“We Outscored Sunderland because”- ….. Oxford United Boss Gary Rowett Drops Truth Bomb after Beating Sunderland – Reveals the Real Secret behind Victory.
Oxford United Secure Championship Safety with Convincing Win Over Sunderland
Oxford United comfortably sealed their Championship survival with a 2-0 victory over Sunderland at the Kassam Stadium on Saturday.
Manager Gary Rowett praised his players for their disciplined performance and highlighted the electric atmosphere created by the home fans as a major factor in the result.
Set-piece goals on either side of halftime earned the U’s a deserved win, and Rowett hailed it as an “amazing achievement” to secure safety with a game to spare.
Sunderland, meanwhile, struggled throughout the match and failed to seriously threaten, underlining Oxford’s control of the contest.
“I’m incredibly proud of everyone involved with the club,” said Rowett. “The atmosphere was outstanding — not the biggest ground, but the energy and support matched any club I’ve worked at.
The crowd lifted the players right from the start, and they responded brilliantly.”
Rowett acknowledged the pragmatic style his side adopted in recent weeks, particularly given the lack of a standout goalscorer.
“When your top scorer only has six goals, you’ve got to find other ways to win. The centre-backs stepped up again, and we’ll gladly take that.”
Reflecting on his time in charge, Rowett admitted it was one of the most challenging situations he’d faced. “When I arrived, it looked like one of the toughest jobs I’d had.
But everyone’s pulled together — players, staff, everyone at the club. That unity made the difference.”
He explained how injuries forced a shift in approach: “We had a clear playing style early on, but losing players like Greg Leigh meant we had to adapt quickly. It wasn’t about playing pretty football; it was about being effective.”
Rowett believes the team can now look to build something more sustainable. “In the long term, we want to evolve, but in this division, you’ve got to dig in and be resilient.
Beating some of the sides we’ve taken down at home — it really is a big achievement. Our home form has been right up there.”
