Sutton's predictions: Port Vale v Sunderlandpublished at 19:14 GMT 7 March
19:14 GMT 7 March
No-one can tell me that Vale Park is an easy place to go because when I took my Lincoln City side there in 2010, we were 3-0 down inside 15 minutes and Vale had missed a penalty by then as well.
Still, we only lost 4-0 in the end, which felt like a victory on the bus afterwards. I was going to stop and get my players a crate of beers for the journey home - but maybe if I had done that on the way there, we would have done a bit better.
Port Vale have done brilliantly to get this far, because they are having a terrible time of it in League One. Lincoln have already beaten them this season, probably because I'm not their manager anymore.
Sunderland are another team who I would like to see go far in the FA Cup, because it would cap a fine season.
Vale are in the fifth round for the first time in 30 years, and I wish them lots of luck... but I don't see them being in the hat for the quarter-finals.
Sunderland should have 'no problems' against Port Valepublished at 11:10 GMT 7 March
11:10 GMT 7 March
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League One side Port Vale should prove no difficulty for Sunderland in their FA Cup meeting on Sunday, believes former Black Cats forward Marco Gabbiadini.
Despite suspensions for Trai Hume and Noah Sadiki, plus injuries to key players such as Robin Roefs, Nordi Mukiele and Brian Brobbey, Sunderland will be aiming to "cruise through" the 90 minutes at Vale Park.
"Sunderland should be able to put a team out and rest a few players and still have no problems," Gabbiadini told BBC Radio Newcastle.
"Even if it's more players from the bench or more players who haven't played as many minutes this year, those players we're talking about are still players who were fantastic in the Championship last year.
"So they might be a bit rusty and that will be the issue if they play, someone like Chris Rigg who hasn't had many minutes or many games, but quality-wise and ability-wise, we should be able to beat either of the sides who were in contention [including Bristol City].
"But it's going to be Port Vale, so a big occasion for them but it's also one of those occasions where after 10 minutes, you can be 2-0 up and it's all over for them and you cruise through the afternoon and that's what Sunderland will be aiming for."
Atkinson and Byrne remember the 1992 FA Cup runpublished at 17:45 GMT 6 March
17:45 GMT 6 March
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Sunderland face Port Vale in the fifth round of the FA Cup on Sunday and after beating Oxford United in the fourth, it's starting to feel a bit like deja vu.
The Black Cats beat both of those sides in their run to the final in 1992 and two players who helped make that happen, Brian Atkinson and John Byrne, have recounted that route to Wembley.
Le Bris on Ellborg, 40 points and the X Factorpublished at 14:08 GMT 6 March
14:08 GMT 6 March
Flora Snelson BBC Sport journalist
Media caption,
Sunderland boss Regis le Bris has been speaking to the media before Sunday's FA Cup game against Port Vale at Vale Park (kick-off 13:30).
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
Everyone came through the Leeds game OK and Le Bris has no new injury concerns.
Le Bris stressed that reaching 40 Premier League points is "the first target, not the finishing line" and noted "the lads are really ambitious and want to keep pushing to see how far we can go".
He said it "meant a lot" to get a win away at Elland Road: "We played their game and we made it really difficult for them."
He said he wasn't surprised by the success of Melker Ellborg's debut: "Sometimes you can surprised one way or the other but it was exactly as I expected. Happy for that because it's not automatic - you have to do it."
On playing on the Vale Park pitch: "I don't want to highlight this part of the game too much. Football is unpredictable. You have to adapt and find creative solutions. We'll have to be pragmatic."
Le Bris said their approach is the same in the league and the cup: "We are talking about basics. If you're not able to suffer and defend together, to show that you want to win, you can't exist at that level, either in the Premier League or at this stage of the FA Cup. If you don't put these values on the pitch you will have problems."
He insisted Sunderland won't be complacent: "You need to earn it - because it won't be easy. It's a specific context - against a Premier League team especially - so [Port Vale] will play with this X-factor, this energy, that makes surprises. It's always like that."
Sunderland 'belligerent' against Leedspublished at 14:45 GMT 5 March
14:45 GMT 5 March
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Sunderland's bravery made the difference against Leeds United on Tuesday, believes former Black Cats forward Marco Gabbiadini.
The Wearside outfit beat Leeds 1-0 at Elland Road in their first away win since they defeated Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in October.
"That was one of the most belligerent performances I've ever seen from a football team," Gabbiadini told BBC Radio Newcastle.
"They did everything; some of it wasn't pretty, some of it was a bit controversial but actually the main thing, was the amount of tackles, bodies on the line and the blocks.
"The bravery to win it back and play yourself out of tight areas, which didn't always work, but it gave them a breather and made Leeds work. It's much easier to hoof it up the field and take the pressure off for a second.
