How did the players fare in Sunderland's FA Cup win at Port Vale?
PORT VALE (5-3-2):
Brown 6; Vassell 3 (Oyeleke 30, 7), Clark 4, Smith 4, Rawlinson 4, Legge 5; Conlon 5 (Montano 70, 5), Joyce 5, Hannant 5; POPE 7, Whitfield 5 (Miller 81).
Subs (not used): Hornby (gk), Kay, Dodds, Hardcastle.
SUNDERLAND (4-2-3-1):
6 McLaughlin: Wasn’t really tested despite Port Vale throwing plenty of second-half balls into the box – left his line effectively
7 Matthews: Made some rampaging runs down the right in the first half and got stuck in to keep Sunderland ahead in the second
8 Flanagan: Defended superbly in the second period as Port Vale tossed crosses into the box – won most of his aerial battles with Pope
7 Baldwin: Won a lot of headers, but was probably fortunate not to concede a penalty when he leapt in against Hannant
6 James: Displayed plenty of energy up and down the left-hand side and was always on top of his defensive duties
8 HONEYMAN: Gave Sunderland the perfect start with his clinical early strike and controlled the central midfield area effectively
6 McGeouch: Rarely gives the ball away and is important to Sunderland’s shape – but perhaps could be a little more inventive in possession
7 Gooch: Fired home a clinical finish to double Sunderland’s lead and ran Port Vale’s defenders ragged early on
8 Maguire: Dictated his side’s attacking as they dominated in the opening half-hour and was constantly looking for the ball
7 McGeady: Caused all kinds of problems in the first half, but didn’t see as much of the ball after the interval
6 Sinclair: Led the line impressively early on, and held off his marker superbly to set up Gooch’s first-half goal
Subs:
6 Maja (for Sinclair, 64): His introduction enabled Sunderland to play balls behind the Port Vale defence in the closing stages
Power (for Maguire, 71)
O’Nien (for Gooch, 81)
(not used): Ruiter (gk), Oviedo, Loovens, Ozturk.
Man Of The Match: GEORGE HONEYMAN – The Sunderland skipper led by example, breaking the deadlock in the very first minute and controlling the game from the heart of midfield.
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