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<\/p>\nOxford United host Sunderland in the FA Cup fourth round<\/p>\n
12:22, 15 Feb 2026Updated 16:07, 15 Feb 2026<\/p>\n
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Oxford United’s Kassam Stadium <\/p>\n
Sunderland have travelled to Oxford United for their fourth round FA Cup tie on Sunday afternoon amid awful weather conditions.<\/p>\n
The Black Cats are set to face the Championship side at the Kassam Stadium having beaten Everton on penalties in the third round.<\/p>\n
However, heavy rainfall over the last couple of hours and a bad forecast has meant there are some concerns over the state of the pitch.. It passed an 11am pitch inspection with kick-off scheduled for 2pm.<\/p>\n
However, reports from Oxford suggested referee Thomas Kirk will continue to monitor conditions ahead of kick-off, with rain still falling in Oxford.<\/p>\n
There was a further pitch inspection at 1pm as Kirk took another look as the rain eased slightly and conditions brightened. And he adjudged the game to be good to play, with players from each team sent out to warm up on the surface.<\/p>\n
The surface remains very heavy and the Northern Echo report that there ‘are wet patches along the touchline of the pitch at the Kassam, as well as in one of the goalmouths’.<\/p>\n
Sunderland<\/a> boss Regis Le Bris named a strong side to take on the Championship outfit as he looked to progress into the fifth round. There were six changes from the side that started against Liverpool.<\/p>\n Le Bris had admitted he would juggle his squad with the Premier League still the main focus.<\/p>\n “We’ll probably adjust the squad, but it will be important to go strong,” he said. “I think the schedule won’t be too busy during this second part of the season. It’s possible to combine both.”<\/p>\n Sunderland XI: Roefs; Hume, Mukiele, O’Nien, Cirkin; Geertruida, Le Fee, Diarra; Talbi, Mundle, Isidor. Subs: Ellborg, Sadiki, Jocelin, Rigg, Angulo, Brobbey, Jenson Jones, Whittaker, Mayenda<\/p>\n Make sure you don’t miss out on the latest SAFC news by joining our free WhatsApp group. You can get all the breaking news and best analysis sent straight to your phone by clicking here<\/a> to subscribe.<\/p>\n You can also subscribe to our free newsletter service. Click here<\/a> to be sent all the day’s biggest stories.<\/p>\n