"The manager [Regis le Bris] - his subs were early and you'd have to say Leeds left it too late. They didn't get control of the game or hurt Sunderland enough."
'Up for the Cup!' - your hopes for the rest of the seasonpublished at 09:51 GMT 5 March
09:51 GMT 5 March
Image source, Getty Images
We asked for your views on your hopes for the rest of the season after Sunderland reached the magic 40-point mark after Tuesday's win at Leeds.
Here are some of your comments:
Peter: Sunderland have a solid defence and good cover in the squad. They have a good midfield and again have cover there, but there is a distinct lack of punch up front. Burnley and West Ham have scored more goals so any thoughts of Europe are far fetched to say the least. A great season, but they really do need a couple of strikers who are going to get a dozen goals or more a season, it must be the number one priority for next season.
Simon: Up for the Cup, aye! Forget Europe - even if we qualified we couldn't compete and we've seen what's happened to others: fighting relegation as a result. Next season is about consolidating but we should have a real go at a trophy now we are safe
Colin: Good to hit 40 points but now we must concentrate on establishing ourselves in this league before we start doing anything else, as for Europe we are not even close maybe in a few more seasons.
Tom: Delighted to have hit the magic 40 point mark so early. I doubt we can get European football but we should try and take a run at the FA Cup. Beat Port Vale and we are into the last 8 and we are capable of getting a result against anyone.
Would Europe be too much too soon?published at 15:18 GMT 4 March
15:18 GMT 4 March
So Sunderland have reached the magical 40, cited all season by Regis Le Bris as the number of points he regarded was needed to ensure they avoid the drop.
In recent weeks he has even suggested 42 may be required but I think there is an acceptance widely held that 40 will be more than enough. Even when Sunderland were stranded on 36 points following three straight defeats there was a belief among many they would probably be safe. Now with only nine matches remaining and a margin of at least twelve points, it's safe to start thinking about next season in the top flight. To reach this point at the beginning of March is no mean achievement.
Most of us believed Sunderland would be involved in a relegation scrap in the closing stages, but as the season unfolded and Sunderland started strongly, especially at the Stadium of Light, that pessimism lifted and dare I say some even spoke, and some still do, of reaching Europe. I think there are many Sunderland fans though who would rather wait until Sunderland are an established Premier League team before leading an assault on Europe bearing in mind the relative strength and depth of the current squad. Even with strengthening in the summer the past campaigns by clubs playing in Europe suggests it directly impacts league form.
This season has been a revelation but it has also demonstrated Sunderland will need to strengthen in the summer. They'll need a striker, or two, especially if Wilson Isidor does leave, as well as full-back cover and midfield reinforcement.
Sunderland reach 40-point mark - but what next?published at 12:47 GMT 4 March
12:47 GMT 4 March
Sunderland's away win over Leeds on Tuesday night saw them reach the magic 40-point mark.
It is the tally of points teams aim for as it usually means a club is all but safe, with only three teams to have been relegated with 40 points or more in the 20-team Premier League era.
So now the Black Cats have already reached that points haul at the beginning of March, what are you hopes now for the rest of the season?
Is it a push for Europe? All eyes on the FA Cup? And how can the side build on this for next campaign? What is needed to improve things?
Leeds 0-1 Sunderland - the fans' verdictpublished at 12:21 GMT 4 March
12:21 GMT 4 March
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We asked for your thoughts after Tuesday's Premier League game between Leeds and Sunderland.
Here are some of your comments:
Leeds fans:
Mark: I don't think i've seen such a dreadful spectacle of the dark arts. Sunderland were shocking. Farke needs to get a grip of the first half malarkey, he took way to long to make the changes. Tanaka and Gnonto should've started. The players arnt the best and need more time on the pitch to make the desired impact. He failed us last night, badly!
Clan: I can't understand why we didn't start the game with the same intensity as the last 10 minutes??? We shelled Manchester city but looked toothless and bereft of ideas against Sunderland. We seem determined to engage with the carnage of a relegation battle! A good review of the management structure is needed sooner rather than later.
Mel: Leeds seemed set up to lose rather than going out to win. The pay was slow, tedious and lacked creativity which resulted in poor opportunities to score. Quality was missing when needed.
Bill: Leeds had a lot of the ball but didn't really create anything of sorts, so overall Sunderland brilliant defence outshone a poor Leeds attack and for me deserved the points.
Sunderland fans:
Mark: Sunderland were there for the taking. Unfortunately Daniel Farke didn't react fast enough. Poor display by both teams with Sunderland applying the dark arts, that's why there was 12 minutes added on. Officials really need to get a grip of it.
Chris: This win says everything about Sunderland's team spirit and character not pretty but job done .Forty points achieved let's push on now and enjoy rest of the season.
Neil: Sometimes you've just got to be pragmatic about such a match at such a time in the season. With the 40 point goal achieved now is the time to push on, play 442 and show our other strengths. We can do more than hit teams on the break whilst stoicly defending like tigers. Ugly has its time and place but now let's aim higher. Fortunately Leeds didn't have the quality to get through us. Time to express ourselves.
David: It was ugly. There was little quality. Even the penalty, our one shot on target, was poor. But overall, funnily enough, it was magnificent. A bodies on the line, backs to the wall, battling performance, with two crucial VAR decisions going our way. Fortune does indeed favour the brave.
Leeds 0-1 Sunderland: What O'Nien & Le Bris saidpublished at 22:38 GMT 3 March
22:38 GMT 3 March
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Sunderland's Luke O'Nien speaking to BBC Match of the Day after the 1-0 win over Leeds: "In my opinion it was two of the best fans in the league and you saw that today. The atmosphere was special and you remember those days. Really proud of the boys, a special day."
On winning the player of the match award on his first Premier League start: "I'm not sure how I won this. The boys looked after me and know how much I wanted this start and how much this team means to me. The boys have been pushing me every day and we have one hell of a group. I'm just proud to be in this team.
"I'm not sure it was the prettiest of games or there will be many highlights for Match of the Day. Sometimes you have to grind it out. The boys were superb and we have our 40 points, now it's time to set a new target."
This is just the fifth game in the Premier League this season to see a team win via just one shot on target, with Sunderland accounting for two of those (also v Newcastle United in December).
Sunderland analysis: Black Cats end March madnesspublished at 22:06 GMT 3 March
22:06 GMT 3 March
Gary Rose BBC Sport journalist
Image source, Getty Images
It may not have been pretty but Sunderland's win against Leeds was an effective away performance that keeps them in the frame for a finish in the European places.
Eyebrows may have been raised when boss Regis le Bris opted to use this game to hand Melker Ellborg his debut in goal, but the 22-year-old acquitted himself well, particularly in handling the jeers from the home fans when he was deemed to have been time-wasting.
He managed to deal with Leeds' efforts comfortably too as his side gained a battling third win in 13 league games.
Sunderland undoubtedly got a degree of fortune for the winner, but looked a more solid and dangerous side when captain Granit Xhaka was introduced 11 minutes into the second half.
It has been an impressive top-flight return for the Black Cats, who have now reached the 40-point target that Le Bris wanted and usually guarantees another season of Premier League football.
They also finally ended their March madness, having been winless in 17 previous top-flight games during this month since beating QPR in 2012.
Le Bris 'doesn't want the lads to take their foot off the accelerator'published at 12:56 GMT 3 March
12:56 GMT 3 March
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Former Sunderland striker Marco Gabbiadini says manager Regis le Bris will continue to be cagey about their Premier League survival status so the players don't "take their foot off the accelerator".
"He is thinking about finishing higher up the table so that they have some more money for transfers and the status of the club improves," Gabbiadini said on BBC Radio Newcastle.
"But we are safe and I have been saying it for weeks. We are not going to lose every game between now and the end of the season and even a couple more draws would do it [mathematical safety]."
Leeds v Sunderland: Key stats and talking pointspublished at 09:11 GMT 3 March
09:11 GMT 3 March
Noel Sliney BBC Sport senior journalist
This is the first Premier League meeting between Leeds and Sunderland at Elland Road since August 2002, which the visitors won 1-0.
Leeds will kick-off six points behind their fellow promoted opponents, and six points above the bottom three with 10 games remaining.
Improved Leeds still leaking goals
When Leeds lost all four of their matches in November to drop into the relegation zone, few would have predicted they would only suffer three further defeats across the ensuing three months.
Those losses, spanning 15 games, have come against Champions League sides Newcastle,Arsenal and, on Saturday, Manchester City. Leeds' tally of 20 points during that period ranks them 10th in the division, just a point behind Chelsea.
Nonetheless, there is work to do to stay in the division. Notably, Daniel Farke's side have the worst defensive record outside the current bottom three, conceding 47 goals and only keeping two clean sheets in their past 25 top-flight matches.
That is despite making the fewest errors leading to shots (14) of any team in the Premier League and only facing the eighth-highest number of shots.
One statistic overwhelmingly in Leeds' favour is their home record in night-time fixtures. Though they lost their 5.30pm kick-off against Manchester City at the weekend, the Whites are unbeaten at Elland Road in 22 league games starting at 7pm or later since April 2023. They have won 19 of those, including the past 13 by an aggregate score of 33-7.
Beware the slides of March
Sunderland's season is on a downward trajectory; they earned 17 points from their first nine matches to briefly go second in the table, but have since only added 20 points from 19 fixtures.
