With a last-16 tie awaiting, Joseph Ould revisit Sunderland’s recent away history against both potential opponents to see what the numbers suggest.
Sunderland’s weekend FA Cup win at Oxford United sent the Black Cats into the fifth round draw for the first time in more than a decade - and their reward was a last 16 tie against either Bristol City or Port Vale.
With City pushing for the Championship play-offs, while Vale are anchored to the foot of League One with a 12-point gulf between themselves and safety, it is no surprise that Sunderland fans will be cheering on the underdogs when the Robins and the Valiants meet next Tuesday at Vale Park.
But does history back up the view that Sunderland would have an easier ride against Vale than against City? We take a look at Sunderland’s last three away games against both potential fifth-round opponents to find out.
April 18, 2025 - Bristol City 2-1 Sunderland
Sunderland’s most recent visit to Ashton Gate came on Good Friday last year, with Regis Le Bris’ side tasting defeat in the West Country as part of the five-match losing streak at the end of their Championship campaign - before they redeemed themselves with a play-off triumph.
Trai Hume’s controversial red card for a professional foul on Nahki Wells inside seven minutes left the Black Cats with an uphill battle, but Eliezer Mayenda’s stunning solo goal put the visitors in front just after the half-hour. It didn’t last, though, as second-half goals from Rob Dickie and Ross McCrorie turned things around for Liam Manning’s Robins.
August 10, 2021 - Port Vale 1-2 Sunderland
Sunderland’s last visit to Vale Park came five-and-a-half years ago in the first round of the League Cup. Goals from academy graduate Josh Hawkes and Aiden O’Brien either side of the half-time - the latter from the penalty spot following a foul on Jack Diamond - gave Lee Johnson’s League One Black Cats a commanding lead.
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Jamie Proctor pulled one back for the League Two side, but Sunderland went through and their cup run continued until it was ultimately halted by Arsenal at the Emirates at the quarter-final stage.
December 16, 2023 - Bristol City 1-0 Sunderland
Mike Dodds’ second spell as Sunderland’s interim head coach ended on a low note as his side suffered a narrow defeat at Ashton Gate. Tommy Conway scored the only goal from the penalty spot after goalkeeper Anthony Patterson had brought down Taylor Gardner-Hickman.
Michael Beale was waiting in the wings to replace Dodds, but Beale lasted only a couple of months before he was sacked and Dodds returned once again but he could not prevent the campaign petering out as the Wearsiders trailed in 16th in the Championship.
November 11, 2018 - Port Vale 1-2 Sunderland
During Sunderland’s four long years in League One, the Black Cats entered the FA Cup at the first round stage - something they had not had to contend with since their only previous season in the third tier, in 1987-88.
That unfamiliar experience saw them visit Vale Park in 2018, where Jack Ross’ side avoided the embarrassment of exiting at that stage for the first time since 1923-24 - when top flight clubs still entered the first round - as they saw off their League Two opponents. Two academy graduates were on the scoresheet for the Lads, as George Honeyman scored after only 38 seconds and Lynden Gooch added the second inside 20 minutes, with Tom Pope halving the deficit before half-time.
August 6, 2022 - Bristol City 2-3 Sunderland
It was second time lucky for Alex Neil’s newly-promoted Black Cats as they earned their first win of the Championship campaign at the second attempt.
Debutant Ellis Simms - on loan from Everton - shone on his debut, scoring inside the first five minutes, only for Andreas Weimann to level soon after. Chris Martin put City ahead just after half-time, but Simms equalised almost immediately and Ross Stewart scored the winner 18 minutes from time.
November 14, 1998 - Port Vale 0-2 Sunderland
This remains the most recent League meeting between the sides at Vale Park, with Peter Reid’s in-form side visiting during their record-breaking 105-point First Division promotion season.
Neil Aspin scored an own-goal just before the half-hour, and Niall Quinn added the second midway through the second period. Sunderland’s success in this corner of the Potteries was their fifth successive league victory, but it also marked the end of that particular winning streak.
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