Sunderland v Walsall FA Cup replay preview: Is it third time lucky against Black Cats?

Tonight’s game is only the 16th meeting between Walsall and Sunderland in both clubs’ respective histories, but three of those games have come in the last 18 days.

After two score draws in both league and cup at the Banks’s Stadium, the Saddlers are looking forward to their visit to the Stadium of Light – with it’s 49,000-seat capacity.

Walsall head north for this FA Cup second round replay brimming with confidence after two injury-time goals from defender Luke Leahy earned them a stunning last-gasp victory over Coventry City in the league.

Their first win in six was an important one, because it arrested the slide down the table and kept them within touching distance of the play-offs.

But now, thoughts are turning towards the FA Cup.

“The Coventry win has set us up perfectly,” said Leahy. “There were a few tired legs afterwards, but the way the game ended we were all on a high.

“Their game (at Accrington) got abandoned (after 70 minutes). But we are going to go there full of confidence.

“It will be a lovely stadium to play in. Hopefully we can turn up and get into the next round of the cup. We need to rise to the challenge.”

Leahy’s late show against Coventry will live long in the memory for the Sky Blues fan, but he believes it also bodes well for the rest of the season.

“I think that shows the dressing room we have and it shows that the players and the manager never give up,” he said.

“Barnsley was 1-1 and we scored late on. We got a late winner at Bristol Rovers.

“We are a team that doesn’t give up and that can only put is in good stead for the rest of the season because we don’t know when we are beat.”

That three-minute brace was the 26-year-old’s first goals since the opening day of the season, and while he’s hoping to pop up on the scoresheet more often, he’s more concerned about keeping the likes of Josh Maja out at the other end.

“I’d rather clean sheets than goals at the minute,” he admitted. “Coventry, I feel like it was meant to be and I’m so proud of what happened.”

Midfielder George Dobson remains a doubt, which means Russell Martin could once again be asked to fill in as a defensive midfielder.

Keates was unable to give a return date for Dobson.

“He has been carrying a bit of a niggle the last few weeks,” said Keates. “It’s been up and down with him.

“It’s sore so it’s something we have to manage over the next few games and over the next few days.”