3rd-tier strugglers Port Vale stun Sunderland in FA Cup

Sunderland suffered an embarrassing FA Cup fifth round exit against third tier strugglers Port Vale on Sunday.

Sunderland have enjoyed an impressive first season back in the Premier League, but this was a dismal defeat for Regis Le Bris's side.

Ben Waine, a boyhood fan of Sunderland's arch rivals Newcastle, capitalised on poor marking to head the 28th-minute winner, sending Port Vale into the FA Cup quarter-finals for the first time since 1954.

Jon Brady's side appear destined for relegation, but they beat second-tier Bristol City in the fourth round and produced an even more remarkable performance to make a mockery of the 56-place gap between them and Sunderland.

The giant-killing will delight their most famous fan, pop star Robbie Williams, who grew up near their Vale Park stadium in Burslem, and is now the club's president.

It was also a memorable moment for Brady, a 50-year-old Australian who replaced the sacked Darren Moore in January and has spent his managerial career in the shadows with Brackley and Northampton.

"I'm trying to let it sink in at the moment. It was tremendous from the boys, we had to suffer at times," Brady said.

"I couldn't believe we were in the last 16, I told my kids we were in the last 32 by mistake.

"It's nice to create history, isn't it!"

Le Bris said: "I don't think we were complacent. We went strong with the ambition to win, with the knowledge that it was a tough challenge. Full credit to them."