LEADING scorer Pawel Abbott will celebrate Christmas with his family tonight already focused on a Town task which brings back very pleasant memories.

It is traditional in Poland to have the festive feast - usually fish - on Christmas Eve and to open presents with friends and relatives before the 25th.

The 22-year-old Polish Under 21 cap will follow that tradition tonight, have a restful Christmas Day and then set about re-creating the mayhem he bestowed upon Port Vale earlier in the season when they visit the Galpharm on Sunday (3.00).

Town, of course, won 3-0 in the Potteries in September with Abbott netting the first hat trick of his professional career and the second-fastest (13 minutes) in Town history.

He remembers it well, but insists it will provide only second-string motivation for the Boxing Day battle with Martin Foyle's men.

Much more to the forefront of his mind will be the hurt experienced by the whole squad following the 1-0 derby defeat by Bradford at the Galpharm last weekend.

And he explained: "It is always bad when we come back for training on a Monday after a defeat, but last Monday was the worst I can remember since I've been here," said Abbott.

"You could just tell that everyone was gutted about losing the derby - the staff, the players, everyone in the club - and it's not a feeling I really want to experience again.

"I'll be thinking about that when we run out on Boxing Day, much more than the hat trick I scored against them down at Vale Park.

"You can never look at football and imagine the same things are going to happen for you. No two games are ever the same.

"We have got to forget about what happened against Vale earlier in the season, but not entirely.

"It would be nice to reproduce the excellent form we showed down there and it would be nice to come in again on Monday with spirits high and confidence soaring for the trip to Bournemouth."

Abbott's 15-strong tally for the season includes two goals in the last three matches and, while he's aiming to stay on the scoresheet, he is desperate for Town to improve a run of only four wins in the last 14 at Coca-Cola League I level.

"What we've now got to do is dig in and make sure we pick up the points we need," he said.

"It would be great to start with a win against Vale and then look to back that up with three more points against Bournemouth down on the south coast.

"How they can justify a trip like that for the club and the fans at this time of year I just don't know, but we'll go about it determined to come back with a win."

Abbott's family are visiting for the festive period and he added: "Poland is a very religious country and people have their meal on the 24th and open presents as well.

"That's how we always celebrated in Poland, having carp instead of the usual turkey and trimmings you get here.

"I think all the lads appreciate having Christmas Day off and I don't think anyone will be over indulging in turkey and mince pies!

"We all know we've got some important work to be done."

Town - Rachubka, Holdsworth, Edwards, E Sodje, Clarke, Mirfin, Carss, Worthington, Brandon, Mendes Abbott, Schofield, A Sodje, Ahmed, Brown, Yates, Senior, Lloyd, McCombe, McAliskey.

Port Vale - Brain, Rowland, Pilkington, D Smith, Brown, Birchall, Hulbert, Cummins, J Smith, Paynter, Eldershaw, Lowndes, Matthews, James, Anyon, Loran, Abbey.

Referee - Kevin Wright (Cambridge).