Sunderland's FA Cup Victory at Oxford: Le Bris Applauds Team's Spirit
Regis Le Bris has lauded the energy and ambition of his Sunderland side following a hard-fought 1-0 away win against Oxford United in the FA Cup fourth round. The victory, secured by a first-half penalty from Habib Diarra, propels the Premier League club into the fifth round of the prestigious competition.
Controversial Penalty Decides Tight Encounter
The match's pivotal moment arrived in the 32nd minute when Sunderland defender Dennis Cirkin went down in the box under a challenge from Oxford's Christ Makosso. With VAR unavailable for the fixture, the referee's on-field decision to award a penalty stood, despite vehement protests from the home supporters. Habib Diarra calmly converted the spot-kick, which ultimately proved sufficient to separate the two sides.
Sunderland, who suffered a 2-0 defeat at Oxford in the Championship last season, controlled significant portions of the game but failed to add a second goal that would have more accurately reflected their dominance, particularly in the second half. The visitors, now comfortably positioned in mid-table in the Premier League, fielded a strong lineup at the Kassam Stadium, demonstrating their serious intent for a cup run.
Managerial Reactions: Contrasting Views on the Decisive Moment
Regis Le Bris acknowledged the toughness of the fixture, referencing last season's loss. "We expected a tough game," he stated. "We went there last season and struggled and lost 2-0. Direct play, second balls, the ability to fight around the drop zone. It was one part of the game that was really important. We struggled a bit during the first half, but it was better during the second. During the second half it's always the case the game is a bit more open, you can create more, but we didn't score the second goal."
When questioned about the penalty decision, Le Bris adopted a diplomatic stance. "I didn't review the situation. We need to trust the referee," he remarked. In contrast, Oxford boss Matt Bloomfield expressed clear frustration, aligning with the discontent of the home fans. "We're not getting any decisions at the minute," he asserted. "That's factual. There's been many wrong decisions against us recently."
Historical Context and Future Prospects
This victory marks Sunderland's first appearance in the FA Cup fifth round since 2015, during their previous stint in the top flight. The club has not reached a Wembley semi-final in the competition since 2004, when they were defeated by Millwall. Le Bris remained cautiously optimistic about their cup prospects, linking it to their solid league form. "We never know because we don't know our next opponent," he said. "We played here with our best team. We went strong, with a good energy, with ambition. We'll see for the next round."
For Oxford, the focus now shifts urgently to their Championship survival battle. Sitting 23rd and five points from safety after a recent 3-0 home defeat to Norwich, Bloomfield sought positives from the cup exit. "A remarkably improved performance on Tuesday," he said. "I'm proud. The effort and endeavour, we played some real quality at times. We got into some really good areas but maybe didn't create enough clear-cut opportunities."
The result underscores Sunderland's progression under Le Bris and sets up an intriguing fifth-round draw, while Oxford must channel their disappointment into a crucial league campaign.
