Oxford boss says ‘we were poor but we were brave’ after quarter-final win

Posted Wednesday, October 30, 2019 by PA

Oxford boss Karl Robinson saluted his players’ courage as they knocked out Sunderland to reach the Carabao Cup quarter-finals.

Robinson believed his team were a long way below their best against their League One rivals, despite coming through 4-2 on penalties after a 1-1 draw at the Kassam Stadium.

He said: “We weren’t good tonight, we were poor. But we were brave.

“I said to the players at half-time, ‘there’s a chance to write yourselves into the history books’.

“What a wonderful night for us and I’d like to thank all the people that came out. We need to get more people in the city wearing those yellow scarves.”

Rob Hall fired Oxford ahead in the 25th minute before Marc McNulty equalised from close range 12 minutes from time after strong Sunderland pressure.

In the shoot-out, Oxford converted all four of their penalties, while Sunderland’s Will Grigg fired over and McNulty saw his effort saved by Simon Eastwood.

It means Oxford, competition winners in 1986, are in the last eight for the first time in 32 years.

Robinson also admitted his players had practised spot-kicks in training on Monday.

He explained: “Some of the players practised them yesterday, and Shandon Baptiste was rubbish – that’s why I subbed him just before the finish to put John Mousinho on.

“In the game we switched off from a set-piece, and we were edgy. We were off it.

“But our back four are kids really at this level, all in their early 20s. So I’m over the moon really because there is so much more to come from us.”

Although they rode their luck in this tie, Oxford are now unbeaten in 11 matches- and have only lost twice in 2019 at the Kassam Stadium.

Robinson added: “I’ll be watching Liverpool v Arsenal on Wednesday night as a fan, and then we’ll see who we get in the draw.

“Of the two, I’d rather have League Two opponents than a Premier League side – but we’ll have to wait to see.

“But I thought they should have had a penalty, and to me the officiating was way below par.”

Sunderland’s new boss Phil Parkinson was also convinced his team should have had a spot-kick in the closing stages, when Sam Long challenged substitute Luke O’Nien in the area.

Parkinson said: “I’ve seen that penalty decision back again afterwards and for me there’s no reason for him not to give it. It’s hugely frustrating because it was a stonewall penalty.

“But even without that we should have had the game done and dusted long before then.

“Even in the first half we got into some great positions.

“The way we played… I can’t fault my players’ attitude and desire, and we started the game very quick.

“It’s just about making the most of your chances. We’ve got to find conviction and belief in our finishing.

“The last two games now we have dominated so we have to keep believing.

“We need to turn our domination into goals.”