The U's Matchzone

Preview: League One – Oxford United vs Sunderland

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Oxford United will be looking for just their second win of 2020 this weekend but face a difficult challenge with Sunderland the opposition.

The U’s only win of the new year came in their last home game against Blackpool, but have picked up points against Burton, Gillingham and Ipswich respectively.

But this weekends opposition have had a resurgence of form during the U’s downfall, recording seven wins from their last ten league games.

Karl Robinson is still without Marcus Browne, who picked up a knock during the U’s heavy defeat at Peterborough last weekend but is boosted that Matty Taylor has ended his league goal drought which had stretched back to a win at Southend in November.

New signing Liam Kelly picked up an injury during the first half of the U’s draw at Burton while his replacement, Alex Rodriguez Gorrin, picked up his tenth yellow card of the season, so he is suspended.

Former Oxford man Chris Maguire is the Black Cats top scorer with eleven goals, and he has also provided seven assists, while Lynden Gooch – who scored on the opening day against the U’s during their 1-1 draw – has taken his tally to double figures after his brace against Rochdale on Tuesday night.

The last four meetings between the two sides, which include three League One games and a Carabao Cup tie, have all ended in a 1-1 draw, with the U’s winning on penalties in their cup meeting.

Predicted line-up: Simon Eastwood, Josh Ruffels, John Mousinho, Rob Dickie, Sam Long, Cameron Brannagan, Mark Sykes, James Henry, Nathan HollandDan Agyei, Matty Taylor.

Prediction: Oxford United 1-1 Sunderland

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