Simon Moore: 7/10
Couldn’t have asked for an easier league debut, barely involved but the little he had to do he did well.
Trai Hume: 9/10
A couple of brilliant crosses in the first half, the first steered wide by Isidor and then the second tucked away by Jobe. Not tested defensively and used the ball well.
Chris Mepham: 8/10
A different kind of good game from Mepham today, didn’t have to do much off the ball but always quick to sniff out even the slightest threat from the visitors.
Luke O’Nien: 8/10
Won everything that came his way, Oxford couldn’t get close to him when they tried to press and made some good runs forward when the opportunity presented itself.
Dennis Cirkin: 8/10
An easy game for Cirkin, nothing to do defensively and didn’t have a bust a gut trying to support the attack with the team well on top.
Dan Neil (C): 9/10
Controlled the game from the middle of the park, easily stepped away from Oxford’s press and played some incisive balls forward, including getting an assist with a nice ball floated over the top for Isidor’s goal.
Jobe Bellingham: 10/10
The best player on the pitch today, Oxford couldn’t get near him when he got forward and he put some good work in defensively too.
Chris Rigg: 8/10
A cultured display in midfield, used the ball really well and caused all sorts of problems with his movement. Only thing missing was a goal, he had chances but didn’t take his first chance when he was played in, took too long for another just after the break and then was well blocked after being picked out by Mundle.
Patrick Roberts: 8/10
Terrorised the Oxford left back throughout, his final ball wasn’t always there but always dangerous. Had one effort well saved from a free kick after he won it himself following a drive inside, also had a free effort on goal after Isidor was blocked off but shot wide after thinking the referee had blown.
Romaine Mundle: 7/10
Can’t question his effort today but his final ball, particularly in the first half, was poor. Seemed overly keen and kept running into crowds or overhitting his cross but still caused problems and stretched play.
Wilson Isidor: 8/10
His movement was so good and Oxford just couldn’t live with it. Scored one great goal after spinning in behind and volleying in Neil’s ball, probably should have got another, especially his header from Hume’s early cross.
Substitutes
Aaron Connolly: 6/10
Some good movement up top during his short cameo.
Alan Browne: 6/10
Helped us see out the game, had half a chance to play in Connolly but ball got away from him.
Tommy Watson: /10
Came on late on for Isidor.
Leo Hjelde: N/A
A late change for Mepham.
Man of the Match: Jobe Bellingham
A flawless display from Jobe today, Scored the opener with a great header, after running onto Hume’s great cross and getting above the centre half. Almost got another after stepping inside and clipping the cross bar. Showed a great bit of skill in the first half to leave three Oxford players for dead and played in Isidor whose shot stung the palms of the goalkeeper. Got back a number of times too to put in good tackles out wide.
Photo by |Martin Swinney/Sunderland AFC via Getty Images