Sports
REPORT – Sunderland AFC 1-1 Oxford United: Johnson’s side miss opportunity to go level on points with league leaders
The Black Cats failed to build on their early lead, missing the chance to go level with League One toppers Plymouth.
The Wearsiders now sit in fourth but have all the momentum heading into the crucial Christmas period and have a game in hand on some of their closest rivals.
The visitors, Oxford came from behind at the Stadium of Light to climb to seventh and extended their unbeaten run to seven games with the draw on Wearside.
Eastwood, Forde, Moore and Taylor all returned to the squad following the clubs COVID crises.
Sunderland, now unbeaten in four matches, made a quick start when exciting youngster Leon Dajaku beat his man before slotting it beyond Simon Eastwood in the Oxford net, making it 1-0 after just seven minutes.
Elliott Moore had his header saved by Thorben Hoffmann moments before Matty Taylor levelled for the U’s in the 36th minute.
The veteran full-back found the corner of the net following the cutback from Nathan Holland who pushed the returning Lynden Gooch aside with ease.
Early in the second half, Black Cats top scorer Ross Stewart hit the bar before heading straight into Eastwood’s arms from a decent opportunity. Nathan Broadhead followed suit and rattled the post for the home side who pushed for a winner.
Gooch was involved again in the closing stages after his sloppy pass nearly gave Oxford the opportunity to take the spoils. Dan Adyei’s afford was denied well by Hoffman in the Sunderland net.
An entertaining game which finished level.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Sunderland had an early chance in the game when Ross Stewart was inches away from getting on the end of a cross from Gooch – Eastwood was able to claim before the ball got to the Scotsman.
The home side took the lead in the seventh minute when youth starlet Dajaku cut the ball onto his left foot and fired his shot into the far corner from inside the box.
Credit: @sunderlandafcofficial instagram – Dajaku takes the lead for the home side…
That goal should have given Johnson’s side a platform to control the proceedings but the match became scrappy.
Oxford reacted well to going a goal down but offered little threat going forward with their direct style of play.
However, the U’s did equalise with nine minutes until the break when Gooch failed to clear the ball and Matty Taylor cleverly dispatched his shot into the far corner of the net.
Moments later Sunderland saw a penalty appeal for handball ignored when Gooch’s cross struck a defender – replays show the ball had hit the Oxford player’s chest and his arm was in a natural position.
In the second half, Sunderland came out of the block quickly with a sense of purpose and determination to get the three points.
Pritchard and Stewart combined well as Nathan Broadhead entered the box but was unable to get a shot away.
Before the hour-mark, Dajaku intercepted the ball after a mix-up between a defender and the Oxford goalkeeper. The exciting talent played the ball to Stewart who saw his shot crash back off the crossbar as Carl Winchester put the rebound narrowly over.
Minutes later, Stewart had an opportunity from a headed shot but the ball went straight down the throat of Eastwood in the Oxford goal.
As the game entered the closing stages, Gooch allowed Daniel Agyei a guilt-edged opportunity to claim the win for his side before Hoffman saved the full-backs blushes.
With ten minutes to play, Nathan Broadhead had the chance to win the game once again for the Black Cats but his effort from a tight angle wasn’t enough to put his side in front for the second time – despite clipping the woodwork.
Sunderland pushed desperately for a winner but couldn’t find a breakthrough.
A disappointing result in the end but perhaps a good point in the hunt for promotion…
Johnson’s side missed an opportunity to go top following the frustrating outcome but seem to be one of the most in-form sides heading into the hectic Christmas period – four league games unbeaten for the Wearsiders.
The Black Cats face a tricky trip to Morecambe in midweek and will be looking to extend the unbeaten streak to five and gain three points that could see them claim top spot if results go their way.
The draw with Oxford may not feel enough given the level of performance on the day but the home side added another point to their seasons tally and cemented a place in the play-off positions.
PLAYER RATINGS
Hoffman (7), Wright (6), Flanagan (7), Doyle (6), Gooch (5), Neil (6), Pritchard (8), Winchester (6), Dajaku (8), Stewart (6). Broadhead (6)
Subs: Embleton (6), O’Brien (n/a)
MOTM: Alex Pritchard
MANAGERS COMMENTS
Sunderland manager Lee Johnson:
“I thought there was effort in both halves, to be honest. We played better in the second half, but the commitment and effort was there. If you look at our bench today there’s a nice narrative – with Embo [Elliot Embleton] and Dan Neil there were seven academy graduates involved.
