Regis Le Bris hails Sunderland energy and ambition after FA Cup win at Oxford

Regis Le Bris praised the energy and ambition of his Sunderland team after they won 1-0 away at Oxford to progress to the FA Cup fifth round.

A penalty in the first half from Habib Diarra was sufficient to see off the Championship side but, despite a flurry of chances after the break, a second goal that would have given the result a fairer reflection never arrived.

Indeed, the Premier League visitors were possibly fortunate the penalty decision in the 32nd minute went their way, Dennis Cirkin going over in the box under a challenge by Christ Makosso.

In the absence of VAR, the referee was forced go with his first look, a call with which the home supporters vociferously disagreed.

Sunderland were beaten by Oxford in the second tier last season but have come a long way since that 2-0 loss in April.

A comfortable mid-table position in the top flight meant Le Bris had a free hand to go with a strong line-up at the Kassam Stadium as his team moved a step closer to Wembley.

“We expected a tough game,” he said. “We went there last season and struggled and lost 2-0. Direct play, second balls, the ability to fight around the drop zone. It was one part of the game that was really important. We struggled a bit during the first half, but it was better during the second.

“During the second half it’s always the case the game is a bit more open, you can create more, but we didn’t score the second goal.”

Sunderland last reached the fifth round in 2015 during the previous spell in the top flight and had quarter-final appearances in 2014 and 2012.

Not since 2004, however, when they were beaten in the semi-final by Millwall have they enjoyed a Wembley date in the competition.

Asked whether their strong Premier League form had set his team up for a cup run, Le Bris said: “We never know because we don’t know our next opponent.

“We played here with out best team. We went strong, with a good energy, with ambition. We’ll see for the next round.”

Asked whether he felt it was a correct call to penalise Makosso for the penalty, he said: “I didn’t review the situation. We need to trust the referee.”

Oxford boss Matt Bloomfield predictably took a different view, one shared by home fans who booed off the officials at half-time.

“We’re not getting any decisions at the minute,” he said. “That’s factual. There’s been many wrong decisions against us recently.”

Attention now turns to the fight to avoid relegation from the Championship, with the team currently 23rd and five points from safety following Tuesday’s 3-0 home defeat to Norwich.

“A remarkably improved performance on Tuesday,” said Bloomfield of his team’s cup exit. “I’m proud. The effort and endeavour, we played some real quality at times.

“We got into some really good areas but maybe didn’t create enough clear-cut opportunities.”