Emirates FA Cup Fourth Round
Sunday 15 February 2026
Kassam Stadium, Oxford
Oxford United… 0
Sunderland… 1
(Diarra 32’ pen)
Oxford United dropped out of the FA Cup after a narrow defeat to Sunderland.
A penalty decision on the half-hour mark was the deciding factor, with Diarra scoring from the spot. It was a spirited and fighting United performance and one which on another day could have resulted in an FA Cup shock.
Matt Bloomfield made eight changes from Tuesday night, with a first start for Jin Woo Jeon and Jamie Donley back from injury which he picked up in the Third Round over MK Dons.
It was a fast start from United, who put the pressure on the high-flying Premier League side right away.
The first effort of the game did go to the visitors, with Wilson Isidor poking a shot into the side netting on 12 minutes. Donley had the first shot on target in the game, with an effort from a tight angle saved straight at Roefs.
United were performing well, however, it was the visitors who took the lead. Christ Makosso was adjudged to have fouled Dennis Cirkin right inside the area which drewe and a penalty. Diarra stepped up and calmly rolled into the bottom right corner.
It was almost level right on half time. Vaulks’ long throw flew straight onto the head of Makosso who just nudged the header wide six yards out.
Sunderland forced Matt Ingram into a series of strong saves inside the first 20 minutes of the second period. First Chemsdine Talbi hit a stinging effort from outside the box which Ingram got a fingertip too to keep out of the top corner.
He then had to face further efforts from Trai Hume and Romain Mundle which both had to be turned behind for corners to keep it out of the net.
On 70 minutes, United had the next opportunity to level the game. Substitute Jamie McDonnell ran onto a loose ball in the box and scooped his left foot at it but it flew over the bar from a promising area.
The goal wouldn’t come for United who fall out at the Fourth Round, with all eyes now on the league.
Oxford United: Ingram, Brown, Vaulks, Brannagan (McDonnell 65’), Spencer, Mills (Placheta 80’), Currie (Roosken 80’), Lankshear, Jeon (Emakhu 65’), Donley (Romeny 65’), Makosso
Subs: Cumming, Long, Konak, Harris
Sunderland: Roefs, Cirkin, Geertruida, Talbi, O’nein, Mundle, Isidor, Diarra, Mulere, Le Fee, Hume
Subs: Ellborg, Brobbey, Ramirez, Rigg, Dossou, Sadiki, Ta, Jones, Whittaker
50/50: £1,074. 105472
Attendance: 9,878 (1,497 away)