Oxford are aiming to reach the FA Cup fifth round for the first time since the 2016-17 season
Sunderland last went past round four in the 2014-15 campaign
Recommended bet: Sunderland to win to nil
Premier League outfit Sunderland will be hoping their class tells when they head to the Kassam Stadium to face Championship strugglers Oxford in the FA Cup fourth round on Sunday.
The Black Cats have enjoyed a solid return to the Premier League, collecting 36 points to sit 11th in the standings, and they can put more focus on the FA Cup given survival looks likely.
It is not the same situation for Oxford, who are four points adrift of safety in 23rd place in the Championship and know that staying in the second tier holds more benefits than a deep cup run.
Team news
Oxford remain without Tyler Goodrham, who is out for the rest of the season, while Nik Prelec, Jamie Donley and Brian De Keersmaecker are all absent through injury.
Will Lankshear missed the defeat to Norwich on Tuesday due to suspension but is expected to come back into the starting XI.
Sunderland boss Regis Le Bris revealed in his press conference that he will "probably adjust the squad" but reiterated he respects the competition and "we want to go strong".
The likes of Wilson Isidor, Luke O'Nien, Lutsharel Geertruida and Chemsdine Talbi will all be hoping for starts, but Granit Xhaka, Jocelin Ta Bi and Bertrand Traore remain sidelined due to injury.
The latest Oxford vs Sunderland odds are available on LiveScore Bet.
The stats
Oxford have gone four games without a victory and are four points from Championship safety.
The U's have failed to win their last five home matches (L3 D2).
Sunderland have lost their last two fixtures to nil, against Arsenal (3-0) and Liverpool (1-0).
The Black Cats have not won away from home in normal time in their last nine attempts.
Oxford beat Sunderland 2-0 the last time they met in the Championship in April 2025.
The latest Oxford vs Sunderland odds are available on LiveScore Bet
Prediction
It has been a miserable period for Oxford, who have picked up just one point from the last 12 on offer and have tasted success in normal time just once in their last 10 assignments.
The U's face a real fight to avoid dropping down and an FA Cup fourth-round tie against Sunderland, for all the excitement that it brings, is not really what head coach Matt Bloomfield needs right now.
Focusing on Championship survival is the priority for Oxford and this looks like an easy opportunity for the Black Cats to ensure their name is in the hat for the fifth round, something they have not achieved since the 2014-15 season.
Sunderland have greater strength in depth than the U's, who are dealing with a number of injuries and have the third-worst home record in the division, and there will be plenty of players in Le Bris's squad itching to prove their worth.
The Black Cats have struggled for the same consistency shown at home on their travels, collecting just 10 points on the road in the Premier League, but they have picked up wins at Chelsea and Nottingham Forest, while they overcame Everton on penalties in the third round of the cup.
With Sunderland scoring just six goals away from home in the league and Oxford netting just 13 times at the Kassam Stadium in the second tier, this is unlikely to be a goal-laden affair.
But it is one which the visitors should have enough to edge and they can pick up the victory with a clean sheet.
Back Sunderland to win to nil at 31/20 with LiveScore Bet
The latest Oxford vs Sunderland odds are available on LiveScore Bet
