LEE CLARK looked ahead to an FA Cup second-round trip to Port Vale and predicted: “It’s going to be tough.”
Town’s boss was at Stevenage Borough last night to see Micky Adams’ side beat the Blue Square Premier pacesetters 1-0 in their first-round replay.
Vale, who are 13th in League II, now host Town, who are sixth in League I and chasing a fifth straight win at home to Hartlepool on Saturday, on the weekend of November 28/29.
It will give the Galpharm club a chance to avenge last season’s 4-3 first-round home defeat by Vale in what will be the fourth FA Cup clash between the clubs.
Goals by Rod Belfitt and Steve Baines brought Town a 2-1 home victory in round two in 1975-76, but at the same stage in 1993-94, the Burslem club were 1-0 winners.
Town last visited Vale Park the season before last, when it finished goalless, and Clark says his side will have to be at their best to progress.
“Port Vale have a very experienced manager in Micky as well as some good players, and they showed their battling qualities by coming through a tricky game against Stevenage,” he said.
“They’ve picked up some decent results since Micky took over in the close-season, and with home advantage, will fancy themselves against us.
“We’ve been doing our homework on them ever since we knew we might end up playing there and we’ll show them total respect.
“We very much want to reach the third round, but if we aren’t totally switched on for this one, we’ll come unstuck.”
Town, who saw off League II Dagenham and Redbridge 6-1 in round one, last reached round three the season before last, when Premier League Birmingham City were beaten 2-1.
As well as hosting Hartlepool on Saturday, Town must visit Swindon Town next Tuesday before switching their attention to the cup-tie.
