Martin Wanless predicts…
Score prediction: Port Vale 0 Sunderland 3
Sunderland’s first goalscorer: Isidor
This is a great opportunity for us, and one we need to take seriously – and I think we will.
While we have plenty of injuries and suspensions, we can still name a strong team and with a quarter final place up for grabs and Wilson Isidor will start – and get a goal in a good 3-0 win.
Can we start dreaming yet?
‘The Champion’ Malc Dugdale predicts…
Score prediction: Port Vale 0 Sunderland 4
Sunderland’s first goalscorer: Angulo
This should be a formality for the
lads, especially as Regis has made it clear he will pick a strong side.
Our defence should be able to manage Vale, and I can see the likes of Angulo being way too tricky and capable for them too.
A couple of goals in the first half, a couple more in the second, and let’s stay in the draw for the next round.
Wembley isn’t far away…
Jack Howe-Gingell predicts…
Score prediction: Port Vale 0 Sunderland 4
Sunderland’s first goalscorer: Talbi
I’m going for a heavy win for us at the weekend. I know that Port Vale will be up for it, but it is a great chance to progress in the FA Cup, and I expect we will take it seriously.
We will need to manage the lads after another injury concern with Traoré going off after coming on as a sub on Tuesday.
Fortunately, our game management meant we avoided playing a lot of football on Tuesday, so we’re as fresh as we can be after a midweek fixture, whereas Port Vale went to extra time, so will likely be leggy and there to expose.
I have some concerns about the supposed state of Vale’s pitch, but I think we will overcome it for a very comfortable result.
Will Jones predicts…
Score prediction: Port Vale 0 Sunderland 2
Sunderland’s first goalscorer: Isidor
Both sides played on Tuesday, but Vale is going to extra time and should catch up with them. Their legs will go, the tempo will drop, and if we’re sensible, we can control the game without ever needing to be at full tilt.
Isidor feels the right shout to strike first; he’ll fancy himself against a tired back line, and this is exactly the sort of cup tie where his movement pays off. One early, one late, job done, into the quarters.
Matty Foster predicts…
Score prediction: Port Vale 1 Sunderland 3
Sunderland’s first goalscorer: Isidor
Port Vale managed to claim a Championship scalp in Bristol City on Tuesday, albeit via extra time.
There will be tired legs, no doubt, but they will be fueled by the possibility of upsetting the odds against a Premier League side. There will be enforced changes in the Sunderland side, but whatever side goes out onto that god-forsaken pitch, SHOULD be good enough to progress.
I love the FA Cup, and with safety essentially secured, I want us to take this seriously.
So let’s go get our name in the hat for our first Quarter Final since 2014!
Anthony Gair predicts…
Score prediction: Port Vale 1 Sunderland 5
Sunderland’s first goalscorer: Chris Rigg
I’m having this as a shot to nothing.
I fancy Port Vale to score in the first half, and we’ll score an equaliser towards the end of the half. Second half will be all us where we pummel them into submission and learn how soggy the pitch is as we go on.
I expect Rigg to start, so I’m going for young Riggy to bag first. No other reason than I expect him to play.
Gary Winter predicts…
Score prediction: Port Vale 0 Sunderland 1
Sunderland’s first goalscorer: Habib Diarra
We go into this match in great spirits following a gritty win at a difficult ground. I think that turn in fortune is a big deal going into this cup tie, giving us a boost, amidst a run that has produced very few wins.
On paper, this is a huge opportunity for us to progress into an FA Cup quarter-final for the first time since 2014. Port Vale are rooted to the bottom of League One, while we have just hit the 40-point mark after just 29 games in the Premier League.
I expect it to be a tough slog akin to the Oxford game in the previous round. The pitch isn’t good, we struggle to score goals, and it’s always difficult to face a proper underdog raising their game. Not sure Diarra will remain on penalty duties, but I’m backing him to score the winner and be our FA Cup trailblazer and dispatcher of lower league opposition.
Brett Lyons-Davis predicts…
Score prediction: Port Vale 0 Sunderland 2
Sunderland’s first goalscorer: O’Nien
With a team missing a large number of first-team players, a lot of questions will be about who makes the starting 11, and how strong Reggie is willing to go.
Hopefully it’s as strong as possible, as despite playing on a farmer’s field, on paper, we should be looking at progressing to the next round without much bother.
One man who I’m sure will be playing is Mr Sunderland, and following his man of the match performance, he will absolutely love playing in this one and will get us up and running and into the quarters.
Last time out…
What a shit housing performance that was away at Leeds, eh!
The tactics were a masterclass, and the execution of them was beyond belief. For the penalty to be half let in by a Mag reject too was the cherry on the cake.
Today we travel to Port Vale, and the gaffer is intending to play a strong 11 to keep us in the hunt.
Who will start is tough to call, and the pitch will be something of a leveller, but we are not far from a visit to England’s national arena, so let’s hope we can get a result and not take on any more injuries today.
Last game predictions…
Two of the lads were confident enough to call a 1-0 away win at Elland Rd, and two more went for a one-goal win by another way, so get something too.
Everyone else sat on the fence for a draw, but a few of the lads did call Diarra as the first scorer, so his penalty getting past Darlow gained a few of the lads a point in our little league too.
Predictions table and standings
Malc catches up to within a point of Will with his correct forecast, and Brett moved up the table too, thanks to backing the lads for a narrow win.
Gair got another point towards the second bottom, calling Diarra to score. The rest of the lads got odds and sods, and those didn’t impact the table a lot at all.
How the points are awarded
Just a quick reminder of how we allocate points to our match-by-match predictions:
- Correct score = Three points
- Correct outcome (but not correct score) = One point
- Correct first Sunderland goalscorer = One point (no goalscorer is a valid call)
- Possible deductions for being lazy and not submitting on time = a two-point deduction.
