It has been a miserable campaign in EFL League One for Port Vale, who sit bottom of the table and 11 points from safety.
Yet while their league form has been disappointing, their performances in the cup competitions have told a completely different story.
Sunday’s stunning 1–0 victory over Premier League side Sunderland sent Vale into the quarter-finals of the FA Cup for just the second time in the club’s history.
The contrast between their cup and league campaigns is striking.
The win over the Black Cats was Vale’s seventh victory across the FA Cup and the EFL Cup this season. In comparison, they have managed only six wins in 32 league matches.
Remarkably, they have also scored as many goals in cup competitions as they have in the league during the same period.
Manager Jon Brady admitted he was “still in shock” after the historic victory, but praised his players for proving their quality and expressed hope that their league form can improve.
Five of Port Vale’s six league victories have come in 2026, including four since Brady took charge in January, suggesting there may be signs of progress despite their difficult position.
The triumph over Sunderland was made even more impressive by the timing.
Just days earlier, Vale had defeated Bristol City in a rearranged fourth-round match, which had originally been postponed in mid-February.
Former Brighton & Hove Albion striker Glenn Murray praised their achievement while analysing the game.
“It’s been a terrific week for Port Vale - beating Championship side Bristol City and then taking a Premier League scalp,” Murray said.
“Their league form hasn’t been great, but they were brilliant today. It’s another memorable upset in this season’s FA Cup.”
Match-winner Ben Waine enjoyed an especially sweet moment after scoring the decisive goal - particularly as the New Zealand striker grew up supporting Sunderland’s fierce rivals, Newcastle United.
His header secured Vale’s place in the quarter-finals for the first time since 1954, although Waine admitted he initially did not realise how significant the achievement was.
“I didn’t even realise it was the quarter-finals we’d reached,” he told BBC Sport after the match, having also scored the winner against Bristol City earlier in the week.
Manager Brady shared a similar moment of disbelief.
“I hadn’t even looked at who was left in the competition,” he joked.
“I couldn’t believe we were in the last 16 - I told my kids we were in the last 32!”
For Waine, the experience was unforgettable.
“It doesn’t get better than that,” the 24-year-old said.
“I never even dreamt of something like this happening.”
Port Vale will now be the lowest-ranked team remaining in the competition after fellow League One side Mansfield Townwere eliminated by Arsenal.
Despite their struggles in the league, Waine believes recent performances have strengthened the squad’s belief.
“After a tough season we’ve really come together as a team in the last few weeks,” he said.
“We’ve found something that’s driving us forward and we’re sticking together.”
Sunderland fielded a strong lineup, making just two changes from the side that had beaten Leeds United in the Premier League earlier in the week.
However, according to former Black Cats midfielder Andy Reid, they never fully settled into the match.
“They put out a strong team but they never really got going,” Reid said on BBC Radio 5 Live.
“When the chances came later in the game they couldn’t make the most of them.”
Murray added that Sunderland struggled to establish the rhythm that has served them well in the Premier League.
“They were wasteful and never really found their flow,” he said.
“They missed having Granit Xhaka in midfield to control the tempo.”
He also noted that Sunderland are often more comfortable playing on the counterattack, where opponents leave space behind.
Against a defensive League One side, however, the responsibility to create chances rested firmly on them.
Port Vale, by contrast, delivered a disciplined and determined performance, defending bravely while taking their chance when it came.
“Every single Port Vale player was incredible,” Reid said.
“They won second balls, headers, everything. And when the moment of quality arrived, Waine produced a superb header to make it count.”
