Sunderland visit Port Vale in the Emirates FA Cup Last time out Sunderland beat Plymouth and Port Vale drew with Notts County. The Black Cats make their way to Burslem to face League Two side Port Vale in the first-round proper of the FA Cup. The game will be shown live on BT Sport. (and ESPN+) Cattermole, Watmore, Wyke, Robson and Hume are all unavailable through injury, but Max Power is back in contention after his latest ban. Jack Ross could also call on some of his fringe players in the next two games, but he will be keen to continue their six game winning run. Jack Ross: “I think it goes without saying the main priority is promotion and return to Championship, but it is a tournament that should retain its traditional values, Charlie (Methven) has spoken about benefiting us financially, so there’s a whole load of reasons we want to progress. We want to continue the form we are in and it is an important game.” “The Checkatrade (Trophy) game is most awkward, midweek, closer in proximity to Sunday, Ross said. Beyond that it is relatively straight forward, it is just like normal league fixtures. It falls on a weekend, so the rest period since Plymouth is there." “In terms of needing rest, we have longer than a week after Plymouth (played last Saturday), it is just being treated like a league game.” Neil Aspin: “What I want from the players is that they give a good account of themselves, and they give it a real good go, that’s all you can ask. You don’t want them to come off the pitch having any regrets, that they could have done more.” “On the day if they’re not good enough, you hold your hands up, but they must do everything they can to get a result. We will be the underdogs, but we have to fight and scrap as if we are underdogs”. “There is life outside the Premier League, and to every league and non-league club who enters the FA Cup, it’s a special competition that we all want to do well in and progress. " "It’s a great draw for us in terms of it being high profile and against a big club, but it’s not a great draw in terms of it being the strongest team in the competition." Form: Match Appointments: Referee: Anthony Backhouse Assistants: Alix Pashley & Marvyn Amphlett Fourth Official: Peter Wright Team Line ups Sunderland: McLaughlin, Matthews, Flanagan, Baldwin, James, Honeyman (c), Power, Gooch, McGeady, Maguire, Maja Subs: Ruiter, Loovens, McGeouch, O’Nien, Sinclair, Mumba, Kimpioka Injured: Watmore, Wyke, Hume, Robson, Cattermole Port Vale: Brown, Legge, Smith, Rawlinson, Clark, Conlon, Joyce, Hannant, Vassell, Whitfield, Pope Substitutes: Gibbons, Kay, Miller, Hornby, Kanu, Dodds. Injured: Oyeleke, Montano. Betting Odds: H 7/2 A 3/4 D 4/5 My two pence: Only the second time that we have played at this stage of the FA cup. I'd like to see the clean sheets and the winning run continue as long as it's not at the expense of any unnecessary injuries. Charlie says we need the money from a cup run, so we might take this game seriously and play a strong first eleven. If we do my guess is a 2-0 away win. Ha’way the Lads please log in to view this image
Going for the away win 1 - 2 Sinclair and Power. Won’t be a classic game as Ross will unstandably change things around a bit. Take the win and money, then move on.
I think he'll change goalkeepers, give Loovrens a game in the back four, Power in midfield and leave Maja in to give him the chance to get back on the goal trail. It'll not be easy but we have enough for another 2-0 win. Here's hoping.
Yeah I know Honeyman is divisive but I can't see the logic of Sinclair over Maja. I think we're playing again a few days after so maybe thinking rest him for that but the FA cup takes priority over the EFL trophy.
I think we will be pretty much full strength on Sunday with a virtual different 11 playing on Tuesday.
It is worrying about Maja, has the transfer talk affected him ? or is Jack being cautious, that team should win no bother 0-2 Sinclair needs to start scoring.
A win is a win and its on TV so we have a responsibility to the people who can't make it as well as those who go. The next round could be an important tie on the road to our resurrection ... I think Ross will follow the same formula of allowing the home team to blow themselves out in the first half before stepping things up, with significant substitutions etc, after 60 minutes. 3-1 and a home tie in the next round with a bigger attendance than we'd get if we were still in the PL.
Cheers, very kind. Not going tomorrow mate but I was at Plymouth, have tickets for Walsall & Accrington and will go to Portsmouth now I know it won't be moved.
I would start either Maja or Honeyman tbh., maybe even both, the full squad is required for two games so close together, keeping the changes to a minimum is important and now that we have what looks like a bench with options, JR will I am sure use this to good effect, circumstances permitting. On the home front its great news that not only is Watmore progressing but that Denver Hume is back in training, and that Catts and Robson are not too far away.
Great thread as ever RTB. Hopefully an away win ( 3 - 0 ), no injuries and a home draw in the next round. Think JR will keep Maja on bench with an eye on Midweek given he’s just recovered from injury. Hopefully Sinclair can play a pivotal role and terrify their backline.
Looking forward to watching this on the telly tomorrow. Last time I was at Vale Park we won 2-1 and Tony Norman saved a pen I'll go for a 3-1 win and a bit of fun watching the 2nd round draw
Me too It's also being shown in glorious 4K Ultra High Definition - which must be a first for Sunderland. Channel 433 on BT Sport and 555 on Virgin Media, that's if your broadband and TV are capable of showing 4K broadcasts.
