Port Vale boss explains tactical key to shock Sunderland win and makes honest pitch admission
The League One side booked a place in the quarter finals of the FA Cup with a shock win over Sunderland
Port Vale boss Jon Brady praised the defensive application of his players after they secured a shock win over Sunderland in the fifth round of the FA Cup.
Ben Waine’s first-half header from the second phase of a corner gave the League One strugglers a valuable lead in the first half, and Sunderland struggled to create clear chances either side of that goal. Though Dan Ballard missed two good chances from corners in the second half, the hosts actually had some of the best moments on the break through substitute George Hall in particular.
Brady said his side had done well to force Sunderland to play direct, something which his players were then able to deal with. The Port Vale boss also admitted that a very poor pitch was a key factor in the game.
“I'm in a bit of shock really, to be honest,” Brady said.
“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. We got the goal, and then had one or two half chances on the break towards the end because they were committing so many players forward. 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. But our shape was compact so they had to go over, and when they go over our goalkeeper sweeps up or it goes out for a goal kick. 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.”
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Port Vale boss makes honest pitch admission after Sunderland win
Port Vale’s pitch is due to be replaced this summer and Brady admitted it was a significant factor in the tie.
Brady said: “Yes, I had a bit of a laugh with Granit Xhaka when he was about to come on and he actually had a chat with me and I went, you ever, just before he went on, you ever been on a pitch like this? And he went, yes, I have a couple of times like that and we had a bit of a laugh about it. It was really good, to be fair.
“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.”
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