Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the Championship match.
Oxford United have been handed a lifeline late in the season with a fixture against a Sunderland side that appears to have little left to play for. Sunderland have already sealed fourth place and are simply biding their time until the play-offs, where the intensity will be of a different calibre.
Oxford United
Oxford United sit just three points clear of the relegation zone and need at least four more points to secure their place in the Championship for another season. Picking up anything in the final round could be a tall order, as they will face a Swansea City side that remains highly motivated and in excellent form. Across their last five matches, Oxford United have earned seven points. While that might seem respectable, it hasn’t been enough to create any real breathing room, with the teams below them also picking up points. Of note, three of those five matches ended 1:0, with Oxford United winning two of them. Their most recent outing was a 1:1 draw against Cardiff City.
Sunderland
Sunderland look to be easing off. They’ve lost four of their last five games by a single goal (typically 0:1), and the other result was a 0:0 draw. That goalless draw came against Norwich City, a team whose matches usually average around three goals. The only recent game involving Sunderland that featured more than two goals was their 2:1 defeat to Bristol City. With a ten-point gap to third place and a nine-point cushion over fifth, the squad seems unlikely to ramp up their efforts in this fixture and may continue to rotate players.
Oxford United vs Sunderland Prediction
Still, this Sunderland team shouldn’t be written off completely. The balance of quality between the two sides suggests a tightly contested match. Rather than backing Oxford United to win outright, a double chance bet offers more security. That said, we’re confident this will be a low-scoring affair.
