IT was never going to be a classic considering the two stale encounters between these two sides already this season writes Richard Mulligan

Team sheets, the weather and the pitch all conspired to make a game which was dull and rather devoid of action for its first 97 minutes until extra time goals from Julio Arca and Michael Proctor put Sunderland into the fourth round.

The conditions were dire for football. Wearside rarely offers tropical weather, but the strong winds made it difficult for any kind of quick link between defence and attack.

Add to that a poor playing surface - which is suffering from the same problems as witnessed at Stamford Bridge over the weekend - and it becomes even harder to put together a move on the deck.

So those were the elements out of Wanderers' hands which created this poor quality performance.

But - as during the first game at the Reebok last Saturday - the 11 chosen to play against the Black Cats were selected on the basis that the club did not want to risk its best squad members for what is merely an FA Cup tie.

Sam Allardyce said at the weekend that he would rather fancy a trip to Ewood Park in the fourth round, but his team seemed to have been selected for a variety of reasons none of which particularly involved a chase for cup glory.

The FA Cup has been used as a means to an end for Wanderers this season, each player chosen with the idea of how it will benefit Premiership survival - more a raison d'etre for reserve team football.

Last night Jeff Smith was allowed to again prove himself on the left after his man of the match display against Sunderland ten days previously.

For others it was a chance to build up crucial match fitness, with Bruno N'Gotty and Bernard Mendy making their respective first starts of the year, another encouraging sight was Paul Warhurst coming from the bench at half time, and Youri Djorkaeff making another appearance after his rib injury.

But there was little positive to take out of this performance, with the exception of a fine display from Kevin Poole showing he is an able deputy for Jussi Jaaskelainen.

Poole made a string of good saves, particularly in the second half when he denied strikers Kevin Kyle, Marcus Stewart and Michael Proctor and kept Wanderers in the game.

Quite how he retained Wanderers' clean sheet with some of the chaotic defending in front of him was a miracle.

The back line seemed to miss the steadying influence of Gudni Bergsson, Simon Charlton and Anthony Barness - three players who do the simple things expected of a defender well.

Mike Whitlow is of that same ilk, but on this evidence N'Gotty and Campo are not. They are footballing defenders, both of whom can produce exceptional long and short passes which most players in their position cannot.

N'Gotty was one of Wanderers' best creative players in the first half, when his through balls set up opportunities for Delroy Facey to show his pace against the untested Thome.

But in his real duties he was caught out, although he was often forced to cover for the completely lost Mendy who came back from injury much too soon.

As for Campo, the pros and cons of the Spaniard as the heart of the Wanderers defence was perfectly demonstrated by a few moments shortly before the break.

Firstly, he broke out of defence and briefly seemed to be playing in the much talked about "hole" behind the front two. He played a nice ball through to Facey, which was just a yard or two long.

Within seconds he had lost possession in his own area and Stewart had set up an opportunity for Kyle - one that Kevin Phillips, if he had not been rested, would have easily slotted home.

Disappointing performances were dotted throughout the team, with Stig Tofting and Gareth Farrelly both completely ineffective in midfield, although Smith showed a few good touches on the left.

Sunderland were little better but should have had the game sewn up before the 90 minutes was up.

With three minutes to go Proctor was offered a free header from close range but the veteran palmed wide. Then in injury time Scottish international Kyle headed across goal and wide with Poole lost at sea when it was easier to score.

But Wanderers could not hold out forever and Arca, in the process of returning from injury, whacked a powerful shot home from the left giving Poole no chance. McCann had crossed for Kyle, but the Chilean midfielder hit it first time despite the ball being almost at waist height.

Within a minute the lead was doubled when Proctor placed the ball delicately over the Wanderers keeper and into the back of the net after waltzing past Campo.

Just one final thought at the end of Wanderers' short-lived cup run.

On Monday it was ten years ago to the day that Wanderers made the short trip to Liverpool and created a bit of FA Cup history when they won 2-0 at Anfield in a third round replay.

It was a night that heroes were made and the club has rarely looked back since - a roller coaster ride of promotions, Premiership football, big name signings has followed.

Despite Wanderers' current big boy status no new heroes were created last night in front of the Stadium of Light's second ever smallest crowd.