Patrick Roberts' FA Cup flashback and 'crazy' Sunderland Chris Rigg admission
IT was late in a bonkers FA Cup third round tie played out in a blizzard that a 17-year-old Patrick Roberts got the nod to come off Fulham's bench.
It was his first taste of the competition but, despite his age, he had already established himself as a Championship regular for the Cottagers.
"Wolves away, it was snowing," Roberts smiles when asked, a decade on, for his stand-out FA Cup memories
"This is what's in my mind, anyway. I took a penalty. Was that Fulham? I was only 17 maybe. I don't know if we won that game. I can't remember. I scored my penalty.
"It was nice but there were a lot of young boys that day. That was my first FA Cup experience."
Fulham did indeed win, 5-3 from the spot after a 3-3 draw over 120 minutes. What Roberts clearly doesn't recall is the fact that set up a fourth round tie with Sunderland. He was again a late substitute in that one, the Black Cats 3-1 victors, though they had to come from behind thanks to goals from Patrick van Aanholt, Ricardo Alvarez and Jordi Gomez.
Roll forward 10 years and Roberts will this afternoon look to help Sunderland reach the fourth round for only the second time since that 2014/15 season.
"Everyone always wants a different tie to the games you normally get," says the winger.
It's anything but for the Black Cats, who are facing Stoke for the third time in a month. There is some difference, however, for the Potters have had a different manager in each of the three games. It's Mark Robins this afternoon, with the former Coventry boss having replaced Narcis Pelach.
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It's not clear whether Roberts will play this afternoon but Le Bris ruled out wholesale changes, with the head coach keen to carry Championship momentum into an FA Cup campaign.
There will be a few minor alterations, which might mean an opportunity for some youngsters, as was the case Chris Rigg against Shrewsbury and Fulham a couple of seasons ago.
"That was the only two times he was with us that year," recalls Roberts.
"He was only 15. It was crazy to see him there. It helps you as a young kid to know what the games are like.
"But if any young boys are playing, it's an opportunity to see what they're about and how they test themselves. It's at home. Hopefully we get a good crowd."
