But just as they had done in the previous rounds, Palace sprung a classic performance in front of a tense, but vociferous, 50,850-strong crowd amassed inside a freezing Roker Park.
Sunderland threw the proverbial kitchen sink at the Palace goalmouth as they sought to capitalise on their higher ranking in the footballing pyramid, but the Eagles held firm.
And, once again, when the moment arrived deep into the second-half, Palace snatched it.
Once again, Peter Taylor – scorer of a brace at Stamford Bridge – provided the inspiration, a darting run from inside his own half seeing him twist past two players and deliver the ball low into the box.
Alan Whittle took one touch to control the ball – and another to hammer it into the back of the net.
Roker Park was silenced and Crystal Palace were heading to the FA Cup semi-finals for the first time in their history, a then-historic feat for a third-tier club.
Supporters emerging from the ground had a new song to sing: “Roker roar is no more – Palace showed them how to score!”
A last-four showdown with Southampton followed, but ultimately proved anti-climactic – yet what memories it brought with it.