Port Vale are looking to produce a giant-killing performance against Premier League side Sunderland in the FA fifth round tie on Sunday.
Vale, who sit rock bottom of League One, secured a surprise 1-0 victory over Bristol City on Tuesday night to set up a tie against the Tyne and Wear side at Vale Park.
Sunderland scraped past Oxford United in February to progress into the fifth round, with a penalty from Habib Diarra.
The home side, who have only one loss in their last five in all competitions, will go into the game with confidence and the belief that they can cause an upset in the competition.
Sunderland have impressed since their return to the top-flight and currently sit 11th, which gives them a major advantage over the hosting side.
The recent state of the pitch has sparked major conversation amongst fans, with the Sun describing it as an “absolute disgrace from top to bottom.”
The pitch took further substantial damage in the game against the Robins midweek, as noticeable wear and mud could be seen across the turf.
Vale, although statistically the worst side in the third tier, have kept fighting throughout the FA Cup and hope that a sold-out stadium rallying behind them can help them ensure victory.
This isn’t the first time that Valiants have welcomed Premier League opposition to their stadium, with Arsenal paying a visit in the earlier stages of the Carabao Cup.
The game against the league leaders ended in a 2-0 defeat with goals from Eberechi Eze and Leandro Trossard ending their hopes early on.
Sunderland look to rely on the experience of Captain Granit Xhaka, who has won the FA Cup twice during his stint at Arsenal.
The game on Sunday will be a true test for the home side, as they look to progress to the quarter-finals.
The Valiants could even look to match their best tally in the competition, as they reached the semi-finals in 1953-54.
