Sunderland vs Oxford Prediction: Black Cats to retain top spot

League leaders Sunderland simply don’t look like slowing down after setting an incredible pace at the top of the Championship so far. They won again in midweek, this time away at Burnley as Romaine Mundle scored a fantastic winner, and the Black Cats now sit three points clear of both Burnley and Leeds United heading into the weekend. 

They have a home game against draw specialists Oxford United (15:00) to come this weekend and are heavy favourites to get the three points again. Below you can find my Sunderland vs Oxford prediction featuring team news or betting tips. 

Team News

Regis Le Bris hasn’t put a foot wrong so far this term and he is likely to bring Patrick Roberts back into the starting XI after lining up in a slightly more functional manner at Kenilworth Road. Alan Browne started in midfield with Chris Rigg pushed slightly further forward, so I’d expect the teenager to revert back to his usual role against Oxford, with Roberts starting on the right wing. 

Elsewhere, the team really picks itself with Dan Neil and Jobe Bellingham certainties in the middle, and Wilson Isidor now the first-choice striker. Mundle has been exceptional on the left wing, while Luke O’Nien and Chris Mepham have created a nice partnership at the heart of the defence. 

Oxford remain without long-term absentee Joseph Bennett and they are still waiting upon the return of both Cameron Brannagan and Matt Phillips. They are getting closer, but may not make the squad for this one. 

Mark Harris was dropped in midweek in favour of Dane Scarlett, but I expect the experienced forward to return against Sunderland given his physicality and high work-rate. Elsewhere, it appears Des Buckingham is fairly satisfied with the majority of his trusted starting XI, which features the likes of Ruben Rodrigues and Tyler Goodrham in midfield and Elliott Moore and Ben Nelson at the back. I can’t foresee too many other changes apart from the return of Harris. 

Sunderland vs Oxford Odds

Sunderland are priced at 4/7 to win this game, giving them an implied win probability of 63%. Oxford can be backed at 9/2, with a draw available at 100/30. Over 2.5 goals is 8/11, BTTS is 4/5 and Isidor is the favourite to open the scoring at 9/2. 

Sunderland to win and BTTS @ 11/5

Sunderland are looking pretty special right now. They’ve got some of the finest young players in the EFL who are all hitting their peaks at the same time, and Le Bris seems like he is guiding them perfectly at this present moment, I’m slightly concerned about a lack of depth as we approach the winter months, but right now, you simply have to side with the Black Cats. 

Rigg and Bellingham are two special midfielders, while they have enough know-how and experience around them in the form of O’Nien, Browne and Mepham. This should be another home win, but I’m happy to back Oxford to find the net as well. They have proven themselves to be a decent Championship outfit so far, and they’ve only failed to score in one of their last eight outings. They can do so again at the Stadium of Light. 

Romaine Mundle to score anytime @ 5/2

Mundle might just be my favourite player to watch in the Championship right now. When Sunderland sold Jack Clarke to Ipswich Town this summer, people expected a drop off from their attack. Instead, they’ve replaced him with Mundle, who at 21 is another young star for the Mackems to treasure. 

He scored the winner at Luton to take his total up to four for the campaign, but I think he will have some joy against this Oxford back four. Before Wednesday he hadn’t scored in five susccesive matches, but now he’s full of confidence and I'd expect him to find the net again. He scored in the consecutive matches earlier in the season, and could have started off another goalscoring run at Kenilworth Road. 

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