ELLIOT Embleton hit Oxford United’s play-off hopes with a sucker punch as his late goal inflicted a damaging defeat at the Kassam Stadium.

The Sunderland substitute had been on the pitch a matter of moments when he fired into the far corner two minutes from time, earning the visitors a priceless victory over their promotion rivals.

It was harsh on United, who had more possession and chances at a sold-out Kassam Stadium, but they could not add to Elliott Moore’s first-half header.

Captain Corry Evans had put the Black Cats ahead after 16 minutes, before his opposite number marked his return with a goal from a set-piece.

Ciaron Brown forced Anthony Patterson into a great save and Billy Bodin shaved the woodwork, but Embleton had the final say as Sunderland continued their habit of scoring late goals.

United have lost three league games in a row for the first time since August 2019 and it has come at the worst possible time, leaving them four points short of the Sky Bet League One play-offs with four matches left.

Cameron Brannagan and Moore made welcome returns to the starting XI, the latter featuring for the first time since injuring his ankle on February 22.

The other change saw Bodin begin in midfield as Ryan Williams, Marcus McGuane and Gavin Whyte dropped to the bench.

Sam Long and Mark Sykes shifted to the right flank as Karl Robinson stuck with 4-3-3, while James Henry and John Mousinho dropped out of the squad.

Sunderland made the same number of changes and switched to a back three, with Lynden Gooch, Jay Matete and Nathan Broadhead coming in for Danny Batth, Luke O’Nien and Alex Pritchard.

The sell-out crowd and April sun reflected the importance of this end-of-season encounter and both sides went close in the first five minutes.

Sykes’ 20-yard effort was tipped over by Patterson after good work from Matty Taylor and Nathan Holland, before Sunderland should have opened the scoring.

Ross Stewart collected a through ball and turned inside Moore to set up Broadhead six yards out, but the striker shot straight at Luke McNally on the line.

Sykes had another chance after 11 minutes when Brannagan split the defence with a delicious pass, only for Sunderland to take the lead shortly after.

Jack Clarke picked Long’s pocket and won a free-kick off Herbie Kane on the edge of the penalty area. The wing back hit the set-piece straight into the wall and Matete’s follow-up was weak, but the clearance went straight to Evans to poke home from 12 yards.

Sunderland looked to slow the game down and hurt United on the break, with Brannagan rushing back to stop Patrick Roberts getting a shot away from one such counter-attack.

The U’s put together some well-worked moves that broke down in or around the Sunderland box, although the visitors remained dangerous and Gooch fired into the Jim Smith Stand after Matete found him in space.

Robinson had spoken about increasing United’s threat from set-pieces and it earned them a deserved equaliser.

After Taylor was fouled on the left, Bodin curled a pinpoint free-kick towards the back post and Moore headed high into the net to get off the mark for the season.

It capped a strong end to the half from the U’s, who almost equalised in stoppage-time when Holland was crowded out after opting to take a touch, rather than shoot first time.

Sunderland changed things up at the break as O’Nien replaced Roberts, but United remained on the front foot and Sykes flashed a couple of passes across the face of goal shortly after the restart.

Luke McNally then fired a low effort just wide when Sunderland backed off after he took possession on halfway, before Whyte replaced Holland just after the hour mark in the hosts’ first change.

The Northern Ireland international almost created a goal within minutes of coming on as he picked out fellow Cardiff City loanee Brown at the far post.

The left back headed powerfully towards goal, but Patterson got a strong hand to the ball to push it away.

United continued to hunt possession and it almost led to a second goal after a deflection fell Taylor’s way, with Matete hauling the striker back and earning a booking.

From a similar position to his goal against Bolton Wanderers in February, Bodin whipped the free-kick towards the far post and the ball shaved the woodwork.

Batth replaced Broadhead with 11 minutes left as Black Cats boss Alex Neil swapped a defender for a striker, before Embleton came on for Clarke.

Sunderland perked up and capitalised on their best spell of the half with a winner that broke United hearts.

Matete forced his way into the penalty area and found Stewart to his right, with the striker calmly laying the ball off to Embleton to pass into the far corner.

Stevens kept United in it when he saved one-on-one from Stewart after Brannagan's loose pass sent the striker clear, before Sam Winnall replaced Long.

Bodin curled just past the far post in stoppage-time as United hunted an equaliser, but it would not come.

Oxford United (4-3-3): Stevens, Long (Winnall 90+1), McNally, Moore, Brown, Bodin, Kane, Brannagan, Sykes, Taylor, Holland (Whyte 62).

Unused subs: Eastwood, Seddon, Forde, Williams, McGuane.

Booked: None.

Sunderland (3-4-1-2): Patterson, Winchester, Wright, Cirkin, Gooch, Evans, Matete, Clarke (Embleton 85), Roberts (O’Nien 46), Stewart, Broadhead (Batth 79).

Unused subs: Hoffman, Doyle, Neil, Hume.

Booked: Matete, Cirkin.

Referee: Ben Toner (Lancashire).

Attendance: 11,690 (1,782 visitors).