“But in one sense it speaks to the injury scenario and that leads to some players playing slightly out of position, so you have to credit these boys for how hard they have worked today. On another day we win it comfortably, against a very good Oxford side that caused us problems in the first half.”
He added:
“We flipped the shape in the second half, decided to have a different square peg in a round hole, and I thought it worked well but unfortunately we just couldn’t get the ball over the line – whether that be due to good goalkeeping, finishes that hit the bar and the post, or at times just failing to get that magic delivery.
“I was pleased today with the performance and with the second half. There was a shape change at half-time, we put Bailey Wright at right-back and pushed Leon Dajaku up to right midfield and dropped Lynden Gooch to left-back.
“That’s why you have to give these boys credit, because that’s Dajaku playing out of position and scoring a goal, Gooch having to play right side and then left side, and then Bailey Wright slotting in at right-back despite being on a booking which made it a bit risky, but these are the things at the moment we have to do. I was positive with the players both at half-time and at the end of the game because I know how much they are putting in and how much effort they are giving.”
Oxford manager Karl Robinson:
“If you looked at the first half I thought we were by far the better team. I thought we dominated most aspects of the game. I thought we started poorly in the first five minutes, but then we got to grips with the game and looked like a real class act. Our message at half-time was to continue doing the same things, (but) they had a change of shape and we got really sloppy.
He added:
“I’m really angry with our performance in the second half. My players know I love them, they mean the world to me, but I felt in the second half we became disjointed. You’ve got to say we’ve done well to hang on. People have a nudge at Easty sometimes, but what a second half performance that was from him. That was sensational.”
Post-match thoughts?
Are you pleased with the point? Can Sunderland keep the momentum going into the Christmas period and extend their run? Is Johnson the man to take the Black Cats to promotion?
Join in the conversation and have your say…
The Sunderland job has become available recently following the dismissal of Beale a brief 12-game stint, highlighted by a significant defeat to Newcastle and a more recent 1-0 loss to Huddersfield Town, pushing the club’s decision-makers to reconsider their strategy. This decision came after the controversial firing of Tony Mowbray in December. Despite hopes for improvement, Sunderland’s form remained lackluster, as evidenced by a 2-1 defeat at home to Swansea City, leaving them trailing in the playoff race.
Scott Parker, previously at the helm of Clubb Brugge, finds himself unemployed since last season. Now, the former Newcastle United leader emerges as the unexpected leading candidate to take over Michael Beale’s role at Sunderland.
While discussions regarding Sunderland’s new managerial appointment had temporarily subsided, betting circles have reignited interest, placing former Newcastle captain Parker as the surprise favorite.
Parker, whose English football managerial career last saw him at Bournemouth—where he was dismissed early into the 2022-23 season despite securing promotion—also led Fulham to Championship play-off victory in 2020. However, his history with Newcastle could create tension among Sunderland fans, considering his leadership role there in the mid-2000s following Alan Shearer’s departure.
Historically, figures like Sam Allardyce and Steve Bruce have managed both sides of the rivalry. In the betting markets, Parker leads with odds of 7/4, surpassing other contenders like Frank Lampard, Will Still, and Paul Heckingbottom.
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Sunderland have terminated the contract of manager Michael Beale after a brief tenure of only 12 matches, a decision fueled by recent controversies including his refusal to acknowledge a player’s handshake and comments about his accent. Beale’s departure marks the second managerial change for the club this season, following Tony Mowbray’s exit in December. During his stint, Beale led the team to three victories, four draws, and five defeats.
The decision to relieve Beale of his duties followed Sunderland’s recent 2-1 loss to Birmingham, leaving them in tenth place in the league, four points shy of the playoff positions. Tensions escalated when Beale notably ignored defender Trai Hume’s attempt at a handshake during a substitution late in a game, a move that did not sit well with fans and was exacerbated when footage of the incident spread on social media. Beale later apologized, stating he had not noticed Hume’s gesture, and praised the player’s commitment and professionalism.
