Sunderland’s FA Cup question - Does Bristol City or Port Vale offer the easier fifth-round trip? | OneFootball

Sunderland’s win at Oxford United put them into the FA Cup fifth round for the first time in more than a decade, with a last 16 trip to Bristol City or Port Vale ahead.

Sunderland Echo notes many will favour Vale, bottom of League One and 12 points from safety, over City, who are chasing the Championship play-offs. The Robins visit the Valiants at Vale Park next Tuesday.

At Ashton Gate in August 2022, Alex Neil’s newly promoted side won 3-2, Ellis Simms scored twice and Ross Stewart grabbed the winner after Chris Martin had put City ahead early in the second half.

They lost 1-0 there in December 2023, Tommy Conway converting after Anthony Patterson fouled Taylor Gardner-Hickman. Good Friday 2025 then brought a 2-1 defeat. Trai Hume was sent off inside seven minutes, Eliezer Mayenda still put Sunderland ahead, before Rob Dickie and Ross McCrorie replied.

Sunderland’s last trip to Vale Park ended in a 2-1 League Cup win in August 2021, Josh Hawkes scored and Aiden O’Brien converted a penalty awarded for a foul on Jack Diamond.

In November 2018 they won 2-1 there in the FA Cup first round, George Honeyman struck after 38 seconds, Lynden Gooch added another, and Tom Pope pulled one back before the break.

The most recent league meeting at Vale Park was a 2-0 Sunderland win in November 1998, via a Neil Aspin own goal and a Niall Quinn finish during their 105-point promotion season.

Source: Sunderland Echo