Match Day Thread Oxford United v Sunderland - Saturday 15th February - KO 15:00

Oxford United v Sunderland – Skybet League One

Last time out Sunderland beat Rochdale and Oxford drew with Burton.
Sunderland’s win moves them into fifth place and, more importantly, keeps them on pace with the top two. Peterborough and Coventry both picked up vital wins, but Portsmouth, Wycombe and Ipswich dropped points.
With a huge game at the weekend against Oxford, the Lads have put themselves in a prime position heading into the match. Chris Maguire is recovering from a dead leg but should be available for selection.
Oxford have a good record against Sunderland with the previous league one games all ending in draws. Jamie Mackie missed the midweek game but could be back on Saturday.
Phil Parkinson:
“Chris and Lynden are doing what they are paid for at the minute. They have been brilliant recently and scored a lot of goals. Charlie put in another selfless performance against Rochdale.”
“Chris Maguire came off with a dead leg last night. There was no need to risk him. He feels a lot better this morning, but we will assess him in the next couple of days.”
“I am very pleased with the two wins. We approached both games really well and last night we looked a real threat going forward in the first half. The wins have given us a confidence boost going into the weekend.”
“Oxford are a good team. We have already been down there in the cup. They have a few injuries and suspensions, but we have got to look at them closely and see if we can exploit certain areas of their game.”
“Joel Lynch’s concussion and leg are fine, but he is still getting some pain from his ribs. Hopefully he will be back on the training pitch next week.”
Karl Robinson:
“We’ve been dealt a few cheeky digs to the ribs, to use boxing terminology. We’re getting a few jabs at the moment.”
“There are so many things I’m proud about, there are things I’m frustrated (at), but it’s nothing to do with the fans or the players.”
“My players are very good people and I back them. They know how stern the words were at half-time.”
“A few things got said and I thought we played angry in the second half. That’s something we’ve got to find at the beginning of games.”

Prutton predicts: meh
Match Appointments:
Referee: KEVIN JOHNSON
Assistant Referees: Carl Fitch-Jackson and Wade Smith
Fourth Official: Savvas Yianni

Team Line ups
Sunderland: McLaughlin, O’Nien, Flanagan, Wright, Willis, Hume, Power, Dobson, Gooch, Maguire, Wyke.

Subs: Burge, McLaughlin, Scowen, Ozturk, Watmore, Semenyo, Lafferty.
Injured: Embleton, Lynch

Oxford United Eastwood, Long, Dickie, Mousinho, Ruffels, Sykes, Thorne, Brannagan, Henry, Mackie, Holland
Subs: Moore, Stevens, Forde, Taylor, Napa, Agyei
Injured: Hanson, Kelly
Suspended: Gorrin

Betting Odds:
Home 8/5 Away 17/10 Draw 2/1

My two pence:
With 2 home wins in a row and 6 clean sheets out of 7 games we are shaping up for a good run in and have another 2 home games in a row after this one. Looking at the previous results against Oxford it all points to a 1-1 draw but I think we will win this one.
My guess is a 1-0 away win

Ha’way the Lads

 

Great thread as always RTB, cheers mate

Think this match has got 1-1 written all over it!

 

Great thread as per usual good sir.

Bugger the doubters. 3-0 to the lads. Gooch, O'Nein and Wright

 

I think we are on a roll and expect 3 points. 1-4 to the cuddlies. Wyke, Gucchi, Power & Lafferty.

 

Another game to be won, and I am going for a hard fought 2-0 away win. OaU;

 

Were blessed on here mate, some of the match threads elsewhere are really poor.

 

As always good OP, thanks

All I want us to do is win, please

Draw best bet?

 

My thoughts as well, 1-0 away win

Ha’way the Lads

 

That's the spirit

Ha’way the Lads

 

This is the day when we get the rub of the green for once . Oxford most possession but we smash and grab two lucky/ controversial goals for a 2-0 win

 

Im going for a 1-2 win for us, if the game goes ahead. Id hate for this one to be called off due to what is seemingly going to be an horrendous weekend.

 

It must be fun taking corners on windy days by that open space. Do they have ball boys waiting in the trees?

Fancy another win for us nobody can stop our squad of elite peak level athletes. Well, nobody apart from Portsmouth.

 

Although quietly optimistic I'm still refraining from posting a prediction as anything to do with us and i get very superstitious.

That said i think Parky is doing a great job and we seem to be improving all the time.
Long may it continue.

HA'WAY THE LADS.

 

https://rokerreport.sbnation.com/20...the-inside-track-ahead-of-oxford-v-sunderland

 

They used to be below average on here - when I was doing them!! Then RTB took it upon himself to earn almost legendary status with his. (you're not quite there yet @RTB but close!!)

What's Karl Robinson on about in his pre match amble? btw? Been a busy week so not had much chance to see much!!

 

First thought was 1-3 but then I remembered Dennis and changed to 0-2

 

Nothing out of the ordinary tbh, not really blaming losing their best players in the window for their poor for. I think he's a manager who'll eventually manage at a decent level. They have injuries and suspensions kicking in which, as I said the other day, will start to hurt those with limited squads.

 

That's not true - they were pretty good before I started @Brian Storm , @Teesdarlomakem , @C19RK73 and @marcusblackcat all did a great job
@Gordon Armstrong matchday threads were always a bit dodgy though

The quotes from Karl Robinson were after the Burton game.

 

Would have loved to have gone to this one but stuck at work. I hope to be celebrating when I go out to watch a band tomorrow night.

 

Looks like a 1-1 draw then ! i go 1-2 who have they lost in Jan and how good is Gorrin ?