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LEE CLARK hailed Town’s attacking prowess after Port Vale were beaten 4-2 in the first round of the Carling Cup but warned his players: “There is still work to do.”

The manager saw Lee Novak notch twice in the first half and Jack Hunt and Gary Roberts put away impressive second-half strikes as his side came from behind against their League II hosts.

“With the ball played we played some sensational stuff and scored some terrific goals, and we could have had more,” said Clark, who will learn his side’s second-round opponents on Thursday evening.

“But without the ball, we weren’t always great. We gave away two disappointing goals from our point of view and there is still work to do.”

Vale scored through their Gary Roberts (24th minute) and Doug Loft, who netted a late consolation from the penalty spot after a foul by Oscar Gobern.

And Clark continued: “Oscar’s challenge was a foul, but we let them into our penalty area too easily for both the goals.

“I thought the same on Saturday (when Bury forced a 1-1 League I draw at the Galpharm) so we have to improve on that.

“But on the positive side, some of the football we have played over pre-season and tonight shows we have some terrific players.

“We will create chances and score goals, but some days we will have an off day, like we did against Bury, and that’s why we have to be more solid without the ball, like we were in the second half of last season.”

Town had 296 fans in a 3,014 crowd as they made the second round of the Carling Cup for the fourth season running.