Roker Report Score Predictions: SAFC v Oxford

After the excitement and dramatics of an evening in Luton, the lads return to the Stadium of Light looking to inch just a little closer to the much-coveted “top at Christmas” tag.

Next up is Oxford United, a team who are strangely both winless and undefeated in five. Will the lads still be top going into November? The group shares their thoughts…

‘The Champion’ Martin Wanless predicts…

Score prediction: Sunderland 2 – 0 Oxford United

Sunderland’s first goalscorer: Mundle

This will be another big test for us after 2 tough away games – I certainly don’t think it’ll be a straightforward win, and we’ll have to grind it out against a team that’s drawn its last 5.

I think hisit of rotation, with Rigg dropping to the bench, although I thought that on Wednesday too so what do I know?! Connolly for Isidor may be another change, but given we’ve not got a game in midweek Regis may keep things unchanged. Anyway, 2-0, Mundle to bag first, and top of the league.

Malc Dugdale predicts…

Score prediction: Sunderland 2 – 0 Oxford United

Sunderland’s first goalscorer: Isidor

After a challenging two away games, we head back home to take on the new lads at this level, Oxford.

I recall well going to Oxford away the season when we came up. A few of the lads in this item were there too.

The likes of Embo and Evans played well that day and we came away with a great result. Those lads aren’t with us any more, but we have better and stronger options all over the park.

This is at home and I’m confident that after such a trying time on the road the lads will secure three points and the crowd will back them to at least the 80th minute… They’ve done well so far this season but for me at the SOL Oxford are going to face quite a challenge.

Give ‘em hell lads!

Photo by Ian Horrocks/Sunderland AFC via Getty Images

Jack Howe-Gingell predicts…

Score prediction: Sunderland 3 – 0 Oxford United

Sunderland’s first goalscorer: Mundle

Our amazing win from mid-week should still be fresh in the lads’ memories, and we need to bring all that impetus into facing Oxford.

They have defied expectations so far sitting well in mid-table after most had predicted them to struggle. Appearing to be draw specialists, they will need to be watched as they clearly have a good spirit, and we will want to avoid faltering after such good work on Wednesday night.

I’m going for a relatively big win as I think the lads will just let it off the leash, and Oxford will take the backlash.

Photo by Ian Horrocks/Sunderland AFC via Getty Images

Will Jones predicts…

Score prediction: Sunderland 2 – 1 Oxford United

Sunderland’s first goalscorer: Mundle

Can we make it 9 points from 9? This is the one I’m least sure on.

Oxford have drawn the last 5 games and are very used to having low scoring encounters. Another game where we are relying on a piece of magic may be in order.

The lads have seen how playing out of form teams may not matter and we have been hurt by elements of complacency in games past, therefore, we need to come out swinging, and fast.

We are extremely good at home, and I expect us to take another 3 points and move on.

Photo by Bradley Collyer/PA Images via Getty Images

Matty Foster predicts…

Score prediction: Sunderland 3 – 1 Oxford United

Sunderland’s first goalscorer: Isidor

Wednesday night was by far the most satisfying result of the season, given how much we had to dig deep to get the win.

Today’s opposition come in the shape of eleventh-placed Oxford, who find themselves in a run of five consecutive draws and winless in six.

They’ve not fared well on the road so far, taking only two points from five.

Despite those factors, we should not underestimate them. They’ve managed to take something off a few sides currently occupying the upper reaches of the table.

Nevertheless, we’re unbeaten on home soil, and confidence is sky high. I’ve got to back another win and another week top of the pile!

Photo by Ian Horrocks/Sunderland AFC via Getty Images

Bomber Davies predicts…

Score prediction: Sunderland 3 – 0

Sunderland’s first goalscorer: Rigg

I’m coming into this afternoon more confident than I was for any of the previous three matches. So with that, I’m going from one extreme to the other by no longer waiting for the bubble to burst, getting off the fence and backing a comprehensive win for the lads.

Sure Oxford are on a quite remarkable run themselves in drawing each of their last five games, but at home before 40,000 plus, we are a different animal to what they’ll have been up against in that run.

I was torn between Rigg and Roberts for first goalscorer, but after hearing RLB’s uncertainty over the latter’s involvement, I can’t ignore the purple patch the outstanding teenager is on currently, so long may that continue!

Hopefully we’ll be kicking off still in first place and we see Leeds drop points at Ashton Gate, but if not… I firmly believe we’ll be first come 17:00.

Photo by Ian Horrocks/Sunderland AFC via Getty Images

Gary Winter predicts…

Score prediction: Sunderland 2 – 0 Oxford United

Sunderland’s first goalscorer: Jobe

Arguably we’ve just had our most satisfying win of the season and, whilst it is very early days, fans are definitely daring to dream. We already knew that we are an organised unit and have quality match-winners on the pitch, but the team demonstrated levels of toughness that hadn’t previously been put to the test, and that has elevated both hope and expectation to new heights.

This upcoming game against Oxford is by no means a walkover and we must not get complacent after the tremendous work put in on Wednesday night. Ideally, after two hard-fought wins following the international break, we should be looking to make a couple of changes to freshen things up and give out some valuable minutes. I’d quite like to see Watson feature for spell, even if not from the start.

Oxford have drawn their last 5 games but we should put an end to that streak. A comfortable 2-0 win and Jobe to find the net first.

Photo by Ian Horrocks/Sunderland AFC via Getty Images

Brett Lyons-Davis predicts…

Score prediction: Sunderland 5 – 0 Oxford United

Sunderland’s first goalscorer: Isidor

It might be a dangerous thing writing this whilst still buzzing from being at Luton but I still feel we have a few more gears to go up and someone is going to get a proper shoeing off of us.

With Oxford coming to town having been poor away from their three sided stadium and still without a win on their travels they could well be that team.

I was at the game we had with them under Peter Reid in ‘98, when we smashed The U’s for 7 and I feel this weekend could see a similar display, with Wilson Isidor setting us on our for another very enjoyable afternoon on Wearside.

Having a laugh… Taking the piss… Top of the league… With Régis Le Bris

Photo by Charlotte Wilson/Offside/Offside via Getty Images

Last game predictions

A few more splinters for this round of predictions, with more on the fence than we had for the Hull game.

The fence-sitters failed to score any points as none of our predictions crew thought Chrissy Rigg would grab Sunderland’s first.

Latest standings

Will and Malc are knocked off of the top spot by Jack and the reigning champion from down-under Martin after obtaining direct hits for their 2-1 victory predictions.

Gary maintains his position at the bottom of the pile, as much like the Premier League, the newcomers are in danger of getting detached from the rest of the league.

Bomber also slips into some trouble after scoring just one point from the last three games.

How the points are awarded

Just a quick reminder of how we allocate points to our match-by-match predictions:

• Correct score = Three points
• Correct outcome (but not correct score) = One point
• Correct first Sunderland goalscorer = One point (no goal scorer is a valid call)
• Possible deductions for being lazy and not submitting on time = Yellow Card warning, then a two point deduction.