Port Vale progress to fifth round with defeat over Bristol City

Harry De Cosemo
BBC Sport England

Ben Waine's extra-time winner sent League One strugglers Port Vale through to the FA Cup fifth round for the first time in 30 years with victory over Bristol City.

The striker's tame finish at Vale Park somehow evaded the City defence to send the home crowd wild.

It was a dismal performance from the Championship visitors, who lacked a cutting edge all night and were made to pay.

Vale, who are bottom of League One, will host Premier League Sunderland on Sunday - and that will thrill match-winner Waine, who supports their rivals.

"I'm a Newcastle fan so bring it on," he said.

Vale went close inside the first 15 minutes when Waine glanced Connor Hall's left-wing cross narrowly wide of the far post.

On the half hour mark, the New Zealand forward drove towards goal, using his strength to hold off the defence in the area before forcing Joe Lumley into a save.

Waine's third chance of the half came just before the break, heading wide from a corner.

Having struggled to create any clear-cut chances in the first half, Bristol City began to take control in the second as Sam Bell swivelled and shot in the area, but couldn't keep his effort down.

In stoppage time, Bell went close again with a header blocked.

Waine was almost gifted a goal in the extra period when he pounced on a weak header by George Tanner, but his effort was cleared off the line by Cameron Pring.

Vale keeper Joe Gauci was equal to Scott Twine's curling free-kick as he was finally tested.

With penalties on the cards, Waine pounced with eight minutes left, finishing from a tight angle after meeting Andre Gray's through-ball and rounding Lumley to seal his side's first fifth-round appearance since they lost a replay at home to Leeds United in 1996.

'Pure relief' - reaction

Ben Waine runs with his arms outstretched in front of him after scoring a goalGetty Images

Ben Waine scored a 112th-minute winner for the Valiants as Bristol City had just two shots on target all night

Port Vale match-winner Ben Waine told BBC Sport:

"That's unbelievable. It was a solid performance and we reduced them to minimal efforts on goal.

"My first chance probably goes in on a better pitch but the second one probably gets cleared off the line if it's a better pitch.

"It was pure relief when I saw it go in. It was amazing. It was special. Everyone worked their backsides off, to get that reward at the end is amazing."

Bristol City head coach Gerhard Struber told BBC Radio Bristol:

"Really disappointed, we had a completely different plan to jump in the fifth round and again it was in big moments, in these basics [we were] not on top, especially when we realise chances, that we are ready to bring the ball in the net, we miss here a little bit.

"Then we get cheap goals against us, when you look at this goal how we get it it's a long ball, lose the first duel and then it was not connected enough.

"We have some new players in the backline and we have to create a good wall but I'm really unhappy how we deal in this moment.

"We know FA Cup is always a little bit special but we have to win this game, this must be our clear standard and we don't jump in this direction."

Player of the match

B. Waine
8.93
19 B. Waine
8.93
5 C. Hall
8.41
35 T. Magloire
8.26
26 J. Shipley
8.20
25 C. Humphreys
8.19
46 J. Gauci
8.19
21 M. Sherif
8.19
15 L. Gordon
8.03
27 E. Campbell
7.96
45 A. Gray
7.94
24 K. John
7.92
11 E. Archer
7.90
28 G. Ward
7.80
6 J. Lawrence-Gabriel
7.71
3 J. Headley
7.68
12 R. Walters
7.66
50 O. Hernández
7.15
Back to team tabs

After the opportunity to rate players has closed, the score displayed represents the average from all the submissions by BBC Sport users.

Related topics