1d
1d
CIARAN FOREMAN AT VALE PARK: For the
Sunderland fans that had made the pilgrimage from the north-east to Vale Park‚ the clock had gone back all day. After arriving in the Potteries‚ the supporters crammed into cafes and pubs and spoke of 1937 and 1973‚ when their club enjoyed some of their greatest days under the
Wembley sun. But there was no Jimmy
Montgomery or Bob Stokoe to save the day this time. Instead‚ the
Black Cats were dragged back to the not-so-distant days when they themselves were languishing in
League One‚ and fell to a stunning defeat at the hands of third-tier basement boys
Port Vale. Not only was the ignominy of being knocked out by Vale bad enough for
Regis Le Bris' side‚ the deciding goal came from Ben Waine‚ the headband-wearing New Zealander who supports
Sunderland's bitter rivals
Newcastle. He was not shy in paying tribute to
Alan Shearer in celebration.