Port Vale vs Sunderland predictions: Black Cats set to end Vale's Cup dream
Aidan Perkins
League One bottom club Port Vale are in the FA Cup fifth round for first time in 30 years
Premier League Sunderland sit 57 places higher in the pyramid
Recommended bet: Under 2.5 goals
Third tier Port Vale are the lowest-ranked side left in the FA Cup and they have the chance of causing a huge upset when they host Premier League Sunderland at Vale Park on Sunday.
Vale edged out Championship side Bristol City at home on Tuesday, winning 1-0 after extra-time in their rearranged fourth-round tie and the underdogs will now hope for a repeat against the Black Cats.
Sunderland, who are enjoying a fine season sitting up in 11th in the Premier League, will be bracing themselves for a testing afternoon on what is likely to be a very tricky playing surface.
The latest Port Vale vs Sunderland odds are available on LiveScore Bet
Team news
Valiants boss Jon Brady is likely to reward the majority of the players who started against Bristol City with a place in the XI to take on Sunderland.
Aston Villa loanee Joe Gauci is set to start in goal, with New Zealand-born striker Ben Waine, the goal hero against the Robins, up front.
Scottish midfielder George Byers remains on the sidelines for the hosts.
First-choice Sunderland goalkeeper Robin Roefs is out with a hamstring strain, so Melker Ellborg is set to deputise again.
Dennis Cirkin, Reinildo, Brian Brobbey, Nordi Mukiele, Romaine Mundle and Jocelin Ta Bi are all also still out injured.
Bertrand Traore is a major doubt after he limped off in the win over Leeds on Tuesday and Trai Hume and Noah Sadiki are suspended for the visitors.
The stats
Port Vale have beaten Maldon & Tiptree (5-1), Bristol Rovers (1-0), Fleetwood Town (1-0) and Bristol City (1-0) in the FA Cup so far this season.
Sunderland have advanced to the fifth round thanks to wins over Everton (3-0 on pens after 1-1 draw) and Oxford United (1-0).
Sunderland have won the last six meetings in all competitions between these sides.
The last time Vale made it to the fifth round was in 1996, while Sunderland are into the FA Cup fifth round for the first time since 2015.
Vale's last four games have all featured two goals or fewer and there have been two goals or fewer in four of the Black Cats' last five matches.
The latest Port Vale vs Sunderland odds are available on LiveScore Bet
Prediction
This has the makings of a traditional FA Cup tie with the lower-ranked hosts entertaining Premier League opponents on what is likely to be a very muddy pitch at Vale Park.
The League One strugglers will hope the playing surface, described as "tough to play on" by boss Brady, will be a leveller, just as it was when mid-table Championship side City were knocked out on Tuesday.
Vale had to withstand plenty of pressure before Waine's matchwinner in extra-time sealed the club's place in the fifth round of the FA Cup for the first time since 1996 and Sunderland will not relish the conditions that await them in Staffordshire.
However, they are huge favourites to win as they go up against a side who are rock-bottom of League One, sit 10 points from safety and who have won just six league games all season.
The Black Cats should avoid an embarrassing exit and progress to the last eight, but a low-scoring away win is anticipated.
