Oxford United deserved better than Sunderland point - Karl Robinson

Tariqe Fosu’s debut goal was cancelled out by Lynden Gooch’s second-half penalty as the Sky Bet League One opener finished 1-1.

But while the U’s head coach was proud of the visitors’ display in front of more than 33,000 at the Stadium of Light, there was bitter disappointment about some of the officiating.

Referee Peter Wright ruled out a goal by Rob Dickie which would have made it 2-0, after spotting a foul by Jamie Mackie.

Also read: Sunderland 1, Oxford United 1 - match report

Robinson felt goalkeeper Jon McLaughlin was doing the same, while United are adamant Josh Ruffels won the ball in the incident which led to the penalty.

He said: “We deserved a lot more than we got against the best team in the league away from home.

“The goal Rob Dickie scores is embarrassing.

“Jamie had a tug, but the keeper’s pulling him all the place.

“How can he affect him when Rob’s actually in front of him?

“It’s not like he stopped him coming out, he missed the ball. He’s nowhere near it.

“Ruffs told me he touched the ball and then the man.

“I’m not going to say by who because I’ll get done, but it was one of the worst performances I’ve seen all season.

“I’m furious because my players deserved more and they never seem to get it.

“I feel sorry for them sometimes, because they showed tremendous desire and application.

“And why shouldn’t you when you’re followed by the fans who travel up and down the country.”

Dickie did not have a good view of why his goal was chalked off, but did agree with Robinson over the penalty.

He said: "I wasn’t sure whether it was a foul or not, because I was in the thick of it.

"I’m not so much disappointed in that, I’m more disappointed in the penalty decision that was given.

"I didn’t feel it was a penalty, I would have at least liked him to go and talk to the linesman about it.

"I suppose at the end of the day it is what it is and we’ve come away with a point we should be OK with."