A round-up of reaction from Port Vale’s memorable FA Cup fifth round win over Premier League Sunderland.
The Valiants reached the quarter-finals for the first time since 1954 as Ben Waine scored the winner in a deserved 1-0 win.
Reaction
I’m in shock really. We knew we had to suffer, we knew the pitch might have helped us as well. Joe Gauci makes a couple of incredible saves, overall really pleased.
There was the attitude to go (forward) when the opportunity was there. George Hall got in two or three times.
It hasn’t sunk in really. Not that I didn’t believe we could do it, but you need a couple of things to go your way. I’m really pleased for everyone at the football club. You can see we’re getting a connection with our fans through performances.
We have an fantastic owner in Carol Shanahan. She talks about a football being like a game of snakes and ladders, you can be up or down, she just says that we must stay on the board and I think that is a really good analogy.
The players are proving themselves and hopefully in the league we can turn our form around.
Port Vale manager Jon Brady
Look at this place, I’ve never seen it like this. I know it wasn’t pretty to watch but we dug in so hard, I think we deserved it. I hope the family are watching back home.The togetherness – the last five or 10 minutes, how connected we were. Galloping up the pitch and getting back, anything it took to get it over the line.
It doesn’t get better than that. That was something I’ve never even dreamt of, for it to go that way I think my family will be happy!
Ben Waine
Credit to our opponent. They played with hunger, patience, intensity. We were not at the level.
Is what it is. It’s not easy, really disappointed. Sad for our fans because they’ve travelled to support us and we didn’t give this amount of energy to make the difference. This competition is relentless, one game 90 minutes anything can happen. Disappointed.
Sunderland manager Regis le Bris
Port Vale thoroughly deserved it, let’s not beat around the bush.
Credit to them, they played the conditions much better, they created opportunities and they kept a team at bay who’s flying in the Premier League.
Congratulations to them. They would fancy their chances at home on this pitch against anyone.
Former Sunderland striker Kevin Phillips
Looking down at those Port Vale players, every single one of them, the ones who started and the ones who came on have been absolutely incredible. They’ve won every second ball, every header, they’ve given everything they’ve got.
Former Sunderland midfielder Andy Reid
A massive upset but Jon Brady and his team deserve it.
Their attitude and application, they wanted to get the quarter-final. I can’t believe it, I’m buzzing for them because they deserved it. Superb.
TNT Sports pundit Karen Carney
A wonderful piece of history for the Vale. And what I like a lot is that their manager, former players like Reid and Phillips, and indeed their fans, have said we deserved it. They are very gracious in defeat, and that is the sign of a club that recognises a bit of itself in us – they have been in the third tier, and they know what it’s like to struggle. I can’t be doing with entitled fans who can’t handle the fact that they have been laid low by a team playing with spirit and soul (I’m not looking at anyone in particular, but I see you Man Utd). A great day for the Vale, and thank you Sunderland for taking defeat with dignity.
Congratulations to all players staff and Jon Brady for giving the fans and club what they deserve. Brilliant everyone involved. ⚽
About fair ! Well done Vale the team spirit and commitment is the best I’ve seen in years. It was disorganised spirit and commitment, but the last two games everything has clicked and you can add organised to that. I just hope we have enough league games to claw the points back and stay in League One! It is coursing havoc to my social life and work. I’ve got tickets for Peterborough, Blackpool and Doncaster burning a hole in my pocket, and now I’ve got to try to get time off work for Stockport and Cardiff which I believe will be moved from the Easter Friday to the prior Wednesday!