Sunderland secured a place in the FA Cup fifth round for the first time since 2015 with a 1-0 victory over Oxford United at the Kassam Stadium. The match turned on a contentious first-half penalty awarded to Sunderland when Dennis Cirkin went down under a challenge from Christ Makosso. With no VAR available, referee Thomas Kirk's decision stood, and Habib Diarra converted the spot-kick to give the Premier League side the lead.

Oxford United, battling relegation fears in the Championship, put up a spirited fight despite the controversial setback. The home side had previously defeated Sunderland 2-0 in a league fixture last April, but the Black Cats have since enjoyed a remarkable turnaround, securing promotion to the Premier League through the play-offs. The rain-soaked pitch held up well enough for a competitive match, with Oxford pushing hard in the closing stages as Sunderland clung to their narrow advantage.

This victory continues Sunderland's impressive form since their return to the top flight, while Oxford must now refocus on their league survival bid. The Black Cats' progression in the FA Cup provides a welcome distraction from their Premier League campaign, where they've shown resilience since their promotion. For Oxford, the cup exit comes as they face the very real prospect of dropping back to League One after two seasons in the second tier.