Sunderland Stadium
Port Vale secured a remarkable victory against Sunderland, advancing to the quarter-finals of the FA Cup. The League One side delivered a disciplined defensive performance, with manager Jon Brady commending his players for their resilience. Ben Waine’s first-half header, stemming from a corner, proved decisive as Sunderland struggled to carve out clear opportunities. Despite missed chances by Dan Ballard, Port Vale’s counter-attacks, particularly through substitute George Hall, posed significant threats.
Jon Brady said: “I’m in a bit of shock really, to be honest. Look we worked out a game plan, worked very hard. We knew we had to suffer, we knew we were going to be without the ball and that the pitch might help us a bit. Overall, I’m really pleased. We work a lot on the distances between our units and I think at times, we started to drop and they got the ball through our lines once or twice in the second half. That was really important for us. Then the attitude was there… we had a few breakaways. George Hall nearly got in two or three times with his speed.”
Brady continued: “Obviously we play on it week in, week out. We’re not proud of it, to be honest, and obviously work that’s been done on it, it didn’t work out. And this is prior to me being here, it didn’t work out. It’ll be an unbelievable pitch next season and that’s what we want to get it to and we want to play good football. But at the moment, you can only play the conditions and what’s in front of you and to the characteristics of your group and that’s what we’re trying to do overall at the moment.”
The victory highlighted Port Vale’s tactical acumen, as they forced Sunderland into playing a direct game, which their defense managed effectively. Brady acknowledged the poor state of the pitch, which is scheduled for replacement in the summer, as a contributing factor to the match’s outcome. Despite the challenges, Port Vale’s ability to adapt to the conditions and execute their game plan was evident. The win not only marks a significant achievement for the club but also sets the stage for potential further success in the FA Cup.
About The Author
