While league action is the focus for most Sunderland fans right now, the FA Cup is underway and teams have been battling it out for a spot in the third round.
It’s not been a happy weekend for Sunderland, as the Black Cats fell to a disappointing 1-0 defeat to promotion rivals Sheffield United on Friday night.
That result leaves Regis Le Bris’ side in fourth place in the Championship table, and they are now just as close to seventh-placed West Brom as they are to the Blades at the summit.
This ‘difficult’ spell has harmed Sunderland’s promotion charge, but there is one reason to smile this weekend if you’re a Black Cats fan.
Matty Young’s penalty save crucial to Salford City’s FA Cup win
Matty Young is currently on loan at Salford City, and the 18-year-old goalkeeper helped his temporary team secure a big win the FA Cup second round against Cheltenham Town on Saturday.
With his side leading 2-0 but coming under heavy pressure from the away team, Young saved a crucial penalty in the second half to protect the lead and his clean sheet.
Sunderland agreed a new contract with Matty Young just last week, and he’s now celebrated that big step with an important win and the Player of the Match award from the FA Cup tie.
Young has barely featured for Salford this season, but it is now hoped this could be his big breakthrough as we head into the second half of the campaign.
- READ MORE: Sunderland star had the ‘game of his life’ vs Sheffield United, he proved Regis Le Bris right
Matty Young will get chance to show what he can do on big stage
With Salford now through to the FA Cup third round, Young will be hoping he gets the chance to continue in goal and that his team pull a big name in the draw.
Matty Young became one of the youngest goalkeepers to feature in the Carabao Cup earlier this season on his debut for Salford, and it does appear he is the cup keeper for the Manchester-based side.
Still, if Salford did happen to get a Premier League club in the FA Cup draw, there’s every chance the game would be on television, giving Young the platform to show what he’s made of to millions of viewers.
His Sunderland colleague, Anthony Patterson, has tipped Young to ‘go far’ after seeing him perform in training, and producing a little bit of cup magic could do his career the world of good.