CATS IN A FLAP Oxford give Ross claws for thought
SUNDERLAND 1 OXFORD UTD 1
JACK ROSS’S men were booed off as promotion favourites Sunderland discovered they face another tough battle to finish in the top two.
Sunderland ruined last season’s campaign by drawing 19 games – 10 at home – costing them automatic promotion.
They looked undercooked, lacking pace, running power and passing accuracy, particularly early in the game.
Ross said: “We can’t concede soft goals early. We had 34 crosses but need more quality and to be more ruthless. We lacked composure.”
The disappointment of missing out on promotion in a Wembley playoff didn’t stop the Wearside fans turning out in huge numbers for League One again, more than 33,000 hoping this would be the start of a return to the Championship.
But on 14 minutes Sunderland were caught out by a poor Conor McLaughlin pass, that Ben Woodburn managed to pinch and slide Tariqe Fosu-Henry clear where his deflected shot beat Jon McLaughlin.
Oxford defender Rob Dickie had the ball in the net after heading in a corner but it was disallowed by referee Peter Wright for a foul.
Sunderland were back in it after half time thanks to a disputed penalty.
Josh Ruffles brought down Lynden Gooch but claimed to have got a touch. Gooch dispatched the penalty kick into the top corner.
Oxford boss Karl Robinson reckons his men were denied a SUNDERLAND OXFORD 3 .........Shots on Target.........2 1 ......... Shots off Target.........4 5 ..........Blocked Shots ......... 0 6 ................Corners ................4 11 ...................Fouls ................ 20 1 .................Offsides ................2 59 ......... Possession% .........41 24 .........Total Crosses ......... 13 1 .............. Yellow Cards ............ 4 second goal by Wright and insisted Sunderland’s equalising penalty had not been a foul.
Robinson said sarcastically: “My wife said to me this year every time I get fined for criticising a referee, I have to pay her the same to go shopping. The ref looked fantastic.”
REFEREE: