SUNDERLAND 1, Oxford United 1. Sound familiar?

For the third time in four visits to the Stadium of Light, Oxford United came away with a point after the teams scored one goal apiece.

It is not a result to be sniffed at, as Sunderland remain a big club in Sky Bet League One even in their fourth season at this level.

Unlike the previous two 1-1 draws, the U’s came from behind to grab a point – although that disguised the fact they were in control for much of the first half.

Read also: Karl Robinson explains thinking behind Sunderland substitutions

They did not help themselves by conceding a poor goal, even if you hardly needed yellow-tinted glasses to recognise that Cameron Brannagan had a decent shout for a penalty moments earlier.

Regardless, Sunderland were able to cut through United’s midfield far too easily and Anthony Forde will be disappointed he did not make it harder for Leon Dajaku to swerve past him and fire the hosts in front.

A lot has been made of the U’s dropping points from winning positions this season, but it was only the fifth time they have conceded first. They lost the previous four games.

United have become more resilient as the campaign has gone on, though, and did not change their game-plan as a result of the early goal.

RATINGS: What we thought of Oxford United's players

It helped that Sunderland were happy to sit off, but the U’s controlled possession without having the cutting edge to create many meaningful opportunities.

Herbie Kane’s statistics encapsulate this: Nobody on the pitch played more than his 63 passes, but not one was defined as a ‘key’ ball that hurt the hosts.

At least United were clinical when the chance came, with Nathan Holland’s decision-making spot-on and Matty Taylor’s finishing as sharp as ever.

Anyone who has had Covid will tell you it knocks you for six even when your symptoms are relatively mild, so it is perhaps no surprise the U’s dropped off after the break.

WATCH: Highlights of yesterday's game

Tiredness was no excuse on some occasions, though, particularly when Luke McNally’s momentarily lapse in concentration almost led to Ross Stewart putting Sunderland back in front.

United needed players to wrestle back the initiative and Marcus McGuane and Dan Agyei have the attributes to do that so were the right substitutions, although by then the momentum was firmly in favour of the home side.

Once again, the U’s showed their ability to see games out and claim a point, when in previous seasons they would have left with nothing.

Eight points from visits to Sheffield Wednesday, Burton Albion, Ipswich Town and Sunderland is also a great return, especially compared to their single draw from trips to Cambridge United, Bolton Wanderers, AFC Wimbledon and Cheltenham Town.

They are yet to triumph over a side currently in Sky Bet League One’s top six, but also proving hard to beat when they meet these teams.

The U’s will need that statement win sooner rather than later, but it is no cause for alarm at this stage of the season.