FA Cup Talking Points: Oxford Pay The Penalty As Sunderland Advance.
Sunderland play the conditions to perfection
With question marks on the playing surface and some harsh circumstances to deal with, the scene may have been set for a classic cup upset.
Sunderland, on the other hand, tackled the situation wonderfully, kept their cool when things got tough, and ensured their place in the hat on Monday evening with a completely professional performance.
Friends reunited as Doddsy returns
It was good to see Mike Dodds back on the pitch and doing his thing for Oxford, who have been regular opponents of the Lads.
Whereas the U’s were always up with Sunderland in the League One promotion fight, it’s evident that the teams are now a level apart, and despite both sides working hard, the gap was clear when it counted the most.
Diarra makes the breakthrough from the spot
Sunderland reserved their most offensive play for after the break, but a rare bit of first-half movement down their left resulted in what appeared to be a straightforward penalty.
Dennis Cirkin was hacked down as a result of the patience, followed by some good buildup and positivity when the moment came, and while Habib Diarra may have seemed like an unexpected selection to take the spot kick, you can’t fault him for how he executed it.
Sunderland hold their nerve to secure progression
That winner appeared so unassuming for the club’s record acquisition that it’s worth noting that Sunderland now has a roster full of calm, confident players who believe in themselves and their abilities — which is fantastic to witness.
The team never appeared terrified or weak – Robin Roefs, for example, can chest down, control, and play the ball better than some prior outfield players, and this confidence is a new but welcome development at the club.
It’s not arrogance, and it’s backed up by hard work and dedication, but compared to some other cup performances in recent years, this appeared to be a group that was at ease with the expectations placed on them.
Some promising cup cameos!
Jocelin Ta Bi looked promising when he was inserted in the final few minutes, and it’s excellent that a number of young players had a chance on the bench.
Meanwhile, Dennis Cirkin and Luke O’Nien played like if they’d been in the team for months, so with expectations of a cup run brewing, it’s good to know there’s some depth in the squad if the extra games need to be managed.
Régis Le Bris is up for the cup!
The starting eleven differed slightly from the one that faced Liverpool, but it was evident that Le Bris was as determined as ever to see his team win.
This wasn’t a slap-dash team put together to fill a fixture, but one that was balanced and well-prepared, and it had all the markers of a classic Le Bris away win, with the side opening up more in the second half but remaining firm at the back.
Oxford hardly threatened, and when they did want to mix it up after the score, Sunderland was more than willing to fight.
Don’t be afraid to speak up, please
Prior to the minute of applause in Joey Beauchamp’s memory, I was unaware of his passing a few years ago.
I recognised the name and knew he was a legend in his hometown club, but hearing about his subsequent struggles with addiction and misery was terrible.
Even if Sunderland won on Sunday, there will be fans reading this who are struggling with serious mental health concerns, and they should not have to go it alone. Help is available, and it is totally OK to chat.
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