Elliot Embleton grabbed an 89th minute winner to ensure Sunderland would move back into the top six with five games to go. The Black Cats have a game in hand on promotion rivals Wycombe Wanderers and the win at Oxford lifts Alex Neil's side four points clear of Saturday's opponents.
The Black Cats academy graduate has been a mainstay in the Sunderland side this season but has seen his game time limited of late. His late winner at the Kassam continues Sunderland's run of late goals, prompting comparisons to Roy Keane's Black Cats side, 15 years ago.
Embleton told SAFC: "We knew it was going to be a tough game, they're the highest scorers in the league and good with the ball, so it was always going to be a tough game for us defensively. We dug in and got the result.
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"Oxford are good with the ball and coming away it's not easy but we've got a solid base at the back now and going forward we're always going to make chances. There's five games left and we need to go into every game wanting to win and get thee three points.
"Obviously it's been frustrating on the bench the last couple of games but when I've came on I've made an impact. If it means the team winning so be it.
"You've seen our squad and we've got great quality. You have to take your chance when you get it and fortunately I've produced."
