SUNDERLAND will travel to Walsall on consecutive weekends after this evening's FA Cup second-round draw handed them a trip to the Bescot Stadium – just a week after they are due to travel to the same ground for a league game.

Tonight’s draw paired Jack Ross’ side with Walsall on the weekend of December 1, with the Black Cats having booked their place in the second round with Sunday’s 2-1 win at Port Vale.

Hartlepool United are the only other North-East side left in the competition, having claimed a goalless draw at Gillingham in the first round.

If Pools can see off their League One opponents in a replay a week tomorrow, they will travel to either Sutton United or Slough Town in the second round.

Sunderland boss Jack Ross will be disappointed with his side’s draw, as he said he would like to avoid League One opposition when he was asked about prospective opponents in the wake of Sunday’s win at Vale Park.

The Black Cats will now be heading to Walsall twice in the space of a week as they are due to play a league game against the Saddlers on Saturday, November 24.

They will now be returning to the Bescot Stadium the following weekend for their FA Cup tie, although their precise schedule will not be confirmed until the television companies have selected which matches they want to screen live.

Walsall are currently 11th in the League One table, ten points adrift of Sunderland, and booked their place in the second round with a 3-2 win over Coventry City at the weekend.

They have never previously played against Sunderland in the FA Cup, although the Black Cats claimed an 8-2 aggregate win over the Saddlers in a League Cup tie in 1999.

Pools will hope to join Sunderland in the second round when they host Gillingham in a first-round replay at home next Wednesday.

Pools held their League One opponents to a goalless draw at Priestfield Stadium on Saturday, and if they can win the return game, they will face fellow non-league opposition in round two.

Pools will travel to either Sutton or Slough if they can see off Gillingham, with the southern rivals due to replay next Tuesday after playing out a goalless draw at the weekend.

Sutton are currently seventh in the National League, two places above Pools after winning 3-2 at the Super 6 Stadium last month, while Slough are 11th in National League South.