Beale’s time with Sunderland was marred by fan dissatisfaction, which intensified after he made comments addressing criticism he believed was influenced by his South London accent. He defended his professional journey and the team’s performance under his guidance, suggesting that the criticism was unfounded and not solely based on footballing reasons. Beale emphasized his commitment to his role and the unfairness of personal attacks, advocating for a focus on football-related critiques.
Pressure had been mounting on Beale in recent weeks with fans fuming at the weekend after he snubbed a handshake with player Trai Hume. As the defender was subbed off in the 87th minute he put his hand out and waited for a high five from his gaffer. But Beale did not even acknowledge the player and appeared to ignore the 21-year-old. The manager has since apologised and claimed he did not see his out-stretched hand. Unfortunately for Beale, things have only got worse for him after a clip of Hume being given the cold shoulder went viral online. The player walked past and put out his hand for a handshake, only for the Sunderland boss to look straight past him. The clip garnered a huge reaction on social media, with some even demanding that the former QPR and Rangers boss be sacked. Beale has now responded to the incident on his own social media account with a statement. He wrote: “Trai Hume is a fantastic player for our club. He gives everything for his teammates and the staff. I wasn’t aware that I missed his handshake until being asked about it post game. I immediately went to see him to apologise. “Trai passed a fitness test this morning to play the game and I cannot hold him in higher regard as a man or professional. He is an example of everything that is good about a young footballer and our team.”
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Wor Flags, a fan-funded group supporting Newcastle United, made a powerful statement ahead of the team’s recent 4-4 draw with Luton Town. They used a pre-match banner displayed in the Gallowgate End to protest against what they perceive as “disgusting” kickoff times imposed on the Magpies by the Premier League and television broadcasters. The banner boldly read, “TV before fans,” accompanied by smaller flags showcasing some of the club’s inconvenient kickoff times in recent weeks.
Among the examples highlighted were Newcastle’s 8 pm match against Liverpool on New Year’s Day, an 8:15 pm kickoff at Villa Park on a Tuesday, a 7 pm FA Cup match away at Fulham, and an 8 pm fixture at Arsenal. Remarkably, this season, Newcastle has only been granted one 3 pm away game. Nevertheless, their dedicated fans have continued to support the team despite these challenging kickoff times.
This protest took place during the Premier League’s “Green Football Weekend,” aimed at encouraging fans to consume more plant-based meals to reduce carbon emissions. Many supporters have noted the irony of this campaign, given the frequent air travel undertaken by Premier League teams while fans often struggle to use public transportation for late kickoff times dictated by broadcasters like TNT Sports and Sky Sports.
Following the unveiling of the banner, Wor Flags issued a statement, emphasizing their dedication to raising awareness about the inconvenient kickoff times imposed by broadcasters in both the Premier League and the FA Cup since the start of the year. They argued that this situation contradicts the spirit of the Green Football Weekend, which certain broadcasters are celebrating.
The statement read: “Today’s display in the Gallowgate is dedicated to highlighting the disgusting kickoff times that have been imposed on us by broadcasters in both the Premier League and the FA Cup since the turn of the year, making a mockery of the Green Football Weekend celebrated by certain broadcasters. Newcastle United fans are some of the most passionate and loyal supporters around, committed to following our team across the country. It is this dedication and passion that is taken for granted by TV companies and football’s governing bodies. So far this season, we have only had one Saturday 3 pm away kickoff.”
The statement continued, “The cost of being a football fan is constantly rising, with increased expenses for trains, buses, and fuel for cars making it an expensive endeavor. Yet, the persistent disregard for match-going fans in scheduling kickoff times is placing immense strain on supporters. While we continue to fill away ends, we have not forgotten about those fans priced out by the greed in the game, those who initially made English football so attractive to a global audience.”
“Late announcements of games to accommodate broadcasters and television viewers have a profound impact on the fans, who are often described as the lifeblood of the sport. We are calling on broadcasters, the Premier League, The FA, and the clubs to do more for match-going fans. Put an end to unsocial kickoff times, make travel more equitable for fans, and halt the greed,” the statement concluded.
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