League One side Port Vale stunned Premier League Sunderland as they reached the FA Cup quarter-finals with a hard-fought victory.

It is the first time that Vale, who are currently bottom of the third tier, have made it to the last eight since 1954.

Ben Waine silenced the visiting supporters when he sent a looping header over Melker Ellborg after the ball was flicked around in the box from a corner.

Sunderland had nearly found an early opener in the fourth minute when Eliezer Mayenda struck the post with a close-range header, but they were unable to produce much that was equally threatening.

Spurred on by a buoyant home crowd, Port Vale often caused problems when they threw numbers forward on the counter-attack and hit Sunderland with intensity.

They had to spend much of the game camped back in their own half, setting up in a low block to stymie their opponents, but remained patient.

Sunderland persisted with their aim to pass through the thirds but found it difficult to break Vale down and often lost possession in the middle of the park.

Ellborg was arguably lucky to have not been sent off in the second half when he escaped with a yellow card after bringing down George Hall with a two-footed challenge.

The visitors' best moments came in the second half as the mounting threat of a cup exit finally forced them to attack with vigour, but Vale were able to hold out.

This has been a difficult season for Vale, who are 11 points adrift of league safety and look destined to drop to League Two, but a cup run will provide a rare moment of pleasure for their fans.

Vale have only managed six league victories this season, but have now won five matches in the FA Cup and have knocked out a team ranked 57 places above them in the pyramid.

Sunderland were as much to blame for their defeat in Burslem as their third-tier opponents.

Against a team who had to play 120 minutes as they beat Bristol City in midweek to reach this round of the competition, it would have been reasonable to expect Sunderland's superior fitness levels to show.

But they did little of the sort and, for too long, their football was pedestrian and did not do too much to wear out Port Vale as they knocked the ball around without much of a clear ambition.

Throughout the game, Sunderland lacked the precision they needed in the final third and they should really have made the most of their slew of second-half opportunities.

This was not a case of a second-string Premier League side being unable to fight in the FA Cup, but Port Vale's battling spirit – markedly different to their opponents – made a significant difference.

For all the control Sunderland mustered, 69.2% possession and 17 shots to Port Vale's nine, they had little to show for it in terms of chances to cause goalkeeper Joe Gauci much concern.

Port Vale will find out their quarter-final opponents in Monday's draw, which takes place before West Ham host Brentford at 19:30 GMT.

The League One strugglers' next match is on Wednesday, when they host Bradford City at 19:45 GMT.

Sunderland, meanwhile, host Brighton in the Premier League on Saturday (15:00 GMT).