Sunderland vs Oxford predictions: Black Cats to keep marching on

James Mason

Spotlight

Regis Le Bris has made a flying start to life as head coach of Sunderland

- Sunderland three points clear at Championship summit heading into this weekend
- Oxford have not won away from home this season
- Recommended bet: Sunderland to win and both teams to score

Sunderland are showing no signs of slowing down as they sit top of the Championship and they will be hoping for another three points when Oxford travel to the Stadium of Light on Saturday.

Life on Wearside could have hardly gone much better for Regis Le Bris since his summer arrival, with the Black Cats collecting 25 points from their opening 11 matches to occupy first place.

It has also been a solid start for Oxford, who are five points off the play-off positions in their debut Championship campaign and they have been an entertaining side to watch.

Oxford boss Des Buckingham has some injury concerns ahead of this clash

Team news

Sunderland have a lengthy injury list that includes Ian Poveda, Aji Alese and Jenson Seelt, with the trio expected back in November, while Niall Huggins is pencilled in for a January return.

Eliezer Mayenda, Salis Abdul Samed and Ahmed Abdullahi are all suffering with knocks and will be assessed closer to the game.

As for the U's, Cameron Brannagan and Matt Phillips are set to return early next month and Przemyslaw Placheta is a couple of weeks behind those two.

Joseph Bennett is not due to make his comeback from a broken ankle until late January.

The latest Sunderland vs Oxford odds are available on LiveScore Bet

The stats

Sunderland defeated Luton 2-1 at Kenilworth Road on Wednesday to make it two wins in a row and extend their unbeaten streak to four matches.

The Black Cats are yet to lose at home this season, winning four consecutive games before snatching a 2-2 draw against Leeds in their last outing at the Stadium of Light.

Oxford are without a win in six fixtures, but they have drawn their last five assignments, sharing the spoils with Burnley, Luton, Portsmouth, West Brom and Derby.

The U's are yet to win away from home in all competitions this term, losing four and drawing two, but they have scored in all five Championship matches on the road.

The latest Sunderland vs Oxford odds are available on LiveScore Bet

Prediction

Sunderland continue to defy expectations and they can add another three points to their tally in an entertaining clash against Oxford, who are also outperforming many pre-season predictions.

The Stadium of Light has become a fortress for the Black Cats, who have collected 13 points from a possible 15 and seen off the likes of Burnley and Middlesbrough on Wearside.

However, Le Bris' side will not have things all their own way against an Oxford side that have proven difficult to beat of late, with the U's drawing five in a row heading into this clash.

Des Buckingham's side have scored 15 goals and conceded 13 in their 11 league outings and they look capable of getting on the scoresheet on Saturday, albeit in a losing cause.

Back Sunderland to win and both teams to score at 43/20 with LiveScore Bet