Luke O’Nien’s strike just minutes after the restart handed the Black Cats the lead before Lynden Gooch sealed the win with a fine solo effort just ten minutes before full-time.
But who caught the eye at the Kassam Stadium, and who has work to do? Scroll down and click through the pages as Phil Smith dishes out his player ratings:
1. Lee Burge
Sunderland will take great encouragement from the fact that Burge had so little to do in earning his first league clean sheet of the season. One uncertain moment early on as Taylor headed just wide but otherwise unmoved. 6 Photo: FRANK REID 2020
2. Jordan Willis
Won some key challenges and was rarely stretched by a narrow Oxford side. Has picked up from where he left off last season. Got better and better as the game went on. 8 Photo: Frank Reid
3. Tom Flanagan
Rarely troubled and made some good decisions in possession. Comfortable showing allowed Hume to advance regularly. 7 Photo: Frank Reid
4. Bailey Wright
Had looked a little uncertain last week but here was back to his normal self. Absolutely dominant in his battle with the two Oxford strikers, who barely had a sign on goal from open play. 8 Photo: Frank Reid