Oxford Utd 0-1 Sunderland: Le Bris reflects on narrow FA Cup escape

Regis Le Bris praised his players' spirit after Habib Diarra's first-half penalty proved enough for Sunderland to reach the FA Cup fifth round with a 1-0 win at Oxford United. The visitors managed the conditions and the pressure of a direct, physical contest to grind out progression in a tie played in heavy rain and a low-key atmosphere.

Le Bris: no easy games, job done

Le Bris underlined the value of the result in a fixture that has historically been awkward for his side. "No easy games. Oxford last season we struggled against them. Job done, good team spirit, " he said. The boss pointed to the direct style Oxford employed — long balls and second-ball battles — as a tactical challenge his team had prepared for and ultimately managed better at key moments.

On the penalty that decided the match, Le Bris stressed trust in the officials. "You have to trust the referee otherwise you can't move forward. He did well, it was not an easy game to referee. It was balanced, " he said. Diarra tucked away the spot-kick after a challenge on Denis Cirkin that left the referee convinced a foul had been committed in the box.

Le Bris also reflected on the competition's standing for his squad. "We enjoy every game - Premier League or FA Cup. We try to do our best, it was enough today and we move forward. " The manager's pragmatic assessment matched the scene: two rotated line-ups in difficult conditions, where organisation and concentration mattered more than flair.

Match snapshot: a wet, physical tie decided by a spot-kick

The match, played in driving rain beside the swollen Thames, never quite sparked into the cup drama many fans hope for. An attendance of 9, 879 helped produce a decent atmosphere despite the sodden surroundings and cautious tempo. Oxford made a number of changes from midweek and fielded several young loanees, while Sunderland made multiple switches of their own.

Oxford threatened early when Jamie Donley, on his home debut, latched onto a long ball from Will Lankshear and forced the visiting keeper into a hurried clearance. The decisive moment came on 30 minutes when a bundling challenge saw Denis Cirkin go down in the area. With no video assistant referee in use for the tie, the on-field official pointed to the spot and Diarra converted, steering a bobbling penalty into the net.

Oxford continued to press with set-pieces and long throws, moments Le Bris had singled out as potential danger. "Oxford fought until the end, set-pieces and long throws we knew they were efficient, " he said. The home side created a late headed chance from a long throw that went narrowly wide, but Sunderland held firm and limited clear openings thereafter.

Context and numbers: Sunderland’s recent dominance

The result extends a favourable recent record for Sunderland against Oxford United. Sunderland have lost just one of their last 16 meetings across all competitions (W8 D7), a stretch during which they have conceded one or fewer goals on 15 occasions. The victory also continues a strong FA Cup run for the club at this stage: Sunderland have progressed from four of their last five fourth-round ties, a run that matches their success in far longer earlier spells of the competition.

For Oxford, the performance offered some encouraging signs despite the defeat: manager selections produced a younger, physical lineup that competed robustly and created meaningful moments from direct play. For Sunderland, a makeshift side did enough to keep the cup run alive and will now turn attention to the fifth round with the small but crucial margin that cup football so often demands.