A "SENSATIONAL" Oxford United deserved their slice of good fortune which allowed them to equalise against Sunderland, according to head coach Karl Robinson.

Marcus Browne struck an 87th-minute equaliser to earn a 1-1 draw at the Kassam Stadium.

It was well deserved, with Sunderland goalkeeper Jon McLaughlin making three superb saves to keep the hosts out.

But the Black Cats appealed vociferously that James Dunne, who had headed in the opening goal, had been fouled by Jerome Sinclair in the build-up to the equaliser.

Robinson admitted they may have had a case, but argued the host of decisions which had gone against his side through the afternoon meant they had earned a rub of the green.

Match report - Oxford Utd 1, Sunderland 1

He said: "People will question the foul on their centre back, but let’s be honest if you’re Sunderland Football Club you shouldn’t have to worry about that.

"What about the fouls on my players in the first half?

"Gavin nearly broke his leg, what about the two-footed challenge on Jamie Hanson? Mous (John Mousinho) goes to ground once and gets a booking.

"So, he was consistently bad today. He made the same decisions, but he made ones for us ten times.

"He gave them one bad decision but that accumulated into the goal.

"Let’s not use that as an excuse, because I thought we were by far the better team here and that’s the bit I’m proud of."

Oxford Mail:

  • Jamie Mackie sees his first-half header superbly saved by Sunderland's Jon McLaughlin

He added: "I thought we were sensational, at times I thought we were unplayable.

"We could have been 3-0 up at half-time and then we just switched off at a set piece."

Sunderland boss Jack Ross saw the incident differently.

He said: "I think it’s a free-kick.

"As I always say, I’ve got the benefit of watching it again.

It’s not a ridiculously bad decision, it’s not like Jerome (Sinclair) has cleaned him out.

"It’s probably one of the easier free kicks to give throughout a game, so not to get it is highly unusual.

"It does affect the game, I’m always loathe to use refereeing decisions as an excuse but at that time in the match, how the match was poised, it obviously has an impact on the result which is frustrating and disappointing."

Sinclair, who was involved in the tangle, said: "It was just a 50/50 ball, it was bouncing and it just went my way.

"There were a few dubious decisions to say the least, but we’ll take that one."