TOWN’S midweek reverse at Swindon wasn’t the ideal preparation for tomorrow’s FA Cup tie.

But as the hosts’ only win in their last eight came at Stevenage in a first-round replay, the formbook still favours Lee Clark’s side.

The same applies to the odds, which show Town to be odds-on at 10/11 with Ladbrokes. Vale are 10/3 (Betfred) to cause an upset in front of their own supporters and 5/2 with Betdaq to force a replay.

The League II side’s home advantage and their six draws in eight in all competitions could prompt a plunge on stalemate-related outcomes, such as Jaxx.com’s 11/2 for it to finish 1-1 and the 9/2 that Stan James quote for the contest to be level at both the break and at full-time.

However Town should have too much for their hosts and once they have taken the sting out of Vale, they can edge a close encounter. Sportingbet’s 15/2 marked against a 2-1 away win is worth pondering, alongside Boylesports’ 21/20 for the sides to be level at the interval and the 4/1 offered by Victor Chandler for Clark’s men to go on to triumph from that position.

If Town’s recent fixtures are anything to go by, then this one should produce three or more goals, an outcome Sportingbet rate at 17/20.

Confident away fans can combine that goal tally with a Town success at odds of 21/10 with Partybets, who also make the visitors 1/2 to break the deadlock.

That opener meanwhile, is 6/1 (bet365) to be struck by midweek scorer Lee Novak, whose frontline partner Jordan Rhodes is a 5/1 shot with Boylesports.

l Odds supplied by www.betrescue.com

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