PREVIEW: Port Vale Take On Bristol City In Search Of FA Cup Upset | OneFootball

Port Vale host Bristol City this evening as both sides look to reach the Last 16 of the Emirates FA Cup where a home game against Sunderland awaits for the winner.

The rearranged match comes little under three weeks after the initial fixture was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch, yet Vale remain at the foot of Sky Bet League One table, whilst The Robins are ninth in the Championship. Thus meaning 33 league places separate the two sides heading into tonight’s game.

The last clash between Port Vale and Bristol City came back in 2015, when The Reds picked up a 3-1 win at Ashton Gate en route to the League One title. They also won the reverse fixture at Vale Park 3-0 earlier in that season. This will mark the 90th meeting between the two, with Port Vale’s last win over City coming in August 2004.

So far in the FA Cup this season, Port Vale have overcome Maldon & Tiptree, Bristol Rovers and Fleetwood to reach the 4th round. Meanwhile Gerhard Struber’s side did not enter the competition until the 3rd round, due to being in the Championship, where they cruised past fellow second tier side, Watford, with a 5-1 win at Ashton Gate.

The Valiants come into this riding the crest of a three game unbeaten run that has seen them pick up five points against Reading, Northampton Town and Luton Town, accounting for just under one third of their points so far this term. Manager Jon Brady has now been in charge for 12 games and seems to be slowly turning the tide in Burslem, however it will likely prove to be too little, too late to save them from relegation to the EFL’s basement division.

Both sides have previously reached the 5th round, however Port Vale have not done so since the 1995/96 season when they lost to Leeds United in a replay. By contrast, Bristol City’s most recent 5th round appearance came in 2023 when they lost 3-0 at home to Manchester City, the season in which The Citizens went on to win a famous treble.

The match will take place on Tuesday March 3rd, and kick-off is scheduled for 7:45pm (UK time.)