REPORT: Sunderland 2 Oxford United 0

Oxford United visited league leaders Sunderland this afternoon and fell to a 2-0 defeat because of a aim in every half. Jobe Bellingham opened the scoring within the sixteenth minute, whereas Wilson Isidor scored the Black Cats’ second after 61 minutes.

United made only one change to the aspect that drew with Derby County on Tuesday, with Mark Harris coming again into the aspect instead of the injured Siriki Dembélé, with Will Goodwin Harris’s alternative on the bench.

The sport was below 23 seconds previous when the sprinklers within the Sunderland half determined to make their presence felt. 9 minutes later a Patrick Roberts run was stopped illegally on the sting of the United space and Roberts stepped as much as supply the set piece himself, forcing Jamie Cumming into a superb save, full size to his proper to show the ball across the publish.

The following probability for the house aspect got here within the 14th minute, when Isidor headed simply extensive when he ought to maybe have hit the goal. Two minutes later, Bellingham confirmed him the way it’s achieved, heading previous Cumming from Trai Hume’s left-wing cross to open the scoring.

Sunderland continued to make the operating and Cumming was known as into motion once more within the twenty fourth minute to maintain out a Chris Rigg effort. 

It wasn’t all Sunderland, although, and Oxford did look harmful on the break, particularly on one event after they had three towards two, however Dane Scarlett was properly tackled earlier than he might get a shot away. Idris El Mizouni additionally had a go from distance however his shot was a straightforward take for Simon Moore.

It was necessary that Oxford did not fall additional behind earlier than the break, so a Cumming save from Isidor was a key intervention in reaching that purpose.

United rang the modifications at half time, with Greg Leigh changing El Mizouni and the aspect altering form to a again 5 for the primary time. One Leigh cross virtually caught out Moore, with the keeper doing properly to forestall the ball crossing the road.

Virtually instantly Sunderland turned defence into assault as Bellingham labored the area for a shot that clipped the highest of the bar earlier than Roberts tried a shot that was straight at Cumming.

Oxford had achieved properly to experience the storm, however simply after the hour Sunderland doubled their lead with an beautiful end from Isidor, who swivelled and hit a first-time volley in off the far publish, giving Cumming no probability.

A triple substitution with quarter-hour remaining gave Hidde ter Avest his first style of motion in an Oxford shirt, adopted shortly after with Will Goodwin making his first look of the season.

A 2-0 defeat on the league leaders is certainly not a shame, and with two residence sport to come back, towards Swansea Metropolis on Saturday and Hull Metropolis the next Tuesday, United have an amazing alternative to place it behind them. Be sure you’re there to cheer the boys on.

UNITED: Cumming, Brown, Vaulks (McEachran 74), Moore, Harris, El Mizouni (Leigh 46), Nelson, Goodrham, Rodrigues (Sibley 74), Kioso (ter Avest 74), Scarlett (Goodwin 80)

Unused subs: Ingram, Lengthy, Ebiowei, Dale

Attendance: 40,654

Report: Martin Brodetsky; Pictures: JasonPix, Steve Edmunds, Darrell Fisher