Sunderland put out a powerful group towards Port Vale, making simply two adjustments from the aspect that beat Leeds within the Premier League in midweek.
Nonetheless, they “by no means actually obtained going” towards their League One opponents, in accordance with ex-Black Cats midfielder Andy Reid, struggling to profit from their possibilities after they finally started to create extra within the second half.
“We all know Sunderland are going to be within the Premier League subsequent 12 months so that is in loads of methods a free hit the place they might go and actually focus on it [the FA Cup],” Reid stated on BBC Radio 5 Dwell.
“They put out as sturdy a group as attainable and so they simply by no means actually obtained going right now when it comes to any high quality.”
Murray added that Sunderland had been “wasteful” and “may by no means get into that circulate” that they show within the Premier League.
“Though they picked a powerful aspect, they missed not having Granit Xhaka within the center to manage the tempo of play from the beginning,” Murray stated.
“This season Sunderland are used to groups coming at them and leaving area in behind, that means they’ll play on the counter. However you possibly can’t sit again away to a League One aspect as a Premier League membership – the onus is on you to create.”
Vale, in the meantime, the place the alternative. They defended valiantly all through the sport and tailored to each create alternatives and forestall Sunderland having the ability to break them down.
“Wanting down at these Port Vale gamers, each single considered one of them, those who began and those who got here on, have been completely unbelievable,” Reid stated after the sport.
“They’ve gained each second ball, each header, they’ve given every little thing they have and when the time got here to have that little little bit of high quality, with that beautiful little header from Waine they got here up with that on the proper time.”
