Sunderland play the conditions to perfection
With question marks over the playing surface and some pretty nasty conditions to deal with, the scene could well have been set for a classic cup shock.
However, Sunderland though approached things brilliantly, kept their heads when things got tricky and made sure they will be in the hat on Monday evening with an utterly professional performance.
Friends reunited as Doddsy returns
It was nice to see Mike Dodds back on the touchline and doing his thing for Oxford, who in recent years have been regular opponents for the Lads.
Whereas the
U’s were invariably up alongside Sunderland in the League One promotion race, it’s clear that nowadays the clubs are a level apart and even though both sides worked hard, the difference was there to see when it mattered most.
Diarra makes the breakthrough from the spot
Sunderland saved their more attacking play for after the break but a rare bit of first half connectivity down their left culminated with them winning what looked like a clear penalty.
The patience, followed by some smart build up and positivity when the time was right, led to Dennis Cirkin being chopped down and whilst Habib Diarra might’ve felt like a slightly surprising candidate to take the spot kick, you can’t fault the way he dispatched it.
Sunderland hold their nerve to secure progression
That winner looked so matter-of-fact for the club’s record signing that it should be noted that Sunderland now have a squad packed full of calm, confident players that trust their own quality and back themselves — and it’s wonderful to see.
At no point did the side look panicked or fragile — Robin Roefs, for example, is able to chest down, control and play the ball better than some previous outfield players ever could, and this self-belief is a new but pleasing development at the club.
It isn’t arrogance I’m talking about, and it’s backed up by hard work and dedication, but compared to several other cup performances we could all think of over the last few years, this looked like a group comfortable with the expectations being placed on them.
Some promising cup cameos!
Jocelin Ta Bi looked to have something when introduced in the final few minutes and it’s good that a couple of youth products got a spot on the bench too.
Meanwhile, Dennis Cirkin and Luke O’Nien played as if they’d been in the side for months, so with hopes of a cup run now stirring, it’s pleasing to know there’s a bit of depth to the squad should the extra games need to be managed.
Régis Le Bris is up for the cup!
The starting eleven showed a few changes to the one that took on Liverpool, but it seemed clear that Le Bris was as keen as ever to see his team win.
This wasn’t a scratch side cobbled together in order to fulfil a fixture, but one that was balanced and well-prepped, and all the hallmarks of a classic Le Bris away win were there, with the side opening up more in the second half but always remaining solid at the back.
For all their huff and puff, Oxford rarely threatened and when they wanted to mix it in the aftermath of the goal, they found Sunderland to be more than up for the fight.
From astuteness, knowing when to take a foul and knowing when to go in search of a second, the coaching staff couldn’t have asked for much more and the cherry on the cake was that one or two others in need of a rest got to put their feet up at the same time.
Don’t be afraid to speak up, please
I must admit that prior to the minute’s applause in memory of Joey Beauchamp, I was unaware that he’d passed away a couple of years ago. I remembered the name and knew that he was a bit of a legend at his hometown club, but to learn of his subsequent battles with addiction and depression was very sad indeed.
Even though Sunderland won on Sunday, there’ll be some fans reading this that are going through enormous mental health struggles but they shouldn’t have to do so alone. Help is available and it really is okay to talk.
ANDYSMANCLUB – It’s Okay To Talk
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