New Sunderland manager Martin O’Neill is aiming to take his side to the final of the FA Cup for the first time in 20 years after cruising to the 4th round of the competition with a well deserved victory against Championship side Peterborough United.
The Black Cats will take on another Championship side in Middlesbrough Football Club in the 4th round in a local derby, a match that will not be as easy as the one in their previous round.
Midfielder Sebastian Larsson curled in a brilliant free kick which evaded the entire Peterborough United back line to end up in the net, giving The Red and Whites and early lead in the match. The second goal for Martin O’Neill’s side was scored by James McClean, who found the net for the second time in six days, giving the side a comfortable victory, setting up the derby date with The Riversiders.
O’Neill grew up as a fan of Sunderland, and the manager knows exactly the sentiments that run through all the fans of the club who have not lifted the oldest trophy in the football world since their famous victory against a star studded Leeds United side in the FA Cup final of 1973.
The Black Cats have come leaps and bounds since O’Neill took over the reins of the club from Steve Bruce in the middle of December, and are slowly but steadily progressing towards safety in the English Premier League, playing some of the best football in the country at the moment.
According to the former Glasgow Celtic and Leicester City manager, the match between Middlesbrough and Sunderland will be a fiery affair and one to savour and O’Neill hopes that his side can come out on top and move one step closer to reaching the FA Cup final.