Fan Centre: Oxford fan Simon predicts U’s vs Sunderland draw

Currently mid-table, Oxford appear to be adapting well to life in the Championship.

How would you sum up your start?

During the summer, most Oxford fans were quietly confident that we were much better than the “24th place and winless all season” tag that many commentators gave us before we even kicked a ball.

Our selection was excellent and it wouldn’t take much digging to see that the 24th place prediction was completely unfair.

Having said that, I don’t think any fans thought we would win our first three home games and go into November unbeaten at home.

With coaching experience in New Zealand and India, many fans may not have even heard of Des Buckingham.

How did he come to run Oxford and how is he doing?

Des has been an Oxford United fan since childhood. He joined the coaching staff at age eighteen in the mid-2000s and was part of Chris Wilder’s first team coaching staff in the 2013/2014 season.

He left Oxford to go abroad and pursue a career in football coaching, taking a different and unusual path. He handled all the responsibilities he held very well, including for the City Group.

His name became bigger and bigger in the minds of Oxford fans every season and when Liam Manning unexpectedly left for Bristol City he was at the top of most of our lists.

I don’t think he got the job because he’s an Oxford fan, but winning a play-off final in his first season was something special.

Bolton Wanderers v Oxford United - Sky Bet League One Play-off Final — Last season, Oxford reached the play-offs by beating Bolton 2–0 in the final.

Oxford are unbeaten at home but have yet to win away this season.

What were your main problems away from home?

Sometimes careless mistakes cost us the opportunity to leave the house. We were leading at Blackburn and Bristol City, but we were let down by mistakes.

We really should have beaten Luton and Siriki Dembele came on one-on-one later to make it 2-1 against Pompey but he saved.

I’m sure victory is coming, and hopefully soon!

The club invested in the summer, with Siriki Dembele breaking a record transfer fee and the arrival of experienced executives such as Matt Phillips and Will Vaulkes.

How are your new contracts going?

Birmingham fans called Dembele “lazy” and I think they were a little upset that he was one of many players who struggled in terrible conditions last season.

His pace is very dangerous, although it looks like he could get injured this weekend.

Matt Phillips is also injured and Valks started the season well but made a couple of costly mistakes.

Oxford United v Burnley - Sky Bet Championship — Oxford’s top scorer this season has been striker Mark Harris with four goals, up from 19 last season.

Oxford have also dipped their toes into the loan market, with Dane Scarlett, Malcolm Ebiowei and Ben Nelson arriving from the Premier League.

Who has already impressed?

Ben Nelson looks very good – definitely a future star.

Ebiowei has been in and out of the lineup, but there’s definitely a player there.

Scarlett started quietly but has now stepped up and scored three goals last week, one of which was a very cool finish against Derby.

Apart from your new players, who else should Sunderland be wary of?

Most of our threat came from players who were already here, notably Mark Harris and Tyler Goodram.

Oxford United v West Bromwich Albion - Sky Bet Championship — Having been heavily linked with Sunderland this summer, Dane Scarlett did us a favor by scoring an equalizer against West Brom earlier this month.

Sunderland midfielder Jay Matete’s loan spell at Oxford last season was cut short due to injury.

How would you characterize your time there based on the games he played?

It certainly looked like there might be a great player there and we were happy to acquire him, but his time there was too short to do a proper analysis.

How do you think Buckingham will stack up tactically at the Stadium of Light?

It’s hard to say because we’re in an injury crisis right now what might affect his thinking.

He’ll probably try to slow the game down, play from the back and accept that we won’t have a lot of possession, but be effective when we do.

Oxford United - Sunderland - Sky Bet League One — Sunderland won 2-1 in their last match against Oxford in 2022, with Elliot Embleton scoring late.

Are there any players missing and who do you expect to be in the starting XI?

Loads!

Brannagan, Phillips, Edwards, Placheta and Dale are out. It looks like Dembele could be like that too.

I think Cumming is in goal with a back four of Brown, Nelson, Moore and Kioso. McEachran is up front (I think he’ll give up Volks), Goodram, Rodriguez, El Mizouni, Ebiowei and either Scarlett or Harris are up front.

Sunderland are unbeaten against Oxford in five matches.

What is your prediction for the final score?

I can’t predict defeat, but it will be a very difficult day for Oxford.

Now I’ll happily take a 1-1 draw!