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Sunderland manager Regis Le Bris praised his side’s resilience as they overcame Oxford United at the Kassam Stadium to advance to the fifth round of the FA Cup. A first-half penalty by Habib Diarra proved to be the decisive moment, securing the Black Cats’ progression despite Oxford creating several chances in the second half.
Le Bris, who once again fielded a strong FA Cup lineup, acknowledged the physical challenges posed by Oxford. “The result was the most important thing — getting through. We expected a tough game, as we experienced here last season with a 2-0 loss,” he said. “Oxford play very directly, contesting second balls and using their physicality. It was a key part of the match.”
While Sunderland initially struggled to cope with Oxford’s long throws, Le Bris felt his team improved after halftime. “The second half was much better. Scoring early helped us manage the game more effectively. The attacking play improved as the match went on, and the game opened up more,” he added. Despite creating opportunities, Sunderland were unable to double their lead, with goalkeeper Matt Ingram making crucial saves from Romaine Mundle, Chemsdine Talbi, and Eliezer Mayenda.
Oxford manager Matt Bloomfield expressed his frustration at two pivotal decisions that went against his side. Referee Thomas Kirk awarded the first-half penalty after Christ Makosso was judged to have fouled Dennis Cirkin, and later disallowed a breakaway goal for Luke O’Nien, ruling that Will Lankshear had committed a foul.
“I had a clear view from 50 yards, and while some angles suggest the penalty may have been correct, others suggest it wasn’t,” Bloomfield said. “Both key calls went against us, and that’s incredibly frustrating.”
Despite the disappointment, Oxford’s physical approach and sustained pressure under tough conditions demonstrated their potential, leaving them determined to bounce back in their upcoming fixtures.
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