Two years ago, a shocking departure from the competition at the hands of Bury – then sitting bottom of the entire Football League – prompted Niall Quinn to reveal he was close to securing a new "world-class" manager for the club.

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That man turned out to be Roy Keane, but he could not help prevent another major disappointment last season as Luton Town deservedly triumphed 3-0 at Kenilworth Road a year ago tomorrow.

The luck of the draw may well play a large part in how Sunderland progress this season, but if they can get past Forest and avoid a big gun in the next round, then why not start dreaming of a good run?

It's bad enough that the club's last trophy was an increasingly distant 35 years ago in the FA Cup, but you now have to go back more than 16 years now since the Wearsiders' last big final, in 1992, again in the FA Cup.

The squad Keane has assembled should be comfortably good enough to successfully negotiate tonight's tie with a Forest side that has started the Championship season inconsistently.

After a goalless opening draw with Reading, Colin Calderwood's side fell to a 3-1 loss at Swansea before finally getting three points with Saturday's exciting 3-2 home win over Watford.

Forest swept aside Morecambe 4-0 at the City Ground with Robert Earnshaw (2), Chris Cohen and rooker Adam Newbold netting.

They'll sniff blood after giving Keane's men a decent game in pre-season, but tonight should be a different prospect.

Though there may be changes to the Sunderland side, it has been noticeable that some of the senior players are still lacking match fitness and, for that reason, I think it will be a strong starting XI this evening.

Prediction: Sunderland win