They have won just two of their past 12 league games, but did at least stop a run of three straight defeats by drawing away to in-form Bournemouth on Saturday.
No team has been relegated with Sunderland's current tally of 37 points or more since Newcastle a decade ago. Nonetheless, the Black Cats would welcome a change of luck in March as they seek to end runs of nine Premier League away games, and as many midweek matches, without a win.
Perhaps most disconcerting for Sunderland is that they are winless in 17 top-flight games played in the month of March since beating QPR 3-1 in 2012 (D9, L8). In Premier League history, only Leicester City and Fulham have endured longer winless streaks in a particular month.
Sutton's predictions: Leeds v Sunderlandpublished at 07:38 GMT 3 March
07:38 GMT 3 March
This is a big game for Leeds. They are six points above the relegation zone with 10 games to go, but have still got work to do.
I've been impressed by Daniel Farke's side recently, but they still rely a lot on their home form - they have picked up 22 points from 14 games at Elland Road compared to nine from 14 on the road - so it feels like they need to win this.
Sunderland have not won in four league games but I'm not reading too much into that - Granit Xhaka's return from injury made a difference against Bournemouth on Saturday, and a draw was a good result for them.
This is going to be close but Leeds like playing under the lights - they pushed Manchester City all the way on Saturday evening, and this time I think it is them who will edge it.
'Europe this season? Absolutely possible... dare to dream'published at 19:02 GMT 2 March
19:02 GMT 2 March
Gavin Henderson Fan writer
Image source, Getty Images
I'm sick of moaning about rotten officiating. It's not just an easy excuse any more – look objectively at our recent matches and it's hard to argue we've not been treated harshly, copping some truly awful decisions.
That said, I thought Sunderland played well at Bournemouth. Had the calls gone our way, we'd have probably won and no-one could have grumbled. A draw felt decent – not many sides will take four points off the Cherries this season, so I'm relatively happy with it.
If nothing else, it snapped us out of the recent slump. We got a determined, battling performance, which shows how well the lads respond when the chips are down. We've missed Granit Xhaka badly and his return hit home most when we didn't have the ball – he was screaming, pointing, organising, getting everyone into a really solid defensive shape.
Young midfielders Noah Sadiki and Habib Diarra looked 10ft taller and played far better than they did without him. Our backline suddenly looked organised again. There's nothing revolutionary here, but Sunderland are a much better side with Xhaka in it.
We're now on 37 points, three shy of that magic 40-point target set early doors – the one we're refusing to look beyond until we hit it. A win at Elland Road would get us there with nine games still to play, and that ought to be motivation enough to really take the game to Leeds, who will fancy their own survival with a couple more victories.
There's been no sign of a struggle all season and I don't see us getting dragged into anything. Still, ticking off that 40-point mark would let us breathe easy and start eyeing new targets.
Europe this season? Absolutely possible, but our away form has to sharpen up. We've had no wins on the road since October – decent draws, but not converting enough is starting to niggle.
Not many teams go to Elland Road, especially under lights, and come away with anything. Doing it on Tuesday would send a hell of a message that Sunderland remain a serious threat. We mustn't fear Leeds. Give them too much respect and we'll lose.
Take a leaf out of Fulham's book from when they visited the Stadium of Light. Make it horrible, silence the crowd, take your chances and win the physical battles. Get the basics right and you've got a real shot.
Late on Tuesday, we might have 40 points secured, dreaming of bigger things as the season winds down.
Go on, dare to dream. You never know what might happen!
Le Bris on injuries, 'connected' midfield and facing Leeds at Elland Roadpublished at 14:11 GMT 2 March
14:11 GMT 2 March
Ailsa Cowen BBC Sport journalist
Media caption,
Sunderland boss Regis le Bris has been speaking to the media before Tuesday's Premier League game against Leeds United at Elland (kick-off 19:30 GMT).
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
Sunderland could be without Dennis Cirkin, Nordi Mukiele, Reinildo, Brian Brobbey and Jocelin Ta Bi.
Le Bris said there are no new injury updates: "We still have one or two minor injurie. With the quick turnaround between fixtures, we'll make decisions late. Other injuries remain long and recovery is important."
On defender Dan Ballard signing a new contract extension: "Dan has shown his capabilities to step up. His physical presence is consistent, but he is also constantly improving. We're all delighted for him."
On Sunderland's midfield: "Granit Xhaka, Noah Sadiki, Habib Diarra and Enzo le Fee are all connected in such a positive way. They are meant to play together. We know there is a fluidity to their movement that is matched with individual strengths."
On Tuesday's opponents: "They're doing well. They have a clear identity and the ability to go direct. They are well coached with a great atmosphere at Elland Road. Last season they were strong and the outcome at the end of the season [promotion] was no surprise.
