Afternoon all. It's probably fair to say that the fifth round of the FA Cup has not been overly exciting so far, but that could all change here. We have a proper cup tie on our hands between underdogs Bradford City and Premier League side Sunderland at Valley Parade.

First of all, let's take a look at the team news, starting with the home side...

BRADFORD XI: Williams; Darby, McArdle, Davies, Meredith; Liddle, Morais, Knott, Clarke; Hanson, Stead

BRADFORD SUBS: Urwin, Sheehan, Zoko, Yeates, MacKenzie, Routis, Halliday

There are a couple of familiar faces in that Bradford starting lineup as far as Sunderland are concerned. Former Black Cats striker Jon Stead features, as does midfielder Billy Knot. Goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, who is on loan from the Wearsiders, is not permitted to be play, which means that Ben Williams will keep goal.

And now for the away side's starting XI...

SUNDERLAND XI: Mannone; Jones, Brown, O'Shea, Van Aanholt; Bridcutt, Larsson, Johnson, Alvarez; Fletcher, Graham

SUNDERLAND SUBS: Pantilimon, Wickham, Gomez, Coates, Vergini, Honeyman, Agnew

Gus Poyet has decided to make six changes to his side, one of which has seen January signing Jermain Defoe rested. As a result, Danny Graham will partner Steven Fletcher up front. There is also an alteration between the posts, with Costel Pantilimon making way for Vito Mannone. Veteran defender Wes Brown has also been included at the heart of the defence.

So, the big talking point heading into this contest has been about the state of the pitch at Valley Parade. It's certainly not in great condition and it has Poyet worried:

"I'd have liked a better pitch. We need to be very clever because we have got used to nice beautiful pitches and now we have to go back a few years on this pitch - that will be the biggest challenge," the Sunderland boss told reporters.

"It will be a unique game, totally different to anything else this season. We won't know where the ball will bounce, but I don't want to become all about the pitch. It's about how we adapt and how we pay in difficult and different conditions."

And you can see the pitch here courtesy of Sunderland's official Twitter feed:

Warm ups nearly done... #hawaythelads pic.twitter.com/GapwpRiroC — Sunderland AFC (@SunderlandAFC) February 15, 2015

Right, the two sets of players are in the tunnel and will be making their way out very shortly. Not long now until we are underway in Yorkshire.

KICKOFF! And here we go. This fifth round tie is underway, with a good atmosphere inside Valley Parade.

Wow, what a start for the League One hosts! Sunderland do not deal with a cross into the box and when the ball drops for Clarke, he attempts an instant volley. It was an effort that appeared to be heading wide, but if flew into the back of the net via a deflection off Black Cats skipper John O'Shea. Another upset on the cards perhaps?

OUCH! That looked painful for both Graham and McArdle as the pair clash heads. Bradford defender McArdle is back into the action after having his head bandaged, but Graham as darted back to the dressing room for some stitches.

It's been a great start by Bradford. They have Sunderland pegged back inside their own half and are hoisting some dangerous crosses into the area. As for the Premier League side, they are yet to mount a genuine attack.

And now the Black Cats are back to a full quota of players as Graham returns to the action following treatment for that head injury.

CHANCE! Big opening for Bradford to make it 2-0 as Meredith whips in a fantastic cross from the left. Stead darts in at the near post, but his headed effort skids wide of the far post.

PENALTY APPEAL! Sunderland are adamant that they should have had a penalty, but the referee is not interested. It looks as though Fletcher is going to roll in an equaliser, but he hits the deck under a challenge from McArdle. Replays show that the visitors may well have had a case, but play carries on.

CHANCE! The Premier League side are now starting to get into this tie. Graham knocks the ball down for Larsson on the edge of the area and the Swede goes for goal. However, his effort is deflected over for a corner, which comes to nothing.

SAVE! This is developing into a really good cup tie. Up the other end, Clarke powers into the Sunderland penalty area and drills an effort towards the near post, but Mannone is down quickly to parry clear the danger.

SAVE! This is like a game of basketball! It's Sunderland's turn to attack as Graham rises highest inside the area. His header is powerful, but it's straight at Williams, who holds with ease.

BOOKING! The first yellow card of the contest goes to Bradford's Clarke for a wild sliding challenge on Van Aanholt.

After those frantic few minutes, this game has lulled somewhat. Bradford still look relatively comfortable, while Sunderland are looking to launch counter-attacks.

SAVE! A good move from Sunderland ends when left-back Van Aanholt finds himself with enough space to shoot inside the area. His effort takes a deflection, which makes it easier for Williams to parry clear the danger and the ball is eventually hacked to safety.

In their first venture forward for a little while, Hanson leaps to meet a cross, but he is beaten to the ball by Mannone, who punches the danger away. The Sunderland goalkeeper probably could have caught that.

There will be two minutes of stoppage time at the end of this first half.

There goes the whistle for the break and it's Bradford that are now only 45 minutes away from causing another FA Cup upset.

Do Bradford deserve to be in front? Well, they've certainly matched their opponents. They've been direct in their approach play at times, but it's been effective and has put Sunderland on the back foot. If they can repeat that type of display in the second half, there is every chance that Parkinson's men could well book their place in the last eight of the competition.

As for Sunderland, they started really slowly and could have found themselves further behind during that period. The response was relatively positive, though, and they have actually carved out some decent openings. If they can score early in the second half, you'd back them to win through. However, another slow start to the half and they may be sent packing.

MATCH ACTION! Here's the Bradford players celebrating their goal thanks to the FA's official Twitter feed:

PHOTO: The @officialbantams players celebrate after taking an early lead against @SunderlandAFC #FACup pic.twitter.com/UHB81rkAjb — The FA (@FA) February 15, 2015

Here's former Sunderland winger Kevin Kilbane, who has been talking on BBC Radio Five Live:

"It's been such an absorbing half. Bradford have been outstanding and could have had another goal to show for it. They have played with tempo and they have exerted pressure on Sunderland. They have been unable to compete."

RESTART! As Sunderland make a change that sees Connor Wickham replace Graham up front, Bradford get the action back underway at Valley Parade.

There's been nothing of any real note to report from the opening exchanges to the second half. Bradford remain direct and are looking to turn the Sunderland defenders whenever they can.

It seems that Sunderland have decided to take a leaf out of Bradford's book. They have been much more direct in the second half so far, with long kicks from Mannone finding the likes of Fletcher and Johnson. The latter had half a sight of goal moments ago, but he fired well wide.

Great defending from Bradford full-back Darby, who has just saved an almost certain Sunderland goal. Van Aanholt's lofted pass forward releases Johnson, who with goalkeeper Williams stranded off his line, has a seemingly easy chip to score. However, at the final moment, Darby flicks out a leg to clear the danger.

The former Sunderland player could well have dumped the Black Cats out of the FA Cup! Johnson is the man to blame from Sunderland's point of view as he attempts to make a clearance across the face of his own goal. The ball eventually drops for Stead, who having stepped inside Brown, finds the net via the base of the post. That's great composure from the striker. Bradford have the quarter-finals in their sights.

Again talking on BBC Sport, here's Kilbane's summation of Bradford's second goal:

"I don't know what Adam Johnson was doing. He has tracked the run initially but then tried to play it back infield. He should have just cleared it, put it out for throw in or something. Clear the danger and regroup. And in the end he played John Stead onside because he was so deep."

BOOKING! That's frustration from Sunderland full-back Jones as he clatters through the back of Clarke by the left touchline. The Bradford fans demand a red card, but referee Kevin Friend opts for yellow.

"Are you watching BBC?" is the chant from the home supporters. It still seems odd that this encounter was not picked for live television coverage and I bet now both broadcasters are regretting the decision to overlook it.

STAT! It's been an impressive FA Cup campaign as far as Stead is concerned.

Jon Stead has now scored in every round of Bradford's FA Cup campaign - he's netted five goals. Superb. pic.twitter.com/ubtG5onqEP — Squawka Football (@Squawka) February 15, 2015

For a side that is in desperate need of goals, Sunderland do not look like a team that is overly enthused. There is very little intensity about their play and if anything, Bradford look more likely to score the tie's third goal.

BRADFORD SUB: The impressive Knott comes off for Bradford and is replaced by Andy Halliday, who found the net in the last round at Chelsea.

SAVE! A really good chance for Wickham to reduce the arrears with a header from 10 yards out, but he plants his effort from a Larsson cross straight at Williams. Is that going to be Sunderland's last chance? Time is running out that's for sure.

SUBS: The impressive Clarke takes his leave to a standing ovation, with Yeates replacing him. There is also a double switch for Sunderland as Jones and Alvarez come off and Vergini and youngster Honeyman come on.

BRADFORD SUB: Final change of the tie for Bradford and it's the goalscorer Stead that is coming off. He looks shattered! On in his place is Zoko.

Three minutes of stoppage time is all that separates Bradford from a place in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup.

There goes the full time whistle and it's another FA Cup upset caused by Bradford City of League One. They have seen off Premier League side Sunderland and deservedly so.

Valley Parade is bouncing! Bradford are now just one game away from the semi-finals and a date at Wembley. As for Sunderland, where do they go from here? They need to start winning Premier League games, otherwise relegation is a real possibility.

That is all we have time for from Valley Parade. Thanks very much for joining us this afternoon and until next time, goodbye.