SIMON Eastwood is desperate for Oxford United to avoid a repeat of last season’s shocking start, but the goalkeeper admits few will expect them to get a result tomorrow.

A trip to Sky Bet League One title favourites Sunderland is just about the toughest opening game Karl Robinson’s side could have received.

But for Eastwood, that means the stakes are higher for the Black Cats, who drew both meetings with the U’s 1-1 last season.

The goalkeeper said: “There could be 30-odd thousand there, so it’s a good game to start on.

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“You’re getting it out of the way a little bit because they are going to be one of the tougher teams.

“But we’ll go there with not as much pressure on us as in the other games.

“Not many people will think we will get a result, so to go there and nick a draw or win we’d be happy.

“We still want to win, but there’s not as much pressure as a home game against a lesser side.”

The draw at the Stadium of Light last September was one of United’s highlights in the opening weeks of the 2018/19 campaign.

Just four other points were collected in the opening 11 games, plunging them into a relegation battle which lasted for another six months.

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With Peterborough United to follow next weekend it looks like another tricky opening, but Eastwood knows the importance of finding a way to dig out results.

He said: “We know how bad the start was last season and we’ve got a very tough start this time, so we need to get some points on the board in the first five games.

“Games come thick and fast, so if we do lose one or two it’s not the end of the world.”