Sunderland will face Port Vale in the FA Cup on Sunday afternoon.

Port Vale boss Jon Brady has admitted that Sunday’s FA Cup fifth round clash against Sunderland will be the “ultimate test” for his side, but has suggested that he and his players are “looking forward to it”.

The League One strugglers, who are currently rooted to the foot of the third tier, caused something of an upset on Tuesday evening when they overcame Championship opponents Bristol City in extra time of a postponed fourth round tie.

Ben Waine netted a 112th-minute winner for the hosts at Vale Park, setting up another challenging cup showdown against Regis Le Bris’ top flight Black Cats on Sunday lunchtime. And while Brady is fully aware that his team are likely to face an uphill battle at the weekend, he has hinted that the quality of the Valiants’ home playing surface could prove to be something of an equalising factor.

What has Jon Brady said about Port Vale’s FA Cup clash against Sunderland?

Speaking after the final whistle on Tuesday, the Port Vale head coach said: “It will be the ultimate test but we are looking forward to it. Our pitch is tough to play on, but it’s tough for us to play on too. To get the win at the end made it more dramatic. We could have been up earlier but to get the one we did, it seemed to roll over the line slowly.

“I am pleased for Ben because he worked so hard throughout the night. He had four or five big chances and needed a goal. When you look back they had hardly any chances on target. Our structure was good and the boys implemented it well.”

For his part, Bristol City boss Gerhard Struber issued an apology to the Robins’ supporters, while also highlighting the difficulty that his side faced on their hosts’ pitch.

He said: “I am sorry for the fans. Our 12th man was there but we couldn’t celebrate with them. At the same time, I think it is at this moment we need our fans the most this season. When something goes wrong and we have a difficult time with results we need the fans close to us. We have to stick together. It’s not only a big test for the team but it is for the club in how we bounce back. The pitch wasn’t easy to play on and create chances at the highest level. But we had enough to go in a different direction so I am disappointed how we dealt with it.”

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Ticket information for Port Vale vs Sunderland

Sunderland will now face Port Vale in a 1.30pm kick-off on Sunday, March 8th, and have been allocated 3,100 tickets for the fixture. Prices are as follows:

Adult – £25
Over-65 – £15
Young Adult (18-21) – £15
Young Teen (13-17) – £15
12 & Under – £7.50

The club will operate its Black Cats Points system for the sale:

Phase One: Season ticket holders with 55+ Black Cats Points – guaranteed a ticket. This phase runs from 12pm to 2pm on Wednesday, March 4.

Phase Two: Season ticket holders with 40+ Black Cats Points (subject to availability). This phase runs from 3pm to 5pm on Wednesday, March 4.

Phase Three: Season ticket holders with 25+ Black Cats Points (subject to availability). This phase begins from 6pm on Wednesday, March 4.

Should any tickets remain after these phases, Sunderland say a further update will be issued. The club has also warned that random ticket checks may take place throughout the 2025-26 season, while proof of age may be required at the turnstiles.

Disabled supporters who receive the higher rate of Disability Living Allowance or enhanced Personal Independence Payment and are eligible within the relevant sales phase can purchase tickets online, including personal assistant tickets. Supporters with accessibility queries have been advised to contact the club through AskSAFC.

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