Elliot Embleton's late strike at Oxford made it four wins out of five games for Sunderland - and the midfielder has challenged the Black Cats to go one better and end the season with five victories in their final five matches. Academy product Embleton came off the bench to score the decisive goal as Sunderland beat their play-off rivals 2-1 at the Kassam Stadium.
That goal lifted the Wearsiders back into the play-off spots and their fate is now in their own hands, although they have some tough fixtures ahead including an Easter Monday trip to Plymouth, who look certain to finish in the top six, while their penultimate game sees automatic promotion contenders Rotherham visit the Stadium of Light. Five wins out of five will do it for Sunderland though, and that is what Embleton says they must aim for.
"Obviously we have won four out of the last five and when you are winning the confidence is high," said the 23-year-old. "You can see yourself climbing the table and what you're working towards at the end so it's just about continuing to work hard in training and then doing what the manager wants us to do on the pitch.
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"When you win games confidence comes and obviously we've got five big games coming up so we have to keep going. There are five games left and we go into every game wanting to win every one.
"We have given ourselves a solid base to build on and hopefully we can get the five wins."
Sunderland led at Oxford thanks to Corry Evans' goal on the quarter-hour, but Elliott Moore headed the hosts level from a set-piece before half-time. Embleton came on with five minutes left and he tucked away the winning goal in the 89th minute, seizing on a pass from Ross Stewart after Jay Matete's run had opened up the Oxford defence.
Embleton said: "Jay got it and gave it to Ross, I thought he was going to shoot but I gave him a shout and I was free. I just had to make sure I hit the target and the goalkeeper came out.
"I remember thinking 'don't miss' and then, I think I fell over and couldn't believe it!"
The goal sparked jubilant scenes in the away end, as Sunderland fans celebrated their team's stride towards a play-off place. Embleton said: "Yeah when you score at the Stadium of Light and there are 30,000, there that is crazy.
"Equally scoring in front of the away fans they go crazy so it's a good feeling. It's massive having them and it creates a better atmosphere for us, and it's more like a home game for us sometimes.
"Obviously they are unbelievable fans. I don't know how many were there on Saturday but thousands and thousands travel the country and are really good.
"It was a big three points and obviously Oxford are trying to get into the play-offs as well and to take three points off them is big for us."
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