final when the then Premier League side lost to Manchester City in the 2014 final.

Predicted line-up: Simon Eastwood, Josh Ruffels, Rob Dickie, Elliott Moore, Chris Cadden, Alex Rodriguez Gorrin, Shandon Baptiste, Tariqe Fosu, James Henry, Mark Sykes, Matty Taylor.

Prediction: Oxford United 2-0 Sunderland

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