Andre Gray sends Sunderland stark warning ahead of Port Vale FA Cup clash - "Not going to enjoy being here"
Port Vale striker Andre Gray has sent a warning to Sunderland as they prepare to meet in the FA Cup on Sunday.
Andre Gray insists Port Vale are out to pull off a giant killing in their FA Cup clash with Sunderland on Sunday, even if he’s aware of the ‘completely different level’ the Premier League side is operating at.
Gray is no stranger to the big stage, having reached the FA Cup final with Watford in 2019, while he has 115 Premier League appearances to his name, and 13 caps for Jamaica - one of which saw him play against the United States in the Concacaf Gold Cup quarter-final.
Now 34 years old, Gray joined Port Vale in the summer following a spell with Turkish side Fatih Karagumruk. Though he’s yet to score in seven appearances for his new side, he did assist the extra-time winning goal as the Valiants beat Bristol City 1-0 on Tuesday to set up this fixture - which kicks off at 1:30pm.
Andre Gray out for FA Cup giant killing vs Sunderland
The gulf between these two sides could hardly be starker. Sunderland head to the Midlands off the back of a 1-0 win over Leeds United that leaves them 11th in the Premier League table. Meanwhile, Vale are still firmly rooted to the bottom of the League One table, despite taking five points from their last three games in a rare mini-unbeaten run.
Even so, Vale have home advantage, and Gray is of the belief they can make this an uncomfortable cup tie for Sunderland. From there, who knows what could happen.
“Obviously I have been there and done it, but it is still a big occasion,” Gray said on BBC Radio Stoke. “It is like a sort of carnival atmosphere (around the club), and I am sure the stadium will be bouncing on Sunday – and that is why you play football, for occasions like this. It is always special. Now we are just one game away from the quarter-finals.”
Gray added: “It is (going to be) a completely different level. You think you are strong, you think you are fast, that you are smart until you do come up across these (Premier League) teams. You realise that they are stronger, they are faster and smarter. It is a different level, but the good thing is that the reason we love the game is for moments like this – the giant-killings.
“It is always possible and that is why FA Cup games are different from regular Premier League games. They have got to come here, are not going to enjoy being here and playing against a League One team. We have just got to use that to our advantage and see where it takes us.”
Regardless of the fact they’re facing Premier League opposition, Sunday’s game will be a special occasion for Port Vale - and not just as a distraction from their League One struggles. After all, this is the club’s first time in the fifth round in 30 years.
“It (the message) is just to be calm I think,” Gray said. “Don’t let the occasion get to you too much, because you end up running out of steam quite quickly – but you have to enjoy it as well because it might not ever happen again.”