Well that was better. Not perfect by any means, but following the shitshow of Norwich on Tuesday, this was much more like it: players in their correct positions, a back four at home, and plenty of individual and team effort all over the pitch.

As on Tuesday, the initial omens weren’t great as the 3A sped by my bus stop with a Bus Full sign, with loads of people heading to the Kassam leaving me and three others stranded with 40 minutes to kick off. Two of the others set off on the 45-minute walk to the stadium while me and another chap (whose name I later discovered is John from the North Stand – hi, if you’re reading this) also started walking, keeping one eye open for a passing taxi.

As luck would have it, after 15 minutes we spotted one with its light showing going down Rose Hill (on its way back from having dropped off another fare at the ground), doing a swift U-y in response to our hopeful hail. It dropped us off by the railway bridge with ten minutes to spare till kick off. Four pounds apiece well spent.

Inside the ground, the atmosphere was also much improved from Tuesday. People were nodding approvingly at the line-up and many were eager to see what Jeon Jin-Woo would offer on his first start, while also looking forward to Jamie Donley’s first home appearance. No wrong-shaped pegs in other-shaped holes.

Some people voiced their concern at seeing Matt Ingram named in goal. I wasn’t one of them. I thought his performance at MK in the previous round was man-of-the-match material and, having seen him plenty of times in training, I was confident that his display against Brighton in the League Cup at the start of the season was an aberration.

The other concern raised was about the inclusion of Will Vaulks as the defensive midfielder, with Jamie McDonnell on the bench. I was also a bit trepidatious about this, but in fact Vaulksy proved us wrong with possibly his best performance of the season. In fact, among the starting XI, I don’t think anyone gave a sub-par display.

The twin full-back pair of Brodie Spencer and Jack Currie was quietly efficient, keeping the Sunderland wide men mostly quiet, with both Jeon and Stan Mills tracking back to help, and shielded by Vaulks and Cameron Brannagan. On the rare occasions that they were beaten, Ciaron Brown and Christ Makosso were both always well positioned to clear up any danger, except for one occasion when Romaine Mundle wriggled clear of Spencer before pulling his shot well wide.

It’s telling that Sunderland’s only clear chance in the first half was from the penalty spot. From my seat in the East Stand, it looked like Makosso got the ball before Dennis Cirkin, while TV replays I’ve seen since have been inconclusive. Whatever, it was a silly challenge and a very soft penalty, the kind of contact that I’ve seen waved away plenty of times this season when it’s been Oxford on the attack. Habib Diarra’s spot kick was converted confidently, although if Ingram had stayed upright a fraction of a second longer it might have been a different story.

The only effort United had in response was a shot by Donley that Robin Roefs beat away, but throughout the first half, Oxford had looked the equal of the Premier League side, with Jeon and Mills causing the Mackems’ back line a few problems and Will Lankshear putting himself about, despite the worst attentions of Luke O’Nien.

The second period was a bit more disappointing from an attacking point of view, with very few chances coming Oxford’s way. Lankshear did manage to break free from O’Nien on one occasion, only to be denied by the referee whistling for a foul. Arguably the correct decision but if the free kick was for shirt pulling (there was little else wrong that I could see), then one would have to ask why O’Nien wasn’t similarly penalised on several other occasions throughout the game.

There was a 15-minute spell in the second half that saw Ingram make several saves in quick succession to keep Sunderland at bay, with particularly impressive stops from Trai Hume and Eliezer Mayenda, among others.

At the other end, all United had to offer were Vaulks’s long throws, which generally caused about as much bother as a mosquito at a camp fire. Only one threatened to result in anything positive as Brown helped it on to Makosso, but he was unable to get a meaningful touch on the ball and Roefs was able to gather.

Not a bad showing against a Premier League side and certainly something to build on as United now return to the more serious business of trying to stay in the Championship. Hopefully, this match will go some way toward helping Matt Bloomfield determine what his best starting XI will be, although the lack of firepower is a serious concern. Lankshear too often finds himself isolated, as the wingers and attacking midfielders remain too far away from him to get involved. The disadvantage of playing one up front.

The other concern would be the lack of meaningful depth in the squad, especially in attack, with too many of the substitutes failing to strengthen the side, although arguably players such as Przsemysłav Płacheta and Aidomo Emakhu need more time in which to get involved. One would hope that the return from injury of Brian De Keersmaecker and Nik Prelec would help, but with games running out that would have to happen sooner rather than later.

No more cups to worry about (apart from the U18s in FA Youth Cup action against Manchester United on Wednesday and the women in WFA Cup action against Charlton Athletic on Sunday), so all attention returns to the small matter of a trip against currently top-of-the-table Middlesbrough this weekend.

UTFO

Games without a penalty: 86 – a new Football League record. Well done to all concerned.