Oxford United manager Karl Robinson has given his thoughts ahead of the U’s trip to Sunderland on Good Friday.
Sunderland are the division’s in-form side and the U’s boss is fully aware of how difficult the game could be at the Stadium of Light.
Speaking to the club’s official website, Robinson said: “It would be great to go up there and play in front of a full house and it’s going to be strange to go there with an empty ground. You will get a full reflection of just how big the stadium is with nobody in it. It will be a good challenge.
“I think the players are ready to compete with a good side like Sunderland. I went and watched their game on Saturday and they were good in all areas. They did the basics really well, know what they are good at and keep doing what has gained success for them. That might sound simplistic but it’s not. They are really hard-working as a team and don’t concede many goals despite a lot of injuries in the backline.
”So we have to switch on: they work set-plays very well and Lee (Johnson) is very detailed in his approach. It’s going to be difficult but we believe we can cope with that if we are at our best. If not we will fall short. You don’t go to the Stadium of Light and come away with anything if you play badly. Sometimes you can nick a point at some places, but you have to play very well to get anything at Sunderland.
“It’s the last long journey and we can see the end now. Usually, after Easter, there are about three games left but not this year.
“Sunderland, Hull and Peterborough have been the best teams in the league so far and you know you have been in a game when you come off the pitch against them. We have trained well this week. The players got a bit of a break after the Lincoln game but I think they needed that. But we are ready now for the last nine games of the season, starting Friday.”
