Oxford United vs Sunderland Predictions

• Oxford have lost just eight of their 23 league games under Gary Rowett
• Sunderland are winless in four games, losing each of the last three and scoring just one goal in that run
• Only three Championship teams have scored fewer goals than Oxford’s 44 this term

Distracted Black Cats could suffer fourth straight defeat

Alongside Sheffield United, Sunderland are one of just two teams whose position in the Championship standings can not change at all over the final two weeks, and it is showing. 

The Black Cats have known they will finish fourth for a while now and it seems like they are already looking ahead to the playoffs, with Regis Le Bris resting plenty of key men in their recent outings, with that rotation seeing the Wearside club lose three straight matches. 

Chris Rigg, Enzo Le Fee and Dan Neil were just some of the stars rested in Monday’s match at Blackburn and while they outshot their opponents 16-2, the Black Cats fell to a 1-0 defeat.

Gutsy Oxford out to secure safety

Goals have been a real problem for Sunderland lately, with them netting just one in a four-match winless run, and with more resting of players expected on Saturday, they could fall short once again. 

Sitting just three points above the drop zone, Oxford are still in a relegation battle, meaning there is far more for them to play for at the Kassam Stadium than their visitors. 

The Yellows have been excellent under Gary Rowett, losing just eight of their 23 games with him at the helm after tasting defeat in 11 of the 21 matches before his arrival, and it would be no surprise to see them rise to the occasion against the rotated Black Cats.