DIARR STRAITS

Habib's on the spot as Black Cats sink struggling U's

- BY ROBERT O'CONNOR

SCORING HABIT Diarra sends Matt Ingram the wrong way after Cirkin was tripped

SUNDERLAND reached the FA Cup fifth round for the first time since 2015 as Habib Diarra's contentious first-half penalty dashed Oxford's hopes of an upset.

The Championship side proved stubborn opponents on a pitch that had been lashed by rain earlier in the day.

But the surface held out at the Kassam Stadium and so did Regis Le Bris' Premier League visitors, scraping through thanks to a decision that convinced few supporters in the home section.