Sunderland boss Ross bemoans Oxford equaliser
Posted Sunday, February 10, 2019 by PA
Sunderland manager Jack Ross insisted Oxford’s late equaliser in the 1-1 draw at the Kassam Stadium should not have stood.
The Black Cats were heading towards three important points thanks to James Dunne’s 34th-minute header at a corner.
But Oxford snatched a point when Marcus Browne turned in Jerome Sinclair’s pass with three minutes left.
Sunderland’s players protested that Sinclair had knocked Dunne to the ground before crossing low for fellow sub Browne to level.
Ross said: “When it’s a foul, it’s a foul.
“We’ve had a couple of games that have finished like that, one where we’ve conceded a worldie, and this one, which for me is an incorrect decision.”
Centre-half Dunne had bagged his first goal in only his second start for Sunderland after joining on loan from Burnley last month, powering home Grant Leadbitter’s corner.
Oxford, though, were denied three times by fine saves from goalkeeper Jon McLaughlin, who kept out Josh Ruffels and James Henry efforts with his feet and a header by Jamie Mackie with a stunning flying stop to his left.
Yet Ross played down McLaughlin’s heroics.
He said: “I get amazed by this fascination over goalkeepers making saves. That’s what they’re paid to do.
“Yes, he made a couple of good saves. I don’t think we played brilliantly but he played his part in putting us in a position to win the game.”
Sunderland remain fourth in the table with three successive home games to come.
Oxford boss Karl Robinson said: “People will question the foul on their centre-back, but to be honest, if you’re Sunderland Football Club you shouldn’t be having to worry about that.
“What about the five fouls on my players that went unpunished in the first half?
“The referee was consistently bad for both teams today.
“I thought we were by far the better team and that’s what I’m proud of.
“We have to keep this stadium rocking, as it has been in the last few matches. What the fans have seen is that we’ve got some good players.
“Jerome Sinclair will certainly make a dent while he’s here.
“What a difference it makes to a manager when he can make substitutions that can make a difference. Substitutes should be having an impact.
“Earlier in the season we didn’t have players who could new impetus to us.”
Oxford, who are unbeaten in five league games, climbed out of the bottom four in Sky Bet League One with the point.
But four of those five games have been draws.
Robinson said: “Of course we want to win more games, and we’ve got to take our chances when they come along.
“It’s five points from the last three but it could easily have been nine points.”
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