Port Vale vs Sunderland Prediction: Goals to be scarce on Sunday

Sunderland have had to wait a while to find out who they would be playing in the fifth round of the FA Cup, but now they know. The Black Cats make the trip to Stoke-on-Trent to face Port Vale at Vale Park on Sunday (13:30 GMT).

This will be the Valiants' second cup tie of the week, having beaten Bristol City 1-0 here on Tuesday. My Port Vale vs Sunderland predictions can be found below, alongside the latest team news and match odds.

Team News

George Byers remains unavailable for Port Vale owing to injury.

Jon Brady might be tempted to field the same XI that defeated Bristol City earlier in the week. Ben Waine was the match-winner in extra time so he will be hoping to hold his place up front.

Andre Gray and Onel Hernandez will once again offer valuable experience from the bench.

Football Odds

Sunderland are set to miss goalkeeper Robin Roefs again because of a hamstring injury. He joins Nordi Mukiele (unspecified), Reinildo (knee), Djiamgone Jocelin Ta Bi (ankle), Brian Brobbey, Romaine Mundle and Dennis Cirkin (all knocks) in the treatment room.

Eliezer Mayenda has been charged with leading the line in Brobbey's absence but we could see Wilson Isidor handed a rare start on Sunday. Regis Le Bris might also consider giving Chris Rigg a run out from the off here.

Port Vale vs Sunderland Odds

All four of Port Vale's FA Cup victories this season have come on home turf. Three of them have been in regulation time and they are 11/2 to triumph inside 90 minutes, while they are 3/1 to win the tie.

The draw is available at 16/5 and it has been a winning selection in four of the Valiants' past five competitive fixtures at Vale Park.

Sunderland are 1/2 to win in regulation time. The Black Cats have won two of their previous three away trips in all competitions.

At least one team has failed to score in Port Vale's last three outings in the FA Cup, and BTTS - No is marketed at 4/5.

Total Goals - Under 2.5 @ 1/1

I am not expecting this to be an enthralling cup tie. Port Vale's last three FA Cup matches have finished 1-0 and four of their past five competitive fixtures at Vale Park have seen fewer than three goals scored.

Sunderland enjoyed a bright start to the season upon their return to the Premier League, but recently goals have been hard to come by. Four of their last five matches in all competitions have produced under 2.5 goals.

Both the Black Cats' FA Cup appearances this term have seen this market land and they only edged their way past Championship strugglers Oxford United in the fourth round.

They are about to experience something similar against Port Vale, who are rooted to the bottom of the League 1 table. The Valiants can show defensive solidity on home turf but both teams are currently found wanting in the final third.

Away Team Total Goals - Under 1.5 @ 6/5

Sunderland will be expected to progress from this tie as the Premier League side, but Oxford made life tough for them a few weeks ago, and I suspect Port Vale will look to follow the same blueprint.

With the resources available, the Black Cats should defeat a team two divisions below them. But, as I mentioned earlier, they are currently struggling to score goals. In their last six competitive matches, Sunderland have scored just once on four occasions while blanking in the other two games.

The visitors have managed just one goal in both FA Cup appearances in 2025/26, so I think there is value to be had in backing this trend to continue on Sunday at 6/5 (implied probability of 45.5%).

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