OXFORD United continued their good form on the road as Matty Taylor returned from isolation to earn a 1-1 draw at Sunderland.

The striker’s equaliser nine minutes before the break meant both goals sparked anger among the opposition fans, due to decisions by referee Jeremy Simpson.

Leon Dajaku’s opener came after Cameron Brannagan was booked for an apparent dive in the Sunderland penalty area, while the hosts wanted a foul on Lynden Gooch in the build-up to Taylor’s effort.

Black Cats forwards Ross Stewart and Nathan Broadhead hit the woodwork after the break, Simon Eastwood getting a vital touch to the ball for the latter, as neither side took full advantage of being the only promotion contenders in action this afternoon.

The point lifts United above Sheffield Wednesday to seventh, as they made it four unbeaten on the road in Sky Bet League One.

The seven U’s players who tested positive for Covid returned to training this week and four went straight into the starting XI.

Simon Eastwood was back in goal, Anthony Forde and Elliott Moore comprised the right side of defence and Taylor led the line.

Steve Seddon’s suspension meant Sam Long moved across to left back, while Jordan Thorniley and Mark Sykes were only fit enough for the substitutes’ bench.

United’s last visit to the Stadium of Light was full of controversy and they were left feeling hard done by again inside seven minutes.

Brannagan went down in the penalty area and was adjudged to have dived by Simpson, who handed out the game’s first booking.

Sunderland broke down the middle of the pitch and the ball found its way to Dajaku, who beat Forde on his outside and fired past Eastwood.

Taylor and Bailey Wright, former teammates at Bristol City, were both booked a few minutes later after a coming together by the dugouts saw angry words exchanged.

Gavin Whyte started brightly and saw a couple of shots blocked, but United were unable to trouble Thorben Hoffman in the first half an hour, despite controlling possession.

Sunderland were happy to sit off and let the U’s have the ball, until another controversial moment nine minutes before the break.

Nathan Holland did not give up after losing possession on the byline and Gooch went down under the winger’s challenge, only for Simpson to wave play on.

The West Ham United loanee broke into the penalty area and fed Taylor, who lashed home his ninth goal of the season – and ran to celebrate in front of the dugouts, mimicking Max Power’s celebration in April.

The home fans were incensed and they wanted a penalty when Brannagan blocked Gooch’s cross, before United hacked away from inside the six-yard box in stoppage-time.

For the second season in a row it was 1-1 at the interval, before the U’s – and particularly Luke McNally - breathed a big sigh of relief 14 minutes into the second half.

The centre back did not realise Dajaku was behind him as he let a backpass run towards Eastwood and the goalscorer took possession.

He teed up Ross Stewart to crash a shot against the crossbar from 12 yards, before Brannagan slid in to stop the ball running to Gooch and Carl Winchester shot wide.

The striker headed straight at Eastwood moments later, with Elliot Embleton then replacing Dajaku in Sunderland’s first change.

Gooch blazed over from ten yards when a Pritchard free-kick rebounded his way as Sunderland’s good spell continued.

Robinson responded by bringing on Marcus McGuane and Dan Agyei for James Henry and Taylor with 16 minutes left, with Agyei immediately pouncing on an error to cut inside and shoot straight a Hoffman.

Sunderland struck the woodwork for a second time with ten minutes left as Eastwood made a crucial stop.

Broadhead beat the offside trap and shot from a tight angle, with the U’s goalkeeper brilliantly touching the ball on to the post and behind for a corner.

Sykes replaced Holland late on and the home fans grew more frustrated as United saw the game out to claim a valuable point.

Sunderland (3-4-1-2): Hoffman, Wright, Flanagan, Doyle, Gooch, Winchester, Neil, Dajaku (Embleton 66), Broadhead, Pritchard (O’Brien 85), Stewart.

Unused subs: Patterson, Younger, Dyce, Kimpioka, Johnson.

Booked: Wright, Neil.

Oxford United (4-3-3): Eastwood, Forde, McNally, Moore, Long, Henry (McGuane 74), Kane, Brannagan, Whyte, Taylor (Agyei 74), Holland (Sykes 82).

Unused subs: Plumley, Thorniley, Williams, Bodin.

Booked: Brannagan, Taylor.

Referee: Jeremy Simpson (Lancashire).

Attendance: TBC.