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Oxford United assistant manager Craig Short has told Sunderland that the U’s will go to the Stadium of Light this weekend without any fear.

Des Buckingham’s side only achieved promotion last season from League One and they have been considerably steady in the Championship so far.

Currently, they are sitting tenth in the league table and on Tuesday night they drew 1-1 against another newly promoted side in the shape of Derby County.

Short stressed that the U’s matched stride for stride with a club of Derby County’s status and insisted they will be taking a lot of confidence from that clash.

Table toppers Sunderland are Oxford United’s opponents this weekend and Short is confident that the U’s will travel to the Stadium of Light with a fearless attitude.

“I think you will take a lot of confidence that another team, promoted, a big club and we have matched them”, Short told the U’s media after the Derby County match.

“And, I know there is a huge challenge ahead of us at the weekend.

“But I do not think we are going to go there with any fear.

“We are going to go there and enjoy ourselves and I think that is what the players have done this year.”

Oxford United last visited the Stadium of Light in League One in 2021 and played out a 1-1 draw with the Black